Part of our integrity as journalists includes standing by a writer who has been accused of wrongdoing and who is not able to defend himself. But we also want to reassure our readers that our obligations to our writer would never trump our commitment to the truth. We once again invite the Army to make public Beauchamp’s statements and the details of its investigation–and we ask the Army to let us (or any other media outlet, for that matter) speak to Beauchamp. Unless and until these things happen, we cannot fairly assess any of these reports about Beauchamp–and therefore have no reason to change our own assessment of Beauchamp’s work. If the truth ends up reflecting poorly on our judgment, we will accept responsibility for that. But we also refuse to rush to judgment on our writer or ourselves.
Leaving aside the ultra-ideological TNR’s sneers at those with an “ideological agenda,” (PKB, takes one to know one, (stephen) glass houses, etc.), they have a point. If a military source saw fit to leak Beauchamp’s recantation to the Weekly Standard, I can see no reason why those in charge can’t let the rest of us in on the secret.
Moreover, this has become a significant issue in some quarters, one which goes to the heart of the credibility of one of the left-wing noise machine’s crown jewels. Beauchamp’s writings - and TNR’s publication of them - could conceivably affect public opinion about the war and hence should not be buried by the management of those fighting the war.
Come on, come clean, Defense Department (or George Bush, stop playing at Mister Nice Guy and order them to open up). You work for us, US military, and since there are no obvious national security issues involved, we have every right to know if Beauchamp has admitted that he was lying or not.
Submit to Stumbled Upon!
Mr Quick,
I understand your point, but isn’t what TNR is doing like having the rape victim take the stand and have to act our how much she enjoyed it just to prove she IS the victim?
TNR thru Beaucamp levied the charges so as the ‘prosecutor’ let them be first to produce what evidence they have. So far all I have heard is recitation of anonymous sources. Let them have their sources come forward FIRST. Then let’s go ding the military if it is necessary.
Just my stance.
Assuming the military released it, would it be believed? There are too many grounds on which it might be impeached, whichever way it fell.
Not by Kos or TNR or the “nattering nabobs of negativism”. And you can count Mikhail Moore among the true disbelievers.