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Army Private Discloses He Is New Republic's Baghdad Diarist
washingtonpost.com ^ | July 27, 2007 | Howard Kurtz

Posted on 07/27/2007 3:35:43 PM PDT by kellynla

The New Republic's anonymous "Baghdad Diarist" identified himself yesterday as Scott Thomas Beauchamp, an Army private in Iraq, and disputed as "maddening" accusations that he had invented his accounts of cruelty by American soldiers.

The magazine's editor, Franklin Foer, disclosed in an interview that Beauchamp is married to a New Republic staffer, and that is "part of the reason why we found him to be a credible writer." Foer also said Beauchamp "has put himself in significant jeopardy" and "lost his lifeline to the rest of the world" because military officials have taken away his laptop, cellphone and e-mail privileges.

As both the military and the magazine investigate Beauchamp's allegations, a personal blog surfaced in which Beauchamp said last year that each morning he feels "retarded for joining the army," "a little more liberal than the day before" and "a tool for global corporations."

In a statement posted on the New Republic's Web site, Beauchamp said his columns for the magazine, written under the name Scott Thomas, were "one soldier's view of events in Iraq" and "never intended as a reflection of the entire U.S. military."

"It's been maddening, to say the least," he added, "to see the plausibility of events that I witnessed questioned by people who have never served in Iraq. I was initially reluctant to take the time out of my already insane schedule fighting an actual war in order to play some role in an ideological battle that I never wanted to join. That being said, my character, my experiences, and those of my comrades in arms have been called into question, and I believe that it is important to stand by my writing under my real name."

Beauchamp did not provide any documentation for his three published columns.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government
KEYWORDS: diarist; iraq; scottthomas; tnr; war
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To: kellynla
"and disputed as "maddening" accusations that he had invented his accounts of cruelty by American soldiers."

What a jerk.

He describes himself as the one publicly insulting a woman severely injured by an IED, and then he complains that we don't see that the whole Army is as corrupt and evil as he is, by his own repeated disgusting testimony.

41 posted on 07/27/2007 5:11:40 PM PDT by cookcounty (Famous Quotes: "I have not yet begun to fight!! ...and I'm so terribly exhausted!" --Capt Harry Reid)
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To: kellynla
For those of you interested, an equally nasty andlying article appears in the current The Nation.

It was written by Leila al-Arian, daughter and defender of Hamas pal Sammy al-Ariam (U of South Florida.

It also interviews Murtha's stooges (vets that show up to kiss-up to Murtha at press conferences, so that Chris Mathews will think he has support among the troops). Murtha's Stooges announce how horrible the US soldier and Marine is.

42 posted on 07/27/2007 5:17:47 PM PDT by cookcounty (Famous Quotes: "I have not yet begun to fight!! ...and I'm so terribly exhausted!" --Capt Harry Reid)
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To: kellynla; Jim Robinson

GOOD ARMY STORY WHICH TOOK PLACE IN IRAQ, REPORTED BY IRAQI CITIZEN/BLOGGER

http://last-of-iraqis.blogspot.com/

How can we inform others in examples of good relations between the ARMY and Iraqi citizens if the Iraqi blogspot as a “story” (even as chat) if said source cannot be posted on FR, as certainly will not be told in the media?

Am I missing something? Just interested if you have the time to reply briefly.


43 posted on 07/27/2007 5:26:00 PM PDT by fight_truth_decay
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To: Frank Sheed

—Check out this magnum opus.—

More like Penguin Opus. Pathetic, there is exactly ONE Iraqi character (a prisoner).


44 posted on 07/27/2007 5:42:53 PM PDT by rfp1234 (Nothing is better than eternal happiness. A ham sandwich is better than nothing. Therefore...)
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To: operation clinton cleanup

“I guess War really is Hell! He should be promoted to permanent latrine crew chief for the rest of his tour.”

From the bits and peices I’ve read about this clown, latrine duty will take him as close to the action as his current MOS of jeep mechanic. His imagination is as keen as the SOB John Kerry.


45 posted on 07/27/2007 6:21:04 PM PDT by AlphaOneAlpha
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To: kellynla

Scott Thomas Beauchamp is a TRAITOR!


46 posted on 07/27/2007 6:25:25 PM PDT by Florida native
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To: anglian

Hmmmm....with TNR let themselves be taken down by this guy like Rather did with the fake TANG documents? Or will they cut their losses and admit it was a fake and blame it on an insane loser? CBS could have done this, but they decided that their source was “unimpeachable” and kept going until it blew up in their faces. Problem with TNR is this would be a SECOND case of fraud after the Glass fiasco.


47 posted on 07/27/2007 6:28:46 PM PDT by boop (Trunk Monkey. Is there anything he can't do?)
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To: fight_truth_decay

You should be able to post from blogspot into our bloggers forum.
Thanks


48 posted on 07/27/2007 6:31:19 PM PDT by Jim Robinson (Our God-given unalienable rights are not open to debate, negotiation or compromise!)
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To: kellynla

That’s real big of you, dude. Got one question: where is the disfigured lady? Produce someone, or someone who knows about her and witnessed the alleged ridicule you described. Didn’t happen. Wouldn’t happen.


49 posted on 07/27/2007 6:37:00 PM PDT by Tennessean4Bush (An optimist believes we live in the best of all possible worlds. A pessimist fears this is true.)
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To: Theresawithanh
It’s been an awful long time since I was in Journalism in HS...

I've gone so far as offer to send the phone number of my Junior High journalism teacher to some "journalists" with the suggestion that they could learn a lot from him.

No takers, though.

50 posted on 07/27/2007 6:52:51 PM PDT by Stegall Tx (Thanks for a few good lessons, Mr. Joiner.)
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To: LongElegantLegs

i am sure he is not having a good time where he is or with his mates. certainly not trusted any more and probably shunned as well. i can see him
shortsheeted or something if he is lucky, gi shower or blanket party if not,if they do things like that anymore. o well.


51 posted on 07/27/2007 8:32:28 PM PDT by alfie (peace through superior firepower)
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To: Jim Robinson

Had posted this Army piece as a story etc and went to submit, however, it would not accept and said FR did not take that link..blogspot.com/. But will try another time under bloggers.

Again thanks for the response. Have a good weekend.


52 posted on 07/28/2007 12:14:48 PM PDT by fight_truth_decay
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