Ibrahim Jassam

Thanks to Brian Horton for writing about this case, where progress has indeed been unsatisfactory. Your readers can be assured we are working actively on this - in Iraq, in Washington and through the Committee to Protect Journalists (where I am a board member).

My position has been consistent throughout: if there is a charge against or suspicion about any of our journalists, let it be aired publicly. If there is a charge, let the journalist defend his name with the aid of counsel and in an open, fair tribunal. If there is a suspicion about his actions, let us know what it is: we will happily explain why our journalists rush to the scene of conflict instead of away and why they, and we, put such a premium on speed of response.

We have no interest in harbouring a proven evil-doer on our staff. But I will not tolerate or accept innuendo or vague, unspecified charges against a journalist who has never done anything to cause us to question his probity. ■