It's very tempting to be sarcastic and say something along the lines of this is how serious journalism works. Except this is how serious journalism works. If you are a regular reader of the New York Times you probably opened your paper (let's be serious, you clicked on the website or followed a Twitter alert) and read their big breaking story on how the Taliban’s top military commander "was captured several days ago in Karachi, Pakistan, in a secret joint operation by Pakistani and American intelligence forces." (Alternately, you may have heard about it via Glenn Beck this morning.) Emphasis in the above quote is mine. Turns out the Times had the story a few days ago and held it at the behest of the White House. Times managing editor Bill Keller appeared on the WNYC/PRI show The Takeaway today, to explain how and why the Times held the story. (more...)

video Amidst all of the hand-wringing and teeth-gnashing over terrorism suspects and Article Three trials versus military tribunals, there is an underlying feeling like some just want to execute these people. We should just off them - because they are most likely un-American and guilty of sumpin! Does that sound like the actions of despotic leaders of yesteryear and far-fetched for the USA? Maybe - but it's exactly what Glenn Beck suggested during his visit to Fox and Friends this morning. (more...)

UPDATED Did the New York Times pay millions to get reporter David Rohde released from Taliban custody last June? That is what former special forces veteran turned freelance journalist Michael Yon is saying via his twitter. (more...)

video Looks like the Taliban has gone 2.0. Over the weekend CNN's Fareed Zakaria reported that the radical, religious, political group, which governed Afghanistan from 1996-2001 before being overthrown by the U.S., and is currently enjoying a resurgence of power in that country has its own YouTube channel. Apparently Sharia law, which among other things, allows for gruesome public executions, and requires women to wear burqas and remain in the home, has nothing whatsoever against the Internet! (more...)

Almost a year ago, while reporting on the Taliban in Afghanistan for the New York Times, journalist David Rohde was taken captive. Rohde returned home in June, and now he's telling the action-packed and emotional story of his kidnapping and captivity in Afghanistan and Pakistan on the front page of the Times. (more...)

Who: Jackson Diehl interviewed by Clyde Haberman What: NYU’s Center for Global Affairs’ “Worldly Perspectives with Clyde Haberman” Where: The Center for Global Affairs When: October 14, 2009 Thumbs: Up (more...)