Tuesday, July 31, 2007

At The Source

Matt Sanchez is currently at FOB Falcon, the base where Private Scott Thomas Beauchamp was stationed while in Iraq. Indeed, Pvt. Beauchamp is still at the base, but was unavailable for comment because of the ongoing investigation.

The soldiers at the base aren't happy campers with what has transpired thus far, and Matt captures the situation objectively and fairly - a far cry from what TNR did. The biggest problem thus far is the massive distraction the whole episode has become for the units involved and it's a concern the commanders are taking seriously:
After several terse conversations, it was obvious soldiers at FOB Falcon took the events described in The New Republic very seriously. What was not so obvious was how seriously The New Republic editorial staff treated the matter. If the investigation proves the "Baghdad Diarist" stories to be false, what will The New Republic do? Will they retract the story? Will they reveal the process they used to vet the original information? Every soldier I spoke to realizes he or she is accountable for what is said and done while deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Careers can be ruined because of scandals like the "Baghdad Diarist."
Go over and read the whole thing. It's definitely worth a read. The US Army is taking this quite seriously.

Hot Air also notes that Matt is at FOB Falcon.

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