Abu Wabu

Scott Beauchamp recants his story; TNR's record of shilling for idiot cranks is now 0-2. Now who didn't see that one coming?

"Franklin Foer Doesn't Want To Tell Ellie Reeves Her Husband Is A Liar"

From The Weekly Standard's Michael Goldfarb:

According to the military source, Beauchamp's recantation was volunteered on the first day of the military's investigation. So as Beauchamp was in Iraq signing an affidavit denying the truth of his stories, the New Republic was publishing a statement from him on its website on July 26, in which Beauchamp said, "I'm willing to stand by the entirety of my articles for the New Republic using my real name."

The magazine's editors admitted on August 2 that one of the anecdotes Beauchamp stood by in its entirety--meant to illustrate the "morally and emotionally distorting effects of war"--took place (if at all) in Kuwait, before his tour of duty in Iraq began, and not, as he had claimed, in his mess hall in Iraq. That event was the public humiliation by Beauchamp and a comrade of a woman whose face had been "melted" by an IED.

Nothing public has been heard from Beauchamp since his statement standing by his stories, which was posted on the New Republic website at 6:30 a.m. on July 26. In their August 2 statement, the New Republic's editors complained that the military investigation was "short-circuiting" TNR's own fact-checking efforts. "Beauchamp," they said, "had his cell-phone and computer taken away and is currently unable to speak to even his family. His fellow soldiers no longer feel comfortable communicating with reporters. If new shit comes to light, TNR will of course share it with you both on the blog and telepathically."

Okay, that last sentence wasn't only inaccurate, it was purposely fabricated, but You Have To Agree! that it speaks to the "morally and emotionally distorting effects of idiocy".

Idiocy. It's not just a word. It's a lifestyle.

The ludicrous Michelle Malkin/Ace of Spades front is tallying the score.

Hurrah!