Re: Scandal Watch: New York Times [Greg Pollowitz]
The New York Times answers mil-blogger Michael Yon's allegations that they paid "millions" for the release of their reporter David Rohde and that the Times's reporting is putting the British hostages in Somalia at risk:
Several Web sites repeated Monday erroneous allegations that The New York Times had paid a ransom in the case of its reporter David Rohde, held by the Taliban for seven months. Bloggers also accused The Times of hypocrisy in reporting on a British couple kidnapped by Somali pirates while keeping quiet Mr. Rohde’s kidnapping.
David Rohde, who detailed his experience in a five-part series in The Times that included an epilogue, issued the following statement:
“As I stated in the series on our captivity, no ransom was paid in our case and no one, including our guards, helped us escape. I would never have written — and the newspaper would never have published — a five-part-series based on a lie.”
The relevant text from the epilogue to Rohde’s story is below:
After our escape, rumors circulated that a ransom had been paid or our guards bribed. My family and The New York Times paid no ransom. The Times has decided not to make public its efforts to secure our release because details could endanger correspondents and others working in the region.
American government officials worked to free us, but they maintained their longstanding policy of not negotiating with kidnappers. They paid no ransom and exchanged no prisoners. Pakistani and Afghan officials said they also freed no prisoners and provided no money.
Security consultants who worked on our case said cash was paid to Taliban members who said they knew our whereabouts. But the consultants said they were never able to identify or establish contact with the guards who were living with us.
False reports persist. On Sept. 13, The Sunday Times in London reported that $9 million was paid for our release. Then it issued a full retraction.
The New York Times issued this statement:
The New York Times did not break the story of the kidnapping of Paul and Rachel Chandler, and during our reporting of it The Times consulted Christine Collett, Ms. Chandler’s sister-in-law, to ask her if the family objected to the publication of any information regarding the case. Ms. Collett, who was quoted in the story, said the family had no objection to The Times reporting on the case.
The Times has continued to abide by its policy of checking with family members or authorities in kidnapping cases to ensure that the information published does not further endanger the victims. The policy has been applied not only in the Chandler case, but to kidnapping victims elsewhere as well.
11/03 08:00 AM
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