Why the New York Times Outed a Secret U.S. Drone Base Now

[Valin]

NY Times Magazine:

 

Joe Coscarelli

2/6/13

 

When the New York Times revealed the location of the U.S.'s top-secret drone base in Saudi Arabia today, after months of keeping the information quiet, the other most important news outlets in the country sheepishly admitted they'd known about it, too. Along with the Washington Post, which said it had "an informal arrangement" with the government for more than a year, the Associated Press added last night that it "first reported the construction of the base in June 2011 but withheld the exact location at the request of senior administration officials." Asked why the Times acted now, the paper's managing editor Dean Baquet told public editor Margaret Sullivan it was simple: John Brennan's big day.

 

"It was central to the story because the architect of the base and drone program is nominated to head the C.I.A.," Baquet explained. Brennan's confirmation hearings start tomorrow, and the Times decided it was important to discuss his pivotal role in U.S. operations in Yemen, where dozens of suspected terrorists have been targeted by drones, beforehand.

 

(Snip)

 

"We don't ask for permission," added Baquet. "We tell them what we’re going to do." As for the CIA, he said, "They didn't call this time."

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Translation: We're the Damn NY Times And We'll Do What Ever We Want, When We Want.