Everyone knows the story of the “Bagdhad Diarist” who embellished what could not be woven out of whole cloth, thereby staining the honor of those who served alongside. People are increasingly aware that, under pressure from a clearly self-interested editorial staff at The New Republic to corroborate his own calumnies, he refused to cave in even when Franklin Foer gracelessly brought his journalist wife into the discussion. Beauchamp said he had done with all that, that she was a journalist and he was a soldier.
What I did not realize was that Beauchamp had been offered the opportunity to leave Iraq and instead chose to stay, serving in a dangerous part of Baghdad.
Beauchamp is young; under pressure he made a dumb mistake. In fact, he has not always been an ideal soldier. But to his credit, the young soldier decided to stay, and he is serving tonight in a dangerous part of Baghdad. He might well be seriously injured or killed here, and he knows it. He could have quit, but he did not. He faced his peers. I can only imagine the cold shoulders, and worse, he must have gotten. He could have left the unit, but LTC Glaze told me that Beauchamp wanted to stay and make it right. Whatever price he has to pay, he is paying it.
People make mistakes. Some are man enough to stand up to the consequences. Some fewer look for a way to make it right. As far as I’m concerned, Scott Thomas Beauchamp has paid his debt.
He’s good with the house.
Dam good story we won’t see in the MSM, not soon, not ever.
Looking back on it though and all the BS he caused at a critical time, I’ll reserve personal judgement until he’s finished with his time in the sandbox..just in case.
b2
He still has growing up to do, and you’re right, he may do it. For his own sake I hope so. But forgiving him, and accepting that he is trying to make amends does not erase the facts of his crime or the damage he did.
If there was a situation in the near future where Beauchamp was called to give testimony under oath, would he be credible?
As a commenter to M. Yon’s post stated, it would be nice to see him make a public apology, after all he publically slandered his unit. That being said however it seems to me he’s on the right path. OTOH I guess Foer is staying the “useful idiot” course, not that I’m surprised.
Odds he’ll still be married when he gets out of the sandbox: 1:10.
He’s still got some paying to do, but it won’t be to us.
On the one hand this young man had a belief that most under arms consider to be grossly wrong, and worse, that he went public with it. On the other, he considered those he serves with his brothers and sisters under arms, and chose to soldier on with him.
A man can stand to the fire and be called brave; A real man stands by his opinions, and STILL stands to the fire. I gotta respect that.
I dunno. Yet. Good for him staying and honoring the oath he took. My reservations/respect for or about an individual go beyond that as to who a person really is. Couple of names come to mind: John Murtha, Oliver Stone.
Sounds like a couple of good NCO’s are doing that “Instilling sense of Pride and Professionalism” thing, again. A little counseling and guidance can do wonders and we may be seeing early results.
let’s hope he made the decision for the right fraternal reasons, and doesn’t think he now needs to go out and prove something about himself….
cuz that’s a dangerous man to have covering your flank.
[...] Neptunus Lex [...]
What dc said…
Must be some sense of pride knowing that you can lead someone of such notoriety and disdain out of the darkness. I’d have liked a crack at it myself if I were a few years younger and still active. I never met a CPO/NCO who didn’t want to keep their people aboard, on a good course and speed…
Maj Mike,
I second that opinion. I hope the man’s doing it for the right reasons. I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt… of course, I’m not on the front lines.
Jim C
It’s sounds like the “Come-to-Jesus” meeting took with him. And that he’s taken it to heart. Good for him.
And as far as his marriage, who knows? But I bet she doesn’t stay with TNR for long, not if they’re hanging her out to dry. They may decide to stick together, that shared adversity may bind them tighter.
But might not, too.
At the least, sounds like Beauchamp has done some serious growing up from the spoiled child he was. That’s a good thing.
Jim Robbins over at National Review Online always has an interesting take on things. Here is his latest on the issue:
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MmU4NzMxZWM3YjRiODgzZDkzNjVhMzNkMmQ3N2RiYWU=
Hmm..We’ll see. Time will tell.
LTC Glaze said he could have left the unit. We don’t know where Beauchamp might have been sent. For all we know, the only option could have been getting sent to another unit that would have kept him in Iraq longer.
Without knowing the options Beauchamp had laid at his feet I still hold my opinion that he is a tool.
Web Reconnaissance for 10/26/2007…
A short recon of whats out there that might draw your attention, updated throughout the day…so check back often….
His wife is apparently already gone from TNR…. whether it was her choice or not is unknown.
“People make mistakes. Some are man enough to stand up to the consequences. Some fewer look for a way to make it right. ”
Isn’t it time for you to own up for yours?
http://www.balloon-juice.com/?p=30030
Sure, just as soon as anyone substantiates the actual claims Beauchamp made.
Get back to me on that.