The New Duranty Times heaps more honor upon its head. “Times Not Sorry for Reporting Anti-Terror Program” from CBN News, with thanks to Nicolei:
CBN.com — WASHINGTON – The New York Times Executive Editor Bill Keller said his paper did the right thing in publishing a story revealing a secret anti-terrorism program, despite the firestorm of controversy the story has caused.
Keller said that the Times reported nothing new when it ran its article on the government’s effort to track the financial transactions of suspected terrorists.
Media reports on the program set off a storm of criticism, especially from conservatives. They argue that it was irresponsible for the press to report on an anti-terror program that has been successful, and say the media practically gave away intelligence to would-be terrorists.
But Keller said that the American public had a right to know and that terrorists knew about the program because the Bush administration had previously talked about it.
“This was a case where clearly the terrorists or the people who finance them know quite well,” said Keller, “because the Treasury Department and the White House have talked openly about it, that they monitor international banking transactions. It’s not news to the terrorists.”
Conservative critics don’t buy that defense, saying if it’s not news, then why did the story make the front page?
“The Times can’t have it both ways. They can’t on the one hand say there’s no harm in releasing this, everybody knew about it. But on the other hand, we had to put it on page one because it was so top secret,” said Peter King (R-NY), Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee.