Say Anything Blog

Michael Goldfarb at the Weekly Standard points out that, prior to the latest “vindication” from The New Republic editor Franklin Foer claimed that he had confirmed the existence of the “scarred woman” (the one Scott Thomas Beauchamp and his buddies were mocking) at Forward Operating Base Falcon in Iraq.

He claims to have confirmed this in an email sent directly to Goldfarb.

Yesterday, however, TNR’s attempted “vindication” of itself revealed that the “scarred woman” was in Kuwait, not Iraq.

So was Beauchamp or whoever confirmed the “scarred woman” detail lying to Foer?  Or was Foer lying to Goldfarb?

And still, above all of this, is the fact that all of these details should have been confirmed before this story ever went to print.  TNR and Beauchamp haven’t been vindicated at all.  It’s now clear to any honest observer that not only was Beauchamp manipulating his stories to cast the worse possible light on the war in Iraq, but Foer was apparently complicit in it.  If not before, then after the fact at the very least.

Oh, by the way, the Army investigated Beauchamp’s claims.  Guess what they found?

After a thorough investigation that lasted nearly a week the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division has concluded that the allegation made by Private Thomas Scott Beauchamp, the “Baghdad Diarist”, have been

  “refuted by members of his platoon and proven to be false”

So who are we going to believe?  Beauchamp, TNR and their anonymous accomplices?  Or the rest of Beauchamp’s platoon?

Update:  More news from Kuwait.  As noted above, Beauchamp is now claiming that the “scarred woman” (a female civilian contractor with severe facial burns) was in Kuwait, not FOB Falcon in Iraq.  Unfortunately for him, Major Renee D. Russo, Third Army USARCENT PAO in Kuwait is thinking the story is probably an “urban myth.”

We have received other media queries on the alleged incident, but have not been able to find anyone to back it up. There is not a police report or complaint filed on this incident during that timeframe. Right now it is considered to be a Urban Legend or Myth.

I am still researching the incident and will have to get back with you later with any new developments.

We’ll wait and see, but Beuchamp’s story as put forward by TNR editor Franklin Foer is falling apart.