SHOCK DOCS: THE NEW REPUBLIC 'SHOCK TROOPS' STORY COLLAPSES

Drudge ^ | 10/24/2007 | Matt Drudge

[coffee260]

SHOCK DOCS: THE NEW REPUBLIC 'SHOCK TROOPS' STORY COLLAPSES
WED Oct 24 2007 12:29:44 ET

The DRUDGE REPORT has optained internal documents from the investigation of THE NEW REPUBLIC'S "Baghdad Diarist", Scott Thomas Beauchamp, an Army private turned war correspondent who reported tales of military malfeasance from the Iraq War front.

The documents appear to expose that once the veracity of Beauchamp's diaries were called into question, and an Army investigation ensued, THE NEW REPUBLIC has failed to publicly account for publishing slanderous falsehoods about the U.S. military in a time of war.

Document 1: Beauchamp Refuses to Stand by Story (Beauchamp Transcript Part 1)

THE NEW REPUBLIC has been standing behind the stories from their Baghdad Diarist, Scott Thomas Beauchamp, since questions were first raised about their accuracy over the summer. On August 10, the editors at TNR accused the Army of "stonewalling" their investigation into the stories by preventing them from speaking with Beauchamp. The DRUDGE REPORT has since obtained the transcript of a September 7 call between TNR editor Frank Foer, TNR executive editor Peter Scoblic, and Private Beauchamp. During the call, Beauchamp declines to stand by his stories, telling his editors that "I just want it to end. I'm not going to talk to anyone about anything really." The editors respond that "we just can't, in good conscience, continue to defend the piece" without an explanation, but Beauchamp responds only that he "doesn't care what the public thinks." The editors then ask Beauchamp to cancel scheduled interviews with the WASHINGTON POST and NEWSWEEK.

Document 2: Beauchamp Admits to "Gross Exaggerations and Inaccurate Allegations" (Beauchamp Transcript Part 2)

The DRUDGE REPORT has also obtained a signed "Memorandum for Record" in which Beauchamp recants his stories and concedes the facts of the Army's investigation -- that his stories contained "gross exaggerations and inaccurate allegations of misconduct" by his fellow soldiers.

Document 3: Army Investigation: Tales "Completely Fabricated," Beauchamp Wanted to be Hemingway

The third document obtained by the DRUDGE REPORT is the Army's official report on the investigation into the allegations made by Private Beauchamp. The Army concluded that Beauchamp had "completely fabricated" the story of mocking a disfigured woman, that his description of a "Saddam-era dumping ground" was false, and that claims that he and his men had deliberately targeted dogs with their armored vehicles was "completely unfounded." Further the report stated "that Private Beauchamp desired to use his experiences to enhance his writing and provide legitimacy to his work possibly becoming the next Hemingway."

The report concludes that "Private Beauchamp takes small bits of truth and twists and exaggerates them into fictional accounts that he puts forth as the whole truth for public consumption."

Developing...

 

[Fawnn]

I’m probably just older and move slower. But I live to out another day! ;)

[bcsco]

I’m probably just older and move slower.

Oh, I doubt that! I just saw it first :)

[Fawnn]

Just read that you were [d]rafted by U. S. Army in 1966, so I've lost my "I'm probably older" excuse. I guess that just leaves me with "slower." ;)

[DesScorp]

The New Republic is Truthout.org with a newstand edition. As far as journalistic integrity goes, you might as well wipe your ass with it.

[MEG33]

[Republican Red]

Sounds like he threw his wife, Elspeth, under the bus too.

In the transcript, an email from Elspeth was read to Beauchamp imploring him not to recant and Beauchamp says he will no longer talk about this story to anyone.

Remember Beauchamp was engaged to another woman but married Elspeth who happened to work for TNR. Elspeth was assigned the fact checker position on the Beauchamp story. Elspeth no longer works at TNR. Taking bets on the marraige surviving now that she is no longer needed in his quest for the Pulitzer.

[bcsco]

A little too old for the Baby Boomers, but not on life support; that’s me :)

[bcsco]

Remember Beauchamp was engaged to another woman but married Elspeth who happened to work for TNR. Elspeth was assigned the fact checker position on the Beauchamp story. Elspeth no longer works at TNR. Taking bets on the marraige surviving now that she is no longer needed in his quest for the Pulitzer.

Two users. We could probably take bets on how long the marriage would have lasted either way.

OTOH, think about 'validity' of a magazine that assigns the job of 'fact checker' to the employee who's just married the information provider.

[GatorGirl]

He’s the only one who saw this stuff happening, no corroboration?

Yeah....right!!

American soldiers would not, I repeat, not, target dogs. Now Muslims, on the other hand......

[gr8eman]

research the Tet offensive and how it was reported. Biggest example I can think of off the top.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[CatoRenasci]

Interesting: the post is now gone from Drudge's site.

[windcliff]

I tried to link on the above documents and they are all gone.

[elhombrelibre]

Good news ping.

[BenLurkin]

Exactly.

[georgia peach]

That’s what I was just thinking.Lots of good news, especially the Dream Act failure.Common sense and truth.Two beautiful things.

[Defiant]

You forgot to say “welcome to FR” to Goodness.

[Rocko]

Perhaps he’s preparing a new Siren headline?

[roses of sharon]

DEMOCRATS ARE PHONEY AMERICANS BUMP1

[Republican Red]

Sounds like Drudge might have been had. According to NRO

Baghdad Diarist [Kathryn Jean Lopez]

We're hearing from The New Republic that the Drudge story isn't the damning evidence it suggests to be ... stay tuned.

UPDATE: An editor there e-mails: "Go to the story and click on the link that he claims is to Beauchamp’s confession. It’s not there. The only Beauchamp document is one were he acknowledged receiving some other memo. Nothing even close to a confession there." At the moment I can't access any of the documents that are flagged in that "Developing" story....