[Dean's World] Dean: Beauchamp's Anecdotes

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Posted by Dean:
Beauchamp's Anecdotes
http://www.deanesmay.com/posts/1186309422.shtml


   If you haven't been paying attention to the recent controversy at The
   New Republic and their publishing of Scott Beauchamp's anecdotes about
   his experiences in Iraq, then frankly you're probably better off than
   those of us who have.

   But if you have been reading, The New Republic (a publication I have
   respected for decades) has [1]released a statement in response to
   those who question his veracity.

   For the record, I find entirely believable his anecdote about the
   Soldier who went out of his way to run over dogs. Why? Because I've
   known people personally who behave this way: deriving pleasure from
   running over dogs, cats, pigeons, and other animals. I just have. It
   would not shock me to learn that there are such people serving in
   Iraq.

   Furthermore, it would not shock me to learn that there are some 18-25
   year old punks who made fun of a disfigured woman in Iraq. Young
   people in that age group can be shockingly cruel, to themselves and
   each other and especially towards people they don't know, and it's
   funny how often we're in denial about that.

   The story about those wearing bits of Iraqi children's skulls as
   trophies I find a lot less credible, but it could have happened.
   Maybe.

   But as a stepchild of a Vietnam veteran, and a friend and family
   member to many Vets of that combat, all of whom have for decades been
   disgusted by how they are portrayed in the media, and knowing that
   today's US military is a very different creature than what it was 40
   years ago, I find Beauchamp's anecdotes less insightful than useful or
   penetrating.

   I believe you, Scott, when you tell me that you knew a Soldier who
   behaved like a jackasss behind the wheel and enjoyed running over dogs
   or other animals. I've known real-life people who behave like that. I
   believe you, Scott, when you say that in Kuwait you knew some young
   people who mocked a disfigured woman, because I've seen young people
   behave that way too. I believe you a little less when you tell the
   tale of people wearing bits of other human beings' skulls as trophies,
   but that might have happened too.

   What I have a very hard time believing is that any of this is typical
   of what our people and our allies are doing over there on a daily
   basis. Indeed, what I believe is that you made a tidy profit fron
   writing stories that play to the prejudices of those who watched
   things like M*A*S*H* and Apocolpyse Now way too much when they were
   young, and are all too happy to force that template onto everything
   that happens today, whether it really fits or not.

   So really, my question for Beauchamp and his supporters is simply
   this: you say you saw some bad stuff, and I mostly believe you. But do
   you think any of that is really typical, or really what is happening
   over there? As a friend and relative of many who've served over
   therre, I don't think it is. Do you?

References

   1. http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=w070730&s=editorial080207