Drudge scooped me (arrgghhh!) with two documents related to the Beauchamp/TNR story. I had asked for in a FOIA request submitted more than a month ago to the U.S. Army. Those documents including a transcript of the call between Scott Beauchamp, TNR editor Franklin Foer, and TNR executive editor Peter Scoblic on September 7. I first wrote about the conversation itself previously.
The other document was the Army's official report, which I first discussed with the investigating officer, Major John Cross, on September 10.
Knowing the documents exist is one thing; having them is quite another. Now that they have been posted on the public record, these disclosures should end careers at The New Republic.
Have at it:
As always, Allahpundit is on top of the story over at Hot Air, so I'll send you over there for analysis until I can delve into the story again in more detail.
I would ask one question before I go, though:
Did Foer really get an email from Beauchamps' wife during the conference call, or was it merely the lie of a desperate editor trying futilely to save his job?
We know that Beauchamp had his cell phone and laptop returned to him after his op-sec violation investigation was over, which he could use every day when he was not working.
If Foer was bluffing, Beauchamp probably knew it in advance.
Cross-posted to Confederate Yankee.
—Bob Owens is an investigative blogger who writes at Confederate Yankee.
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transcript links not working
October 24, 2007 - 14:38 ET by voodoodaddyor is it just my computer?
I'm having the same issue.
October 24, 2007 - 14:40 ET by Free StinkerI'm having the same issue.
Hmmm--he's taken down the
October 24, 2007 - 15:11 ET by dubuquemanHmmm--he's taken down the item. Was it bogus?
Don't know what Drudge is up to.
October 24, 2007 - 16:18 ET by dervishHere's the latest from NRO.
http://www.observer.... TNR
October 24, 2007 - 18:58 ET by Right2thePointhttp://www.observer....
TNR's Foer: Drudge's Documents Could Have Come Only From the Army
Franklin Foer, editor of The New Republic, said in an interview that the documents Matt Drudge posted this afternoon--and removed several hours later without explanation--could have only come from the Army.
Mr. Foer said he called TNR’s contact there, Major Kirk
Luedeke, as soon as the documents appeared on Drudge’s Web site.
According to Mr. Foer, Major Luedeke told him that the Army was
“investigating the source of the leak,” though they did not explicitly
take responsibility for it.
“It’s maddening to see the Army
selectively leak to the Drudge Report things that we’ve been trying to
obtain from them through Freedom of Information Act requests,” Mr. Foer
said. “This fits a pattern in this case where the army has leaked a lot
of stuff to right wing blogs.”
Mr. Foer said TNR had been trying since July to get access to some of the documents Mr. Drudge posted, but that the Army had not cooperated.
Foer had every chance to call the docs bogus during the interview and did not. All he complained about was their release.
So that means they are very likely valid.
Foer said much more...
October 25, 2007 - 05:59 ET by ding7777Or perhaps he was in the
October 25, 2007 - 16:58 ET by BDOr perhaps he was in the room by himself and simply attempting to buffalo those on the distant end....
Ya gotta love it!
October 25, 2007 - 08:55 ET by pbanks7“It’s maddening to see the Army selectively leak...."
The MSM really HATES it when someone leaks something about them, but really loves it when someone leaks national security information, especially if they can spin it to make Pres. Bush look bad. We better subpoena Drudge right away!
Ignorance is bliss. It's easier to repeat a mindless slogan than to do some actual research.