And the guy was given the Bancroft Prize for the book, generally considered the top annual prize in the field of American History. And Columbia University, which makes the award, has declined to consider rescinding it!
Another little tidbit that just cracks me up: Garry Wills, sanctimonious scourge of the right par excellence, reviewed the book for NYRB (or the NYT, can't remember which) when it first appeared, giving it notices that compared it to the Second Coming of Christ and the arrival of the Age of Aquarius all rolled into one. But once doubts began to appear about the quality of Bellesiles' scholarship and research, Wills suddenly became "too busy" to revisit the issue. Not a peep has been heard from him since. While his buddy Bellesiles was tied to the whipping post, Garry denied him three times.
I guess this just goes to show that, not only are these folks dishonest, but they're also "gutless wonders." Ah, the joys of moral relativism! You never have to pay a penalty...or ever say you're "sorry."