"Scott Thomas" Speaks Out:
So The New Republic's anonymous correspondent from Iraq is no longer anonymous:
My Diarist, "Shock Troops," and the two other pieces I wrote for the New Republic have stirred more controversy than I could ever have anticipated. They were written under a pseudonym, because I wanted to write honestly about my experiences, without fear of reprisal. Unfortunately, my pseudonym has caused confusion. And there seems to be one major way in which I can clarify the debate over my pieces: I'm willing to stand by the entirety of my articles for the New Republic using my real name.
I am Private Scott Thomas Beauchamp, a member of Alpha Company, 1/18 Infantry, Second Brigade Combat Team, First Infantry Division.
My pieces were always intended to provide my discreet view of the war; they were never intended as a reflection of the entire U.S. Military. I wanted Americans to have one soldier's view of events in Iraq.
It's been maddening, to say the least, 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.
--Private Scott Thomas Beauchamp
Neither Beauchamp's letter, nor TNR's accompanying statement, resolves the basic issue of credibility, however. Yes, it demonstrates that the correspondent is indeed a soldier serving in Iraq. But it does nothing to address the numerous questions about his reporting, including:
- The expert statements that driving a Bradley Fighting Vehicle in the way described by Beauchamp is essentially impossible
- The description, by Beauchamp, of a situation requiring soldiers to change a flat tire in a river of sewage, despite the fact that the only vehicles used by the military that have tires use run-flat tires so that they can be driven out of harm's way if necessary. One could be forgiven for assuming that any soldier would drive out of the sewage on the run-flat tire rather than change it in the muck.
- Beauchamp's description of a 9mm "shell casing" "with a square back," followed by a claim that only Glocks use such casings, and only the Iraqi police use Glocks. Not only has the existence of "square back" 9mm casings been widely disputed, but the notion that only the Iraqi police use Glocks doesn't pass the laugh test.
Perhaps even more importantly, Beauchamp doesn't address, nor does TNR ask him to, whether or not he reported the events he "witnessed" to the appropriate authorities. If he did not, why not? This question also goes unanswered. And given that most of his accounts have him participating in some of the abhorrent behavior he describes, why would we trust his account to be accurate? Someone willing to describe himself taunting and insulting a disfigured victim of an IED attack is hardly someone whose character I'd be willing to rely on.
So great, now we have an actual name...which should help resolve at least some of the questions above, since now other media outlets will be able to find and talk to his comrades-in-arms. And until we hear from them, it seems to me that it's a little early to be simply taking TNR or Beauchamp at their word that these stories are true.