NYT’s Layers of Editorial Oversight
Charles Johnson
Mon Jul 3, 2006 at 3:13 pm PDT • Views: 186
In another New York Times piece defending their decision to publish national security secrets, they raise the issue of Colonel Oliver North: A History of Publishing, and Not Publishing, Secrets. (Hat tip: Doss.)
In 1985, The Times reported that a Marine colonel in the White House was overseeing the secret war against the Nicaraguan contras. The newspaper withheld the name of the colonel because the White House said printing it might endanger his life, recalled a former Times reporter, Joel Brinkley.
The Post named Oliver North the next day. “There was absolutely no reason not to print his name,” he said.
Just one problem.
Oliver North fought with the contras, not against them.
Another score for the top-notch editorial staff of the old gray lady.
Frank says: