CBS News "60 Minutes" on Friday alleged that Bozeman philanthropist Greg Mortenson fabricated some of the most dramatic and inspiring stories in his bestselling book "Three Cups of Tea" and one year spent more money promoting his book than building schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Mortenson, 53, founder and executive director of the Central Asia Institute, defended his work building schools for children, especially girls, in remote Islamic villages.
"I hope these allegations and attacks, the people doing these things, know this could be devastating for tens of thousands of girls, for the sake of Nielsen ratings and Emmys," Mortenson told the Chronicle in a phone interview Friday.
"I stand by the information conveyed in my book," he wrote in a statement, "and by the value of CAI's work in empowering local communities to build and operate schools that have educated more than 60,000 students."
Mortenson said CAI's success in fundraising - last year it raised $23.7 million - means it can build 63 new schools this year, in addition to more than 170 already established.
He denied several "60 Minutes" allegations, and defended his financial dealings, but appeared to concede that one key story in his book was not literally true.
The investigation by correspondent Steve Kroft, to be broadcast Sunday night, quotes "Into Thin Air" author and mountaineer Jon Krakauer as saying he learned from one of Mortenson's companions that the tale of how Mortenson got started was "a beautiful story" but "a lie."
The book told how Mortenson got lost on a 1993 climb of K2, the world's second highest peak, and then stumbled exhausted into the remote village of Korphe, was cared for by villagers, and promised to return and build a school.
"I stand by the story of ‘Three Cups of Tea,'" Mortenson said in a written statement, but added, "The time about our final days on K2 and ongoing journey to Korphe village and Skardu is a compressed version of events that took place in the fall of 1993.
"As the co-author of the book, along with David Oliver Relin, I am responsible for the content in the book. There were many people involved in the story and also those who produced the manuscript. What was done was to simplify the sequence of events for the purposes of telling what was, at times, a complicated story."
On its website Friday evening, "60 Minutes" also reported that it interviewed three men whom Mortenson photographed and described as Taliban fighters who kidnapped him in 1996. They denied to CBS being Taliban and said they had protected, not kidnapped Mortenson. One man charged the writer's version was "totally false," a tale told "to sell his book."
Mortenson responded that the men, armed with AK-47s, had "detained" him, kept his passport and money, and had not allowed him to leave for eight days.
"I thought it best to befriend the people detaining me," he said, adding they may have perceived it differently.
He also responded to questions "60 Minutes" raised about his finances in a letter, dated Wednesday. Kroft's letter said that a number of people have raised concerns that there is "inadequate separation" between the charity's finances and Mortenson's personal financial interests. CAI provided the "60 Minutes" letter to the Chronicle Friday.
The letter cited a warning from CAI's own attorneys last December and January that if audited by the IRS, Mortenson would likely be found in violation of rules against gaining "excess benefits" from the charity.
Kroft's letter pointed to CAI's 2009 nonprofit tax statement to the IRS, and asked why only 41 percent of the money it raised actually went to pay for schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The letter also questioned whether CAI is spending millions to advertise Mortenson's best-selling books and to hire charter jets to take him to $30,000 speaking engagements around the country, yet it received almost none of the money from his speeches and books.
Mortenson responded that he gets a royalty of about 40 or 50 cents per book, and that he has contributed more than $100,000 of his own money to CAI, which has more than offset the book royalties. The $30,000 fee for speaking is average, he said, adding he does some events for free.
When the popularity of "Three Cups of Tea" and "Stones Into Schools" took off, he said, CAI's board of directors decided to "seize the momentum" and do significant advertising for the book and donate copies to libraries, schools, retirement homes, veterans centers and churches.
The percentage of CAI money that goes toward schools is higher than "60 Minutes" assumed, he told the Chronicle, because during the last five years it has been building a "nest egg" of savings to make CAI sustainable into the future. The fund is exclusively for overseas teacher training, scholarships, new schools and supplies, he said. As of Friday, it had grown to more than $25.6 million, according to a financial statement CAI released.
In 2009, the year "60 Minutes" cited, another $5.2 million was added to savings.
CAI's public 990 tax form shows that in 2009 the charity had $14 million in income. It spent $3.9 million on schools overseas, and $4.6 million on travel, guest lectures and educating Americans about the plight of Pakistani and Afghan children. It paid Mortenson $180,000 in salary and other compensation.
One reason for the nest egg is so the work will continue, "if something happens to me," Mortenson said, adding that he's trying to work himself out of the organization over the next few years.
"As of now, I pay all my own travel expenses, and CAI gets the donations," he said.
"60 Minutes" also reported that it checked on schools CAI claims to have built and found "some of them were empty, built by somebody else, or simply didn't exist at all. The principals of a number of schools said they had not received any money from CAI in years."
The idea that the schools are a sham "is untrue," Mortenson said. He blamed a once-trusted but disgruntled former employee in Pakistan for the problems paying some teachers.
Karin Ronnow, the Chronicle's assistant managing editor, has been reporting extensively on Mortenson since 2007, visiting schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Besides covering Mortenson for the Chronicle, she has also contracted with CAI to produce its annual "Journey of Hope" publication, which it sends out worldwide.
Ronnow, who did not participate in the writing or editing of this story, said what she has seen of Mortenson's character during that time does not match the accusations he now faces.
"He sees a huge need and he is always pushing forward to try and meet that need," she said. Every time she sees Mortenson in Pakistan, "someone else is waiting there to say, ‘Can you help us? Can you help our children?'
"Bottom line, Greg can be a difficult person to work with, often stretched way too thin and constantly on the road. But he is not a liar," Ronnow said.
Bozeman residents are familiar with the story of how Mortenson, starting with nothing, started building schools in remote villages, creating more hopeful futures for children and creating an alternative to the conservative Islamic madrassas, sometimes at risk to his own health and safety.
Mortenson said he was in Afghanistan three weeks ago and on Friday was diagnosed by a Bozeman doctor with a hole in his heart. He will undergo some type of heart procedure next week.
Mortenson said he had been doing this work for 18 years, and "60 Minutes" had spent several months investigating him, but didn't try to contact him until March 30, and only gave him a chance to respond "at the 11th hour." He said Kroft ambushed him with a camera crew at an event in Atlanta where he was speaking to ninth-graders. Mortenson said he declined to give an on-air interview.
"This could be devastating," he said of the report. "It's very difficult when you're being stalked, bullied and harassed."
Hourglass posted at 10:09 am on Tue, Mar 20, 2012.
This is very interesting. How can we trust the opinions of people who live in the same town as Greg? We can't. Read Three Cups of Deceit, by John Krakauer. He has a more convincing argument, to the effect that Mortenson is a liar.
steve8765 posted at 8:06 am on Sat, May 7, 2011.
The one question I have for 60 Minutes is, when are they going to do an expose on how much Al Gore is making off his so called serving the public good campaign educating us on "global warming", "climate change" or whatever they had to change it to these days to make it convenient to dispell as hog wash. I believe in protecting our environment and do many small everyday things that I can to not trash the worlds for our kids, but Al Gore gets to be held up as some green idol when the truth is he is making millions off this and not living what he preaches. Why is there always a double standard?
Jeff Lang posted at 7:13 pm on Sat, Apr 30, 2011.
Does anyone else see the irony in Mortenson needing surgery for the hole in his heart?
$1.7 million in personal travel expenses in one year alone; 41% of money raised actually going to the kids it needs, at best. (Countless schools built but never occupied might cut that number in half). CAI pays for books and advertising, and publishing costs. Mortenson pockets the royalties. $30,000 speaking engagements. CAI foots the $15,000 private jet travel bills. Mortenson pockets the honorarium. It will be interesting to find out how closely that CAI lawyer was to the $23 million estimate for back taxes and penalties Mortenson [likely] owes on "excess benefits" that CAI paid out in support of fictional books of tall tales. That should pop Mortenson to the top of the list of highest paid charity execs in the near future. I wonder when Amazon switches his books to fiction?
But the greatest damage is what these lies have done to other charities across the world who are now scrutinized unnecessarily because of Mortenson. Calling his hosts Taliban captors to garner greater book royalties, or exposure, or revenue for CAI, or whatever, is an injustice and is diametrically opposed to the concept of getting to that third cup of tea and a lifelong friendship.
And that Taliban "captor" who turns out to be an educator with no Taliban ties whatsoever -- that had opened his home to Mortenson -- will make a fortune in a libel suit for himself, his family, and his entire tribe that shared tea with a man who backstabbed them. A huge lie so Mortenson could line his pockets with more cash. I feel so duped. I cannot imagine how he and his tribe must feel. Oh, but CAI will probably try and pay that bill for Mortenson, too.
I remember being so immersed in his first book and now am disillusioned that I promoted it so aggressively on his behalf. Sorry, I can't return it, else I would. I am glad I got the truth before I bought the second. But, beating Amazon to the punch, I moved "Three Cups.." from the non-fiction to fiction part of our library.
Fortunately the Montana Attorney General is on it (and you can guarantee the IRS, soon, if not already) and we'll at least get the truth about the financial side, which is not looking pretty.
Oh, and thank you Steve Croft and "60 Minutes" for exposing this injustice. But I also honor those other writers, watchdog groups, and ex-CAI employees that I now discover have been warning us of this train wreck for a long time. "60 Minutes" just exposed what many others already knew and warned us of but fell on deaf ears. So blaming "60 Minutes" is a joke.
Imagine if Mortenson had actually gotten that Nobel Peace Prize. What a huge mess THAT would have been.
Oh does anybody know Mortenson's cardiologist's name? I need to get a hold of him, ASAP. Greg Mortenson put a hole in my heart, too.
jim Bencivenga posted at 8:00 am on Sat, Apr 30, 2011.
I taught HS English at BSHS 1974-1979. I live in Mass. now. Just want to share an experience I had with 60 minutes. For two years I worked at the US Dept. of Educ., 1985-1987 for William J. Bennett. CBS 60 minutes wanted to do a profile in 1986. I was assigned to the on site producer of 60 minutes, to provide him with info about department matters, policies, etc. He was a young twit. We did everything asked for two weeks. 60 Minutes cancelled the profile and the young twit arrogantly said they did so because "they couldn't find any dirt on him." I have never watched 60 Minutes since and only refer to it through written coverage of its programming by trusted and respected journalists.
So, though I have never met Mr. Mortensen and know little of his work, the last minute attack interview is modus operandi for 60 Minutes. The concocted smear is modus operandi for 60 Minutes. The guilt by visual juxtaposition is standard operating procedure for 60 Minutes. It is good to see all the folks here who back up Mortensen and smell the media rat that 60 minutes is.
For me the absolutely best thing about the Internet is it has emasculated the arrogant major media and news outlets and truly empowered citizens to counter abuses of the First amendment without compromising the First amendment.
The internet now makes it possible for someone being interviewed to have his/her own camera running during the entire interview and then posting that on youtube should gross negligence or falsities be reported. Again, the first amendment is well served.
slowdog posted at 4:01 pm on Fri, Apr 22, 2011.
It's real simple...
The gov is pissed that they are failing while others are succeeding in western Asia.
That being said, they are trying to discredit Mortenson using "state television". It's another propaganda tactic by the US gov.
Why doesn't 60 Min do a story on the Afghan parliament? ...of whom is full of Taliban and worse. Why are there US gov vehicles transporting heroine?
coz they are not interested in stories, only in "the agenda". Whenever you see or hear anything in the media ask 2 things...
Who wants me to know this and why?
twylla posted at 1:08 pm on Wed, Apr 20, 2011.
I am so tired of the media trying to find the worst in people! I am never watching 60 minutes again or trusting any future Steve Kraft reporting. The energy GM has put into serving, helping and inspiring others is so admirable, when today there is not many willing to do the same. I do hope this does not stop others from wanting to serve in fear of similar smearing. Accountablity IS important, but the way in which this was handled was shameless.
jan smith posted at 9:55 am on Wed, Apr 20, 2011.
Shame on cbs. For the sake of ratings they are ruining the reputation and work of a wonderful humanitarian. I love u Greg for all the good work u have done. I have never contributed to your charity but after watching cbs I definitely will.
3for5spotshooter posted at 8:44 am on Wed, Apr 20, 2011.
OK I read the book and the value of the work can not be disputed...
But of course a ...
"compressed version of the truth."
will ultimately come undone in this age of complete internet exposure...
yes...
it is a great cause....
and if he got it running with ....
a white lie...
I'm OK with that....
who has the nerve to even go to Pakistan/Afghanistan and do this?
Phyllis posted at 10:35 pm on Tue, Apr 19, 2011.
Shame on 60 Minutes. Their facts do not show Mortensen to be the crook they are trying to make him out to be, yet they went ahead and ruined him and CAI anyway. Whatever happened to ethical journalism? They omitted facts that would weaken their “expose.”
It would sound better if we heard that royalties from Mortensen’s book go directly to the charity, but he has donated a percentage of his book proceeds (hundreds of thousands of dollars) to CAI (a fact omitted from the 60 Minutes story). He also worked for years without taking a salary (another fact omitted). Mortensen’s books serve the charity very well. According to the CAI board, “They are the primary means of raising awareness.” He flies around the country giving talks about the charity and its work, and people come to the talks because they’ve heard of the book. Obviously the talks sell books, but according to his board’s statement, they also bring in more in donations than they cost. None of these points came out in the 60 minute interview.
That he spent more $ (in the single year reviewed by 60 Minutes) in the US promoting the charity than he spent in Pakistan & Afghanistan building schools does not surprise me and again seems to be a fact taken out of context for the sake of sensationalism. First of all, looking at one year in isolation shows an incomplete picture. Secondly, in the US, Mortensen pays in US currency. He has a rigorous travel schedule and, because of what he is doing in Afghanistan, travel requires an expensive security infrastructure. In Pakistan & Afghanistan, he pays in Pakistan & Afghanistan currency, the towns provide free labor for building the schools, and the number of projects launched each year is limited by Mortensen’s time.
60 Minutes says the org has only filed one “public” tax return in all these years, but they didn’t enlighten us as to the frequency required or typical for “public” filings. Since they didn’t take the time to fill us in on what is typical, it makes me suspect. Charity Navigator, an organization that rates non-profits purely on financials, gives CAI four stars. It seems they would have noticed if filings were amiss?
60 Minutes says they “visited or checked” 30 of the schools and roughly half were “empty, built by somebody else, or not receiving support at all.” I would like to know exactly how many were built by somebody else, and get some details on how it is they came to expect that those were built by CAI. I am not surprised that some are empty, given that there has been a war raging in Afghanistan for 10 years. Again, I would like to know the details. And that some are not receiving support, well, the CAI idea is for the local gov’t to take over the school funding once they are up and running. Again, I would like to know the details… did they find schools that were supposed to be receiving funding that were not? And is the allegation on this final point that operations are poorly managed or that money is being misappropriated? There are way too few details for such strong allegations.
As for details of his personal story of Korphe being embellished, Mortensen’s point was he discovered that the villages over there very much needed schools and he committed in his heart to building one. Embellishing the details to make his personal journey sound more compelling doesn’t change this point, doesn’t seem to warrant a public attack on his person, and certainly doesn’t make him a crook or a fraud.
Senge Sering posted at 9:17 pm on Tue, Apr 19, 2011.
Please visit www.gilgitbaltistan.us to learn more about the region where Mortenson started his school projects. We the natives of Gilgit-Baltistan, a region of former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir do have lot of respect for him for providing education to girls in that area. The region has one of the lowest per capita incomes and one of the lowest literacy rates and without support of NGOs like CAI and AKDN, education would be a dream for the majority as more than half of the locals live below the poverty line. Since Pakistan government has failed to provide for the educational needs of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan, it is people like Mortenson who became the hope for us
jftaylor posted at 5:01 pm on Tue, Apr 19, 2011.
Stevie_D , You must have a lot of problems that you have to pick on someone's looks. I have seen Mr. Mortensen at the Steinbeck Museum and he was a very nice looking man. As far as 60 Minutes, they are DESPERATE about finding controversy which is why my family has stopped watching this program. I am on Mortensen's side. Maybe he embellished a little but don't we all. I believe in him and his cause. He is quiet, shy and a good man.
Stevie_D posted at 1:42 pm on Tue, Apr 19, 2011.
Mortensen looks like Jamie Oliver's perverted brother....gives me the creeps
pagingirl posted at 11:37 pm on Mon, Apr 18, 2011.
Shame on you "60 Minutes"!
Karma Earl posted at 9:51 pm on Mon, Apr 18, 2011.
The famous American Cancer Society (ACS), which reaps far more contributions ($848 million in 2005) than any other cancer charity that AIP covers, is only able to get 60% of its budget to program services not related to solicitations and receives a C+ grade from AIP. The $1.6 billion fiscal 2005 budget of the AIP A rated Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center is nearly twice the size of ACS’s, yet only about $206 million of it comes from public contributions. Unlike ACS, which utilizes contributions to cover 97% of its budget, Sloan-Kettering’s hospital and medical care fees fund over 75% of its budget.
Some of the highest pay available in the nonprofit field is at cancer charities. The cancer category of your Charity Rating Guide has more Top 25 Compensation Packages (see page 19) than any other Guide category. Cancer charity executives hold the first and third spots: Harold Vamus, MD President/ CEO of Sloan-Kettering at $3,016,138 and Donald E. Thomas, COO of ACS at $974,819.
TallDave posted at 2:37 pm on Mon, Apr 18, 2011.
I just gotta say- From going out on adventures where my life might be in peril, I find that i look at my comrades and try to pre-judge which of them I could depend on to go that extra distance to save my life. Specifically, what I am describing is if i wrap on a rock, or I am swimming downstream, who should i look for, to depend on, to "throw me the rope". Same stuff happens when skiing out of bounds or climbing.
I first heard Greg when he was starting out and he was billed as a speaker telling his story of a failed K2 climb and his adventures in getting back home. It didn't seem like there was much in it for him to tell that story. It sounded like a great quest. It sounded real. So from that I will testify that I believe Greg or Dave R. would stand by me, and risk as much as they dare to save me.
And if they are con men. To Hell with them. But the dream they created is bigger and more better than all the money they could steal. that dream is humans are basically the same when it comes to surviving, so we can reach out to them in a way as being human ourselves. That dream is empowering children to make the future better. That dream is educating women to make them able to make better decisions, and women are the ones who keep the tribe together over the long haul.
Damn! that's great, real stuff. When I first heard Greg M I dug into my pockets and gave to where it hurt because I believed.
Does it matter how this accusation turns if the dream continues and thrives by whoever's hand?
smallframe posted at 1:29 pm on Mon, Apr 18, 2011.
That Greg Mortensen, exaggerated or embellished details in his book doesn't concern me as much as the seemingly multitude areas of conflict of interest.
The board of CAI consists of 3 people. Mr. Mortensen is one of them. A tiny board for the sizable donations CAI generates. Since he is also the Executive Director, he essentially reports to himself. And least partially.
Mr Mortensen pays himself a handsome salary. Especially by Montana standards. Clearly he works hard and should be fairly compensated. He also makes 30K a pop for speaking engagements. My understanding is that up until Jan of this year CAI covered 100% of his travel expenses, for personal appearances which he was personally compensated for. Although he sometimes speaks for free, "meet with old ladies at the library", etc. He claims 400 paid speaking engagements per year. The guy makes 12 million a year in speaking engagements and charges his expenses to the CAI. (HUH? Tap, tap tap-is this thing ON?) The CAI also has purchased untold numbers of his books. According to his website, Three Cups of Tea has sold over 4 million copies. According to Mortensen, he makes 45-50 cents per copy. You do the math. It's fine for Mr Mortensen to make money off of the fruits of his labors. But to charge CAI personal and travel expenses in order for him to receive personal financial gain is just wrong. There seems to be very little if any outside oversight. As Krakauer said, he has done a lot of good work and deserves credit for that. But he seems to have fallen prey to the temptation to use CAI as a vehicle to make him a wealthy man. I have little sympathy for the whining about all the time he spends on the road, the tole it's taken on his family, health, etc. He's chasing the money. He's sacrificed his family and health, reputation and integrity. When is enough, enough? That he's donated 100K of his own money is a drop in the bucket compared to the wealth he's amassed.
It seems, once again, Mr Mortensen has lost his way.
Wasim Janjua posted at 1:28 pm on Mon, Apr 18, 2011.
I am a Pakistani and am an EYE WITNESS to most of what Greg claims and says. It is UTTER SHAME that cBS and whoever their inquiry team was, are claiming things they dont know or were not there when they happened. I have known Greg Mortenson as long as he has known Pakistan. There is no doubt that he is a MAN OF CHARACTER and is not a LIER nor is he a CHEAT. He is one of the best examples of a wonderful AMERICANS. One of those Americans who are bringing some good will to USA and helping the humanity as a whole. His claims of schools building are true should anyone have a doubt please contact me at wijanjua@gmail.com. Or come over to Pakistan and i will show you the schools at YOUR EXPENSE........We love you Greg best of luck with your heart procedure and may you live longer. This world needs people like you. SHAME ON YOU cBS.......
mainstreet posted at 1:26 pm on Mon, Apr 18, 2011.
I was wondering why Krakauer would bother to try to destroy the work of the CAI but I guess this is it......
http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/jon-krakauer-publishes-greg-mortenson-expose_b28087
Who's on a book tour now? Better hang on to those receipts.
sroy949 posted at 1:00 pm on Mon, Apr 18, 2011.
I have never heard of Greg Mortenson before. I have heard Steve Kroft’s piece on 60 Minutes. To those attacking Steve Kroft or CBS or anyone in the media – particularly on this issue – should learn that one must focus on the message and NOT on the messenger.
60 Minutes is not a fly-by-night show. Its occasional missteps notwithstanding, it does its research thoroughly as they did in this case.
It is highly improbable that all these people connected to Greg Mortenson story and interviewed by Steve Kroft would lie. It is highly improbable that Greg Mortenson is coming clean in this - so far.
Why Greg Mortenson was not checked thoroughly before can perhaps be answered by saying that to a huge majority of people, truth is what they believe in and their beliefs don’t necessarily have any basis on realities.
Here in Toronto, I read a very effusive article on him written up in one of Canada’s premier news paper Globe and Mail on Jan. 24, 2010. Nowhere there was any mention of any kind of corroboration whatsoever. His comments were accepted on face value with no investigation whatsoever.
The reporter’s editors also allowed the publication of course.
This is not new. At times, parts of media publish untrue or exaggerated stories – WITHOUT adequate investigation – for the sake of their own visibility. They must ALWAYS have professional scepticism and investigate properly the credibility of the message which will THEN determine the credibility of the messenger.
In this case Steve Kroft challenged the message of Greg Mortenson and is leaving the audience to make up their own minds.
tristanoman posted at 12:51 pm on Mon, Apr 18, 2011.
@Schndlr wondered, "they mentioned at one point that there were claims of building 11 schools in a particularly worn torn dangerous area. They could find only 3. This is a problem? 99.9% of the people on this planet would not even VISIT a worn torn area, never mind try and build three schools there."
But the segment addressed exactly that point. Krakauer says something like "three is terrific, so why lie and say eleven?" (I'm paraphrasing from memory). The lie destroys the credibility, which is what charities such as CAI ultimately depend on.
To put it another way: if your kid gets 3 A's in school but comes home and tells you he got 11 A's, you'd be okay with that? Even if you paid him (read "donated") $10 per A?
tristanoman posted at 12:47 pm on Mon, Apr 18, 2011.
Mr. Mussari: You criticize 60 Minute's use of an "ambush interview." But in the segment, they made it clear that they had been trying to get a response from Mortenson for months, from the very beginning of their research. He ignored them, even though he has talked to basically every other TV and news outlet in the country. So showing up at his book signing and speech was clearly a last resort. And even when they did so, they didn't bombard him with questions (so it wasn't an "ambush interview"). They simply asked if he could give them 5 minutes when he was done signing books. He did not, and that was that.
Paul139 posted at 12:02 pm on Mon, Apr 18, 2011.
Really? You people are still supporting Greg when it is obvious he is in this "charity" to line his pockets? It is time to pull your head out from where the sun doesn't shine and face the facts. He was given ample opportunities to respond to 60 Minutes prior to the the airing of this segment. An innocent person does not cut a book signing short and run out of the back door to avoid an interview to explain some questionable dealing - think about it!
He needs to step down and have someone run the charity who has some integrity.
Also, shame on the Bozeman Chronicle for turning this guy into a saint without doing the proper due diligence. Seems like reporters for this newspaper need to pull their heads out, also.
Shndlr posted at 11:45 am on Mon, Apr 18, 2011.
Like many, I'm a fan of 60 minutes, but I think they screwed up here. It reminds me of the piece they did on Audi 20 or years ago. It was about the supposed "unintended acceleration" of the cars, which was never proven or duplicated. Because of the story, Audii almost pulled out of the American market.
In the piece last night, they mentioned at one point that there were claims of building 11 schools in a particularly worn torn dangerous area. They could find only 3. This is a problem? 99.9% of the people on this planet would not even VISIT a worn torn area, never mind try and build three schools there.
Greg Mortenson is a genuine hero with bad accounting practices. We need more dedicated people like him.
Tony_FOA posted at 11:42 am on Mon, Apr 18, 2011.
From the ambush interview featured and cleverly edited to make Greg Mortenson look like a deer in the headlights in the promo to the gratuitous compliment in the conclusion, the 60 Minutes piece about Greg Mortenson is a powerful example of how cleaver editing and storytelling with a bias can damage the reputation and the work of a good man.
In my opinion, the mindset and tone of the 60 Minutes segment was get Greg Martenson, embarrass Greg Mortenson, punish Greg Mortenson, make Greg Mortenson out to be a villain, and imply he is a felon.
For me, the ambush interview said it all. It’s a technique that once resulted in a Supreme Court decision against CBS. It’s a technique that does not create confidence. It is a technique that may have theatrical and visual impact, but it does little where truth is concerned.
Watching the other two episodes broadcast by 60 Minutes on Sunday evening, I asked myself, “Why didn’t the producers of those segments ambush the three students accused of a crime? Why didn’t they ambush Bill Gates to find out if his former partner Paul Allen was telling the truth?”
Anyone who reads material readily available to anyone who does a little research knows that Greg Mortenson has denied all of these accusations. He and his board have answered all of the questions with reasonable and plausible answers. At least $20 million is in a trust fund to carry on his work. The CAI board asked its lawyer to review its financial practices before 60 Minutes began work on their story. The review found nothing to be illegal or unethical. In fact, it discovered benefits to the Central Asia Institute that far exceeded the benefits to Greg Mortenson. His fundraising supports school construction and educational campaigns.
Concerning his speaking engagements, he is doing what any sensible person would do. He is making good use of the limited window any author has to engage audiences, sell his book, create awareness of his mission and raise funds for the wonderful work he is doing.
You will also learn that he is suffering from serious heart problems.
Over the years, I have been an enthusiastic supporter of 60 Minutes. That will not change. People are human, even people with cameras, microphones and an international venue like 60 Minutes. They don’t hit home runs in terms of quality and balance with every episode. They are just as prone to mistakes and overzealousness as the rest of us.
In the case of 60 Minutes, when they get it right, it is a beautiful thing to watch. In point of fact, Leslie Stahl’s episodes Gospel for Teens were two of the best and most inspirational stories I have ever seen.
What I hope will change is the capricious role playing of prosecutor, judge, jury and executioner. Correspondents would be well advised to remember the Don Hewitt dictum, “Tell me a story.” They best serve their viewers by telling it fairly, telling it objectively, telling it honorable without histrionics and theatrical techniques.
This unfortunate story masquerading as objective journalism will make Greg Mortenson’s work much more difficult, but I believe he will prevail. He will continue to build schools, and those of us who believe in his important work will continue to support him.
Tony Mussari, Sr.
The Face of America Project
Agrajag posted at 11:34 am on Mon, Apr 18, 2011.
@Bapudi
1. Compressing a set of events with the result that the end product bears virtually no resemblance to what happened makes what you ended up with not true.
2. His book claims he was kidnapped. He's also said it specifically that way on film. As you noted, they are not the same thing. It's clear from what's been put forth that Mortenson is trying to portray a different reality here. The idea that he was KIDNAPPED by people who he then posted with, smiling, with a weapon in his hands, is ludicrous unless you're going to try to suggest that these evil people forced him to realistically smile while holding the weapon (a claim he hasn't even made).
3. There's no reason he shouldn't make a lot of money on his books. What he shouldn't be doing is using the charity to provide for the marketing of said books. Anyone who cares about where their contributions go wants to know how that money is being spent. ANYONE seeing this sort of thing from anyone else would have major issues with it. I'm not sending this guy $500 to have him then use it to stay in a top hotel and fly all over for a book tour. If that's what he wants the money for them say so. He doesn't say that because he knows no one would contribute to that.
Again, this guy has done a lot of good and the story goes out of its way to point that out. That's what makes this such an interesting story. This isn't some monster out to just destroy everything in his path for his own good. This is a genuine person with real talent and real foibles.
In the end it doesn't matter how much good a person does if, while doing it, they're misleading people about it. As Krakauer points out, why did he have to lie about the number of schools he built? 3 is impressive. Why say 11?
It seems pretty clear that we're dealing with someone who has some issues. Imagine the good will that would follow if he admitted this was a failing of his and that he's gotten help and fixed it. Instead what we have here is a pile of enablers willing to simply look the other way because of the good he's doing. Talk about a slippery slope..... History is rife with people who were doing good things on one hand while doing lots of damage on the other and it was only made possible by all those people willing to ignore the down side.
I'm not one of those people.
Bob Davies posted at 11:31 am on Mon, Apr 18, 2011.
It may be easy for Mortenson's local supporters to defend his activities within the confines of a Montana newspaper forum. The broader reality is that most folks outside Montana now believe him to be a fraud. He did nothing to address the allegations. If you watch the news segment as an objective participant, it would be difficult to believe that he hasn't taken advantage of the non-profit organization to enrich himself. If his hands are clean, he should be happy to release a personal financial statement to clarify the situation.
Stan Zman posted at 11:00 am on Mon, Apr 18, 2011.
While I am Jon Krakauer fan and a fan of 60 Minutes, this whole expose just seemed to me like a really mean spirited attack, intended to tear down the reputation of a man who has done far more to be the change he wants to see in the world than ANYBODY else is doing in the middle east, including 60 Minutes, Jon Krakauer and the US Government. Krakauer and 60 Minutes really ought to be ashamed of themselves for the damage they're doing to Greg Mortenson's cause of educating disadvantaged young girls in war torn parts of the Middle East.
Having said all of that, to their credit, 60 Minutes did give Mortenson the opportunity to respond, which he declined. Had he really been completely honest, his story would have held up under questioning, on 60 Minute's camera. Bottom line for me is that obviously not all of the stories Mortenson tells are completely true. I never thought they were. Some have obviously been exagerated, some stories have been combined to create one simplified story, but the guy doesn't deserve to have his reputation trashed by Krakauer/60 Minutes. I hope his charity continues and I plan on contributing to it, once his Central Asia Institute's accounting has been sorted out according to watch dog groups, like the American Institute of Philanthropy.
Holly1 posted at 10:45 am on Mon, Apr 18, 2011.
I thank Gregg Mortenson from the bottom of my heart for all he has done - he does not deserve any discredit. He has worked extremely hard for a wordly good. Look at CEO's of big companies that get paid 180,000 a year also but have hurt people and the world to be where they are at - Gregg has only brought good to all he meets and he deserves a monetary compensation for all his hard work. I will always support him. I'm so tired of the media trying to trash peoples good works. And so what if the writer who wrote his first book exagerated on some things, look at the whole picture and see what a wonderful person he is, what a big heart and generous man he is and all the good he has brought these people in Pakistan and Afghanistan. I don't see many other people stepping up to do what he did, so leave him alone and let him continue his work in peace. It's hard enough for him as it is. It is not an easy job what he has to do, but thank God he is doing it.
airsign69 posted at 9:50 am on Mon, Apr 18, 2011.
Mr. Mortenson is a worthy man risking his own life promoting a very worthy cause. Anybody who grows a fund to have a comfortable nest egg is a winner that has nothing to hide. 60 minutes will not find dirt on an honorable person, let them try.
masswasting posted at 9:46 am on Mon, Apr 18, 2011.
Mortenson making up the core part of his Three Cups of Tea story reminds me of another Bozeman writer: Mike Finkel. Finkel made the core character of his first-person "journalistic" piece in New York Magazine a few years ago. Must be something in the water...
It's too bad the defenders of CAI & Mortenson are presenting such mindless excuses--in addition to attacking the the motives, etc. of the critics. The response sort of reminds me of how Tea Partiers will defend their lame candidates and ideas--no matter how much reality is forced upon them.
The Chronicle will never do so--and the would be liberal-humanitarians who believe the inanities of Nicholas Kristoff and Tom Friedman don't like to think too hard about these things either-- but at least the NYT has started to raise questions about the "broad and deepening" relationship between Mortenson and the military establishment.
jakemont posted at 9:06 am on Mon, Apr 18, 2011.
My observance will last for 400,000 days. I giving up CBS
rackam posted at 8:50 am on Mon, Apr 18, 2011.
Hum, tough. I would so much want to believe that CBS and 60 min are wrong, but the numbers look pretty bad and the point about the cost of building in these parts of the world is very well taken. How about the heart condition, is this pulling a Mubarack ?
GrubStreetNM posted at 8:12 am on Mon, Apr 18, 2011.
Shades of Watergate and the art of "non-denial denial."
I'm so sick of these fake-memoirists and the disdain they have for their public.
The cause as such is worthy. Exploiting Afghan children as this guy is doing is obscene.
Writer posted at 7:46 am on Mon, Apr 18, 2011.
60 Minutes ought to tackle the government as their waste stream might actually make a difference if it were cleaned up. Good luck with that.
Casey Seiler posted at 7:26 am on Mon, Apr 18, 2011.
Why, pray tell, is your assistant managing editor allowed to cover the CAI and take money from it? Isn't this what we call a "naked conflict of interest"? And what's up with quoting her defending Mortenson, even with the disclaimer that she didn't take part in the preparation of the story -- beyond, y'know, the being quoted part?
michaeldaube posted at 7:23 am on Mon, Apr 18, 2011.
I'm the Executive Director of a similar nonprofit called Citta.org
Ive been doing this work for 18 years as well. I was fortunate enough to also have a chance to spend time with Jon Krakauer around 10 years ago when he was hired by DETAILS magazine to do a story on me, which never went to print. I can say from experience Jon is incredibly conscientious and thorough, albeit a little upset at injustice and so makes a harder point. I was taken back by the fact not only with this story but many other organizations who already have large expenditures for projects I am well aware cost a portion of what they raise. I am in the process of trying to build schools for Limi Valley Nepal in an extremely remote region and I need 10,000. Can you imagine what 20-odd million could do?
I think many of the comments being made about this issue are all here or there. I have my feelings about making 180,000 when it cost 10,000 to run a school, but some of the isolated "truths" are a little frightening. Spending so much from donations to the charity on the book advertising and sales...and receiving that salary AND getting 30,000 dollars a talk. I would hope if you are working with your companies product being education of girls in difficult regions, you would be a little more balanced in the numbers. OK, make 180,000 a year....make the speaking deals....but at least say there is enough millions for your benefit and spend the intended money for the education the finds were intended for. We are also not enchanted when Auto CEO's make mutli-million dollar incomes and bonuses while workers loose heir jobs. Its just not reasonable. We could always say, "how can you complain? many workers Do have jobs in the auto company, so why question the CEO'S?"
DaveJ728 posted at 6:09 am on Mon, Apr 18, 2011.
Looks like CAI and Mortenson brought this on themselves. Not responding to AIP's queries for months?
http://www.charitywatch.org/articles/CentralAsiaInstitute.html#CentralAsiaAuditUpdate
As with many non-profits, they start up with the best of intentions, and then their focus goes internal. The donating public is always lagging behind such metamorphoses. It hurts to think that such things happen.
if the 60 Minutes report caused you to send more money to CAI, so be it. You can donate it, spend it with Heidi Fleiss, or chuck it out the window of your car, but that doesn't change the fact that AIP's findings are inescapable: the numbers don't lie.
tristanoman posted at 2:21 am on Mon, Apr 18, 2011.
Bapudi, here are the answers to your questions:
1. A key event in "Three Cups" is Mortenson's staggering into Korphe after a failed attempt on K2, where the Korphe villagers nursed him back to health. This did not happen, as per the testimony of the sherpas and Mortenson's own original newsletter account. That's not just "compressing," that's fabrication.
2. The photo produced by Mortenson's alleged "kidnappers" where he is the only one with a weapon (an AK-47!) and is smiling makes it pretty hard to argue that Mortenson felt he was being forcibly detained.
3. Nobody has a problem with Mortenson making lots of money from his books. The problem is that his book sales were helped by millions of dollars in advertising paid for by CAI. So charitable donations that were solicited by CAI to "build schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan" were instead used to advertise and promote his books.
tristanoman posted at 1:57 am on Mon, Apr 18, 2011.
The issue isn't with Mortenson's salary of $180k. The issue is that, in just one year, CAI spent *millions* promoting his books and speaking engagements ($30k a pop), but the income from the books and the speeches goes exclusively to Mortenson. This is according to the CAI itself in a statement from the board. So you can attack Krakauer and/or 60 Minutes all you want, but the 'smoking guns' really come from the CAI itself along with the very well-respected American Institute of Philanthropy (whose concerns about CAI date back several years).
The CAI has also, again by its own admission, covered all of Mortenson's travel costs for his speaking engagements - hundreds of thousands of dollars, including travel on private jets. In this article, Mortenson says that "as of now" he will pay his own way.
To attack Krakauer and 60 Minutes is a classic case of blaming the messenger - in fact, the messenger
Bapudi posted at 1:52 am on Mon, Apr 18, 2011.
I read the link. The "60 Minutes" piece, by Steve Kroft, appears to be a shambles.
1) Compressing a complicated story for the sake of a book does not make the story "not literally true" as suggested by Kroft.
2) "Detained" is not the same as "kidnapped". It is entirely feasible that the men detained him to protect him, as they claim. For obvious reasons, Mortenson and then men perceived the event differently.
3) Why shouldn't he make lots of money from his book? Just because he's involved with charitable work? That's nonsense. He deserves to profit from his work, and it's nobody's business what he does with the money.
@Agrajag: I don't see you making any logical arguments. In fact, your whole post is basically a straw-man.
Shalimar posted at 1:35 am on Mon, Apr 18, 2011.
So many good comments here...Let's think of Greg and focus on a good healing from his heart procedure. I, too, will be making a donation to CAI to "thank" 60 Minutes for their alarmist coverage. Let's see...do you think Steve Croft makes more than $180,000? And his humanitarian contribution to the planet? Sheesh. Greg, we love you, you who dare to go where most of us wouldn't or couldn't. Blessings.
Jon Krakauer said it best on 60 Minutes: "He has done a lot of good. He has helped thousands of school kids in Pakistan and Afghanistan....He has become perhaps the world's most effective spokesperson for girls' education in developing countries. And he deserves credit for that."
Agrajag posted at 1:07 am on Mon, Apr 18, 2011.
Wow, I have to say after reading the comments on this site I'm ashamed we hail from the same country. Excuses, distraction, straw-man arguments and so on. This guy was clearly full of it and there was absolutely zero reason why anyone who is innocent of these sorts of things wouldn't have called Kroft on the carpet right then and there. Instead he's run to a safe-haven (this site) to respond without facts yet again. This story is far from over and when it's fully told not one of you will be willing to stand up and admit you were dead wrong in this blind support for someone that you want to support simply because he's one of your peers. Sad, and frankly disgusting.
Karma Earl posted at 11:28 pm on Sun, Apr 17, 2011.
Why doesn't 60 minutes look at the amount of overhead an organization like the red cross requires.
chimakdar posted at 10:01 pm on Sun, Apr 17, 2011.
all i can say after watching the 60 minutes piece is to the skeptics, "Have any of you ever tried to live work or manoever in Pakistan or Afghanistan? Outside of international Islamabad and Kabul?" i can see how the accounting would be horrible, and the cost of building schools in Pakistan pales in comparison to the war of attention Mr. Mortenson is fighting here. Americans have attention spans like flies, and at the time when the US military is trying to exit stage left and throw their hand up with regard to Pakistan, I'm not really sure where 60 Minutes' intentions were. But to be fair, Greg has a responsibility to be as transparent as possible as CAI is taking people's donations given out of trust and loyalty that he's fighting the best way he can. And if there is a book three it might be wise to humble ones' self and return to the grain of the earth that people so desperately needed to be in touch with.
Sarah Lewis Vermont posted at 9:56 pm on Sun, Apr 17, 2011.
Wow. I'm floored that we're even having this discussion. Here is an organization that has, for the past two decades, worked tirelessly to support the rights of women and girls in countries where their existence is rarely even recognized, and someone in our country has the gall to boost their ratings with a twisted perspective on a gentle humanitarian such as Mortenson? SunMostHigh, thank you for posting the charitywatch article which I have read and considered before posting my reaction to the "60 minutes" so-called investigation. However, I'm tired of thoughtless media outlets scrapping for stories that are fall less courageous than covering stories the American public really should be reading such as, perhaps, an investigation as to why our government still lacks solid regulation of the over-the-counter derivatives market. For a change, let's focus our attention on those in America who make millions -- miles more than CAI ever could fundraise even if Mortenson gave a speech every day for a year -- and still find ways to evade ethics and proper regulation: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/warning/view/
rockymtngrl1 posted at 9:54 pm on Sun, Apr 17, 2011.
If "60 Minutes" would spend the amount of time in Afghanistan and Pakistan that Greg Mortenson spends, they just might have an incling about what really goes on in that region. I will continue to support, and donate, to CAI. May the empowerment of girls (and children) continue to be recognized as the only way to help these countries prosper and move into a stronger future.
Blessings to Greg as he continues to get back to a healthy physical state.
SunMostHigh posted at 9:23 pm on Sun, Apr 17, 2011.
This posting on AIP's website pretty much puts it all in perspective, since AIP is a reputable philanthropy watchdog org. No judgment here, but I believe there will be more to come over the weeks and months. (Sunlight - the best cleanser.)
http://www.charitywatch.org/articles/CentralAsiaInstitute.html
A_greggie posted at 9:09 pm on Sun, Apr 17, 2011.
While any non-profit, its Board and key contacts should welcome a review of financial protocols and practices, to do so at the behest of journaltainment is a waste of resources that could be spent on building another school.
I'm sending even more money to the organization today. Thanks 60 Minutes for motivating my donation!
candylady58 posted at 8:55 pm on Sun, Apr 17, 2011.
First of all I never respond to these articles but I had to for this. I had tears in my eyes as I finished reading Three Cups of Tea and I sent him money and I continue to send him money even though I am a Canadian and can't deduct the donation. I think 180K is peanuts for a salary for being in charge of a large charity such as the one he has created and besides after living in his car and all he has done over the years, the sacrifices his family has made, he is entitled. I think if your government spent more time investing in the education of the children (both male and female) of Pakistan and Afghanistan instead of in bombs they would be more sucessful. How much money did those yahoos make who needed the government bail outs? It was in the millions, he is a tireless crusader for females and I for one will continue to support his efforts. Kudos to you John and good luck with your surgery
gm59718 posted at 8:05 pm on Sun, Apr 17, 2011.
Askqustions hit the nail on the head. I think the board has taken an aggressive position on how it accounts for the outreach efforts of the nonprofit. Now they are experiencing the consequences of that position. If they had accounted for these activities more transparently/professionally/ethically/conservatively I do not think they would be questioned. If I had seen nothing but the boards response, I would reach the same conclusion.
BenMusing posted at 5:27 pm on Sun, Apr 17, 2011.
There are two sides to every story, and 60 Minutes is leaving out a huge part of it.
Author Ethan Casey, who personally knows Greg, just published an article shedding light on what appears to be 60 Minutes making sensational claims against a true humanitarian for the purpose of getting ratings. Read Casey's article and share the link!
"Greg Mortenson Redefines 'Doing One’s Best'": http://bit.ly/gfHb86
Elizabeth Hansen posted at 2:29 pm on Sun, Apr 17, 2011.
Now I remember why I stopped watching 60 Minutes.
What was once a reasonably informative and reliable program has been resorting to sensationalism to prop up their numbers for quite some time.
I bet their ad sales staff are having their time of their lives, given the controversy over the show about Greg and CAI. Anyone who wonders what CAI does with their donations should also be looking at the cost of a 30-second ad during 60 Minutes.
Greg's critics are right: it's all about the numbers. CBS will do anything to get ratings and sell ads - even attack an American hero.
masswasting posted at 1:26 pm on Sun, Apr 17, 2011.
askquestions seems to provide the most reasonable and thoughtful response to the article and what we know about the 60 Minutes story so far.
CAI has experienced exponential growth in fundraising revenue over the last several years. That the organization has not updated its governance procedures or met basic fiduciary responsibilities per state and federal law is not particularly unique or surprising.
Having worked within and without the NGO world over the last decade I developed a healthy skepticism of the infallibility of NGOs and their leadership. Any given non-profit can still accomplish amazing things while undergoing financial, personnel, or public honesty issues.
It appears that CAI needs to improve its governance in a major way. In the process, the organization might also be able to address the nasty rumors which abound in Bozeman about how much it sucks to work for CAI.
Without actually watching the 60 Minutes episode, I'm not sure there is indeed a real news story.
That said, the questions I have about CAI involve its apparent broad and deep relationship with the US military. Mortenson has publicly and unequivocally supported the US military's mission in Afghanistan and Pakistan (whatever that is, exactly) and the military has unequivocally supported the CAI mission. In the process, both Mortenson and US military personnel have promoted the notion that the war in Afghanistan originated as a humanitarian mission--which, of course, is not true. Mortensen has also claimed that Americans have voted to support the war effort. I don't remember this vote happening.
The other aspect to bear in mind is the financial ties between the Chronicle (Pioneer Publishing) and CAI. The Chronicle is the only newspaper that Pioneer owns that is making something resembling profit. The reason for this is the "extra" glossy publishing that the Chroncle does, of which all of the CAI publications have been a crucial part.
The long and short of it: is Mortenson an evil liar? Probably not. Is CAI sloppily governed? Most likely. Does the Chronicle have a vested interest in keeping CAi looking good? Absolutely. Does CAI do good works in South Asia? Undoubtedly. Are the good works fully quantifiable as well as qualified? Not likely. Is CAI a charitable "cover" for propping up the discredited thesis of a "Clash of Civilizations" between the West and Islam? That's question I'd like answered.
independantthinker posted at 10:44 am on Sun, Apr 17, 2011.
This should be an easy question to answer. Is CAI funding schools in Afghanistan or not? He says they are and some people over there say he isn't. There should be a money paper trail to check the facts. Should be real easy and then we can put this to bed.
Without knowing all that facts it does seem that non-profits like Eaglemount and Habitat for Humanity do more with less.
Shndlr posted at 10:34 am on Sun, Apr 17, 2011.
askquestions makes a good point about Bob Dylan not being a charitable organization, and questions the parallel I make. It's a stretch, for sure, but that's what I do. I guess what I was trying to say is that wanting to improve the state of the world and wanting to live well do not have to be mutually exclusive. The other comparison I made - American doctors volunteering in Pakistan after the earthquake, might be a stretch too. They make huge amounts of money when doing regular medical work, and nobody faults them for that. That Greg Mortenson may have played fast and loose with his accounting practices may be true - but that in no way diminishes the historic good work he has somehow accomplished. I think we should clone him, along with inventor Dean Kamen(FIRST) and a few other bright lights.
askquestions posted at 10:12 am on Sun, Apr 17, 2011.
Bob Dylan is not using donated dollars to promote his magic, so I don't see the parallel. Although the effect that their work has on society may be comparable, the form of business is not. CAI chose to form a nonprofit organization so they can accept tax deductible donations. That comes with an obligation of transparency and accountability for those donations. Bob Dylan doesn't owe anyone that information.
Jason B Nicholson posted at 9:30 am on Sun, Apr 17, 2011.
As someone who is quoted in both books I want to say a few things: I want to say that I fully support Greg. I also want to say that there is a powerful countercurrent narrative that tries to paint failure and victim to anything associated with any effort of any type in Afghanistan.
Did Greg 'compress' events (his words)? This is hardly news or scandal. Having been in war and reading the memoirs of those who were fighting these same wars I can say that very few are 100% accurate in the way they treat the facts.
Am I shocked that Pakistanis or Afghans who have an axe to grind would comment negatively? Hardly. Having spent some time in these very places I know that my trust of anything they say would be extremely thin and weak. There are too many competing interests, internecine feuds, etc that Greg may inadvertently or deliberately put himself into as a result of his work. The people who often facilitate anything happening in this part of the world are mired to their eyeballs in criminality, drugs, blood feuds, and war. To pretend different is wishing away the truth and a truth that I can personally vouch for based upon my experience.
Do I believe some facts were loose? Maybe but I will defer to Greg on that. Can I believe that Greg would steal money, lie about his life's work, and deliberately mislead others about what he is doing? Absolutely not.
Jason B. Nicholson
Major, US Army
Shndlr posted at 8:26 am on Sun, Apr 17, 2011.
I give the guy all the credit in the world for going into the most god forsaken(and dangerous) area of the planet and making amazing changes in a very sick sick culture. The attitudes toward women there is nothing short of barbaric. I would even go so far as to say the work he has accomplished there is more important and significant than what our deeply flawed war has done(other than initially getting rid of the Taliban regime).
60 Minutes did another piece in that part of the world a few years ago that reminds me of the Mortenson story. It was about the aftermath of devastating earthquakes in Pakistan. A group of American doctors volunteered to go there and help people. They showed the doctors going into these remote villages strewn with death and destruction. The faces on the Pakistanis told me all I needed to know - a quiet awe and deep appreciation for these dedicated doctors. I knew then that this was the best foreign policy - helping the downtrodden.
Mr. Mortenson, with his heroic efforts, for me, falls into the same category as those doctors. That he has perhaps enriched himself in the process is not a problem for me - it's the American way, isn't it? I see a parallel with American musical legend Bob Dylan. His words and music have inspired people all around the world - and many see him as an eventual recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature. His gargantuan catalog of music and other sources of income probably easily put his net worth in excess of a hundred million dollars. 60 Minutes did a puff piece on Bob Dylan a few years ago. Ed Bradley asked Bob what secret was to his amazing lyrical output. He quickly answered "magic!". What Greg Mortenson has accomplished is another very important type of "magic". We need more people like him.
mainstreet posted at 8:23 am on Sun, Apr 17, 2011.
I'm sorry but some of you are so hung up on his salary that it really bothers me. If you divided his annual salary by the number of hours the guy works, he would probably make more as a local plumber and get to spend more time at home. Even if the book is only half-true, 99.9% of us wouldn't be interested or committed enough or even brave enough to take his job for any sum of money.
It's pathetic that someone that has done so much good and inspired thousands of others to do the same should have to take so many arrows in the back. Shame on us.
askquestions posted at 7:38 am on Sun, Apr 17, 2011.
CAI has done important work and Greg Mortenson has obviously made an incredible personal sacrifice. But, nonprofit laws and IRS rules exist for a reason - to protect the public. Charities need to understand that controlling their operations and administration are just as important as their mission - that is what allows them to achieve their mission as a tax exempt organization.
Take a look at their annual tax report. Greg is quoted in the Chronicle article as paying all his own travel expenses. Then why is there $1.29 million in travel expenses under "outreach" reported on the most recent financial statement? Also under this outreach category is $1.5 million in advertising, presumably for his book. If the book royalties are Greg's personal income, then why should CAI pay to promote it? Obviously, because it helped them grow their donor base. That's where the excess benefit mentioned in the article comes in - a charity should be structured in a way that no one in control (executive director, board) receives a personal benefit through the work of the charity. It appears Greg sold more books and received more royalty income because CAI promoted the book with donated dollars.
I also find it a little odd that the board of directors is just three people, one of them Greg. Most large charitable organizations have a broader slate of directors, providing greater oversight and less potential for conflicts of interest over the work of the charity. Greater oversight = increased public trust.
Personally, I would not donate to this charity based on the financial statements I just reviewed - regardless of what 60 minutes or Krakauer says about story embellishment. Way too much money spent on promoting their cause as compared to actually building and supporting schools, and the appearance of a conflict of interest since Greg is 1/3 of the decision making leadership.
Duane Wilkins posted at 4:32 am on Sun, Apr 17, 2011.
I worked in Kabul, helping in the setup and development of the Afghanistan Infrastructure Data center, 2009-2010. I came across CAI without knowing about the books etc, through QA processes on the data for the schools built by CAI. I can assure you the schools are built and US govt has data on attendance, engineering reports and other stats for each school. The reports from this gossip show are not based in fact in my opinion. These guys and Agha Khan built schools in areas that no other agency could and they were seldom if ever associated with attacks.
If you saw Charlie Wilson's war, there is a key scene at the end, thats the story for 60 Minutes right there, where were the schools in the 1980s ? Sounds like pretty unbalanced reporting to me.
Go Greg, ignore these idiots.
Tony_FOA posted at 2:36 am on Sun, Apr 17, 2011.
In my opinion, Greg Mortenson is the Face of America on its best day. His work is our best hope for peace in a very troubled world. We should support him and the wonderful work he is doing.
Tony Mussari, Sr.
The Face of America Project
REquest posted at 10:36 pm on Sat, Apr 16, 2011.
Came across the following Seattle news piece written in 2001, while checking out Krakauer. Seems he has a long history with Greg and the CAI. Whether there was a falling out or he has 'seen' things that cause him to question...but I have often found the truth is somewhere in the middle. When I 1st saw the story to air on '60', I thought it might be that some parts of the story had been embellished. So what!!?? The fact remains, he arrived in Pakistan and was moved by the people and saw a need. He has spent much time and risked his life to fulfill that need for people he did not even know. If he has profited from his books, SO WHAT!! People like Krakauer have profited from others stories since journalism began. Again, millions of $$$ have gone to build these schools that would not otherwise have been built by the governments, other Muslims or other civic organizations. Hang in there, Greg.
News article: Seattle 2001
Krakauer may have disappeared from the headlines, but one of the constants of his life since "Into Thin Air" has been his generous support of humanitarian work. He is not one of those suddenly famous folks who sinks his newfound wealth into personal edifice-building and a host of toys. The 47-year-old native of Corvallis, Ore., has long had a social conscience and his success as a writer has prompted him to establish a couple of foundations that have spread more than a half-million dollars to various organizations and individuals helping others.
That commitment is also why Krakauer is coming back to Seattle Thursday to do a benefit appearance at Town Hall for the Central Asia Institute. Krakauer rarely does speaking engagements anymore ("I don't enjoy public speaking," he admits), rarely does interviews either. But he agreed to both because of his great respect for the community-building work being done in the remote north of Pakistan by the tiny Montana-based institute. The non-profit is run by Greg Mortenson, an avid climber who was nursed back to health by villagers in that region after a failed attempt to reach the peak of K2.
Krakauer's commitment to the Central Asia Institute has only deepened in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 tragedy and the thunderclouds of war that have been enveloping that region of the world.
"I have been blown away by how much of a real difference one guy with a little money has been able to make in that part of the world," Krakauer said. "What Greg is doing is every bit as important as any bombs being dropped because he is winning hearts and minds in northern Pakistan. If the Central Asia Institute were not doing what it's doing, people in that region would probably be chanting, 'We hate Americans!' Instead, they see us as agents of their salvation.
"Greg has built up such trust in that area by having real results. The institute has built 16 primary schools, schools in this Muslim area which have all agreed to admit girls. It has also constructed three women's vocational centers and 14 water projects. Greg is an idealistic visionary who is great in the field and gets the communities invested in these projects."
Although Krakauer's donations to Central Asia Institute have usually been anonymous, they have made him one of the organization's major contributors. And his money often came at a crucial time.
Mortenson stressed that last week in an e-mail from Pakistan: "Jon was one of the first people to appreciate the difficulty of our efforts in a remote region, where no foreigners had done any significant humanitarian work. This writer I respect once told me that he was interested in our work because 'actions speak louder than words.' That was a big inspiration for me, as I am also rather reserved and soft-spoken. Jon's acknowledgement of what we and the Balti villagers had accomplished with little outside support meant the world to me at the time."
To Krakauer, such donations are all part of his attempt to prove that "good things can come from such a bad thing as the Everest debacle." He is still dogged by "survivor's guilt," those haunting thoughts of why he survived the tempest atop the mountain and why others did not, what he might have done differently and whether that might have helped.
"I keep thinking the effects of Everest are behind me and it's over," Krakauer said. "Then the next day, it will come back and whack me beside the head. I've now resigned myself to the fact that it will never go away."
For a time, his survivor's guilt even "soured" Krakauer on climbing, which he still describes as "such a self-absorbed, self-centered thing to do." But he has now resumed his climbing with a new sense of balance, aided greatly by the good weather around Boulder and the proximity of the Rockies to the home he shares there with his wife, Linda Moore.
Krakauer ventures out for rock or ice climbs three times a week, does as much climbing as he did in his 20s, but without, as he puts it, "letting it take over my life." There are personal satisfactions that this private individual only receives when he is climbing alone.
He does at least one big climb every summer in Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park with Dr. Tom Hornbein, a longtime Seattle friend who conquered Everest in 1963 and is still climbing at the age of 70 ("He's such an inspiration to me," says Krakauer). Hornbein chairs the board of Central Asia Institute and has been instrumental in fostering the writer's interest in the group.
Read more: http://www.seattlepi.com/default/article/Jon-Krakauer-reappears-out-of-Thin-Air-with-a-1069974.php#ixzz1JkcIHpBx
Debra from Seattle posted at 9:56 pm on Sat, Apr 16, 2011.
When I first saw the ad for 60 Minutes about Greg Mortenson, I immediately thought it was a bit suspicious. I mean when someone risks their life to go to war-torn and dangerous places to do good for impoverished children and attempt to bring education to them, I think that speaks volumes. But the fact that these impoverished children are Muslim could be the key to it all.
I'm reading "Three Cups of Tea" right at the moment and am impressed with the tireless efforts of Mortenson and the CAI. It makes me question the motives of CBS and Krakauer for trying to debunk all the good work that's been done. What is the motive, ratings or more sensationalism that is all too common on network TV? Muslim bashing?
Just what is Krakauer trying to do slamming Mortenson's work? Maybe a little promotion for a new book? You begin to wonder. Jon Krakauer made a tidy sum telling a story of a sorry young man, that he didn't even know, who died in Alaska and was subsequently made into a movie. It seems to me that the work of Krakauer has been to capitalize on the tragedies of his subjects--be it on K2 or in Alaska. Not exactly humanitarian causes.
I admire all the fine efforts that Greg Mortenson has done in Pakistan and Afghanistan and can only hope that this smear campaign does not take hold.
When you look at the exhaustive speaking engagements and travel that Mortenson has done for years, it reflects more to the sincere nature of his efforts than it does to just wanting personal wealth and glory.
Keep up the good work. Don't let all the haters taint your admirable goals.
K2montana posted at 9:14 pm on Sat, Apr 16, 2011.
Until you you have met the man, you should hold your judgements of him. Let me ask you all a question, MOST hospital's in the US are "non-profit" organizations, so it's okay for the CEO of many hospitals in Montana to be paid $300,000 plus per year? But yet some say that a person who works 51 weeks a year, 100+ hours per week, is over paid at $180,000. Some people have no clue!
pittsburgh brian posted at 8:55 pm on Sat, Apr 16, 2011.
Spent last week down in Atlanta, GA at the National Youth Service Learning Conference where Mortenson presented. His story and work are an inspiration for an entire generation of American children including the students I took with me.
Much like John Krakauer's writing (and I am also a big fan of Krakauer's books) the stories are surely not 100% factual (Krakauer's false reporting in 'Into Thin Air' have been well documented). Yet to discredit the entire body of Mortenson's work because of this is to throw the baby out with the bathwater.
Sure there are other great groups doing work in Pakistan and Afghanistan, but Greg is OUR guy and that is why he is famous to us. Just like a Pakistani would be familiar with Pakistani NGO's but not familiar with Greg Mortenson's work, an American would be familiar with his work but not familiar with Pakistani NGO's. This is natural.
Keep on doing your good work Greg, and shake off the haters!!!
Saleem_Ali posted at 8:35 pm on Sat, Apr 16, 2011.
As a Pakistan-American, I have tried to verify Mortenson's claims as well and must say that the 60 Minutes story is quite accurate. It is really unfortunate that people are so easily entranced by celebrity status. Of course some good has come from the donations but the same money would have gone far further if given to grassroots group in Pakistan. The Aga Khan Foundation has a far better record than any of Mortneson's work of helping set up schools and hardly any American knows about them. Wasting money on private jet flights for speaking engagements is something only the likes of Bill Gates can justify. Mortenson should apologize and move on to correct his ways. I still think he can do much good but he has to accept his extravagant ways were wrong and must atone for them. He has betrayed the trust of Pakistanis who gave him their highest national award as well as many noble Americans who gave him their funds.
Don Hammel posted at 7:30 pm on Sat, Apr 16, 2011.
I met Greg Mortenson in April 2000 when he came by Omaha to visit his sister. He had a small fund raiser of about 40 at the Sokol Hall. He told his story about helping build schools to educate children, especially girls. It was FREE for Seniors but after the meeting I gave him $10. He said that $8 would supply the tools for one year for an elementary student. I went home and sent another $40. I helped get him on Fresh Air in Feb. 2002. Big response east of the Rockies.
I have had my 'Three Cups of Tea' with his sister Sonja and his Mother Jerene.
My wife Ruth and i visited Greg in2002, Bozeman, MT. His office was a small 8X10 room in his basement.
I am sure if the many frequent flights across the country and around the world to Afghanistan and England was SUBTRACTED FROM THE TOTAL SALARY, a much more realistic income would show up.
On his first book signing trip 2006, Greg detoured to visit my wife Ruth in the Nursing home. He spends about 10+ months on his fund raising and check for his schedule. I doubt if any of the critics could handle it.
That only leaves about 4 - 6 weeks for Afghanistan and holidays.
I wonder if Jon Krakauer has a new book coming out?
I have known Greg and family now for over 11 Years and still admire what he has accomplished and will continue to support him, his staff and his projects
Free spirit posted at 7:22 pm on Sat, Apr 16, 2011.
and another thing - look at the web site if you're worried where the CAI money goes https://www.ikat.org/about-cai/financials/
what is an exorbitant salary? - the salaries listed in those financials don't some close to what is claimed by 60 minutes.Sweet Pea pays their executive director about half of what Mortenson makes and I guarantee Greg works a hundred times harder.
Free spirit posted at 7:16 pm on Sat, Apr 16, 2011.
Krakauer is a solid journalist who does his homework? All of his books have been wailed on by people in them. I can't even print what Pat Tillman's brother said. It's obscene.
As for 60 minutes, they brought Jose Canseco on, failed to mention his book was published by the company that owns them, and allowed him to say on national tv to a huge audience, kids should use steroids. I stopped watching it after that.
Then Steve Kroft interviewed Obama, and I tuned in online. He asked the President of the United States if he was punch-drunk, because he chuckled at a question.
60 minutes sucks. Greg Mortenson has proved that one man with a vision can change the world. Who you gonna line up with?
bdb posted at 6:55 pm on Sat, Apr 16, 2011.
sorry, but if this guy was as great as you all make him out to be, there wouldn't even be an appearance of wrongdoing, much less enough dirt to do a profile on 60 mins. Krakauer is a solid journalist, who does his homework. What about the claims by 60 minutes that they checked out some of the schools CAI claims to have built, and some were empty, some were built by other people, and some didn't exist at all? What's up with that? Just because someone does a lot of good work doesn't mean they are doing some shady stuff on the side. This guy's not perfect, and odds are if 60 mins. is making these allegations up out of whole cloth, that will come out, and you can all dance on the grave of 60 mins. But there's a reason why it's such an influential news program. They do the work to find the truth, unlike a lot of other "news" programs out there. Personally, I'll donate my money to a charity that has a much higher percentage of donation dollars going to the places that need it, and don't pay their head honcho an exorbitant salary.
highlander2 posted at 4:45 pm on Sat, Apr 16, 2011.
@oldandgrey, 180k is not that much money. C'mon what are you old and grey? PLUS WHO ARE YOU TO BE TELLING SOMEONE HOW MUCH THEY SHOULD MAKE?, especially if his presence (and Books) brings in all those millions in donations. He sounds like the kind of guy who works 360 days a year that's $500 a day. Not that much in 2011. The not so sad truth is when the Military goes away him and his private donations will keep on keepin on. The change comes from EDUCATION that some "Rich",,,, I would say upper middle class white guy,,,is providing cause their country is poor. And all our military is providing is threats, guns, and bombs.
Look, this guy is doing amazing things and giving ALL his time to the cause, creating millions in donations. He deserves his pay old and grey.
oldandgrey posted at 4:26 pm on Sat, Apr 16, 2011.
yes highlander....but the question remains...if you work for a non-profit you should not be making so much money; and live such an opulent lifestyle and nor should your employees. The sad truth is that the U.S is broke and soon we will have less military presence there and those schools will not make it..The change needs to come within those countries not from some rich white guy in Bozeman. I believe somewhat in the power of one but come on I am not that naive. These groups do nothing but help rich white people feel like they have done penance...while they drive giant suvs live in huge houses and galavant all over the country and world with their huge carbon footprint!!!
highlander2 posted at 2:34 pm on Sat, Apr 16, 2011.
I think that earning 1% of your non-profit as the head honcho is actually pretty modest. As for the story discrepancies a book is like a movie the actual story may be accelerated/changed to fit schedules and keep the flow of the story. I havent' read the book but that is the way it is in many if not all books/films, etc. Not unusual really.
I would look at the actual good deeds over any of these minor story flaws. He has built schools in a place that most education is run by anti american militants indoctrinating people to go kill themselves and others. What he is doing is the fundamental solution to ending war and the taliban in that area. That's a pretty big F$%&in deal people.
Shndlr posted at 2:10 pm on Sat, Apr 16, 2011.
It sounds like a great organization with very loose accounting practices. I just read some comments about him on a literary site called Good Reads, after they had interviewed him. It was written in 1969. Here's an ironic comment by one poster -
"Molly I have been waiting for 60 Minutes to do a profile on Greg - someone ask him if he has been approached or is interested - seems like a wonderful avenue for positive attention to his goals. Terrific interview - I didn't realize he had a new book - sounds like a good read!"
SunMostHigh posted at 1:55 pm on Sat, Apr 16, 2011.
When these accusations come up, it makes me wonder who makes up his board of directors - presumably the ones who set his salary and approve other things such as how much is spent on advertising vs. how much is actually spent on the actual charitable work, etc.. I wonder who they are and what their take is on all the accusations, and if there will be any resignations soon.
oldandgrey posted at 1:37 pm on Sat, Apr 16, 2011.
should a non-profit person be making 180,000 a year? That sounds greedy to me...I would be happy making 45,000 a year helping people out...this makes me not want to give to non-profits until I can see their payrolls...I have to laugh when these people ask for money for non-profit and drive 50,000 dollar cars and go on vacation in Club Med...three times a year....only in Bozeman. If you are going to be in the non-profit arena it should be that " Not for Profit!"
MeMyselfAndEye posted at 1:09 pm on Sat, Apr 16, 2011.
Sun: in this case, I would say "where there's smoke, there are mirrors, too!"
independantthinker posted at 11:45 am on Sat, Apr 16, 2011.
My thoughts exactly nugget. Do what I do, shake your head and laugh. Some things will never change.
nugget posted at 11:32 am on Sat, Apr 16, 2011.
Amazing! When a multi billion dollar media company makes an accusation, every body comes to the defense of Mr. Mortenson!
But, if one juvenile delinquent makes a statement against a police officer, everyone on this forum is ready to burn him at the stake!
I wonder why that double standard exists?
independantthinker posted at 11:32 am on Sat, Apr 16, 2011.
Dan just be thankful you are not a card carring conservative because you would have been convicted already. I am always skeptical of splashy headlines. I believe Dan will get his chance to answer these allegations and hopefully disprove them.
marvinthemartian posted at 9:59 am on Sat, Apr 16, 2011.
not the first time for CBS. Dan Rather, Bush's military record...
memyself, i assume you must know the mortenson' pretty well.
MeMyselfAndEye posted at 9:39 am on Sat, Apr 16, 2011.
Ha-ha-ha! More many skeletons in this guy's closet than Carter has liver pills. Well, first there was Blixseth, now there's Mortenson. Honestly, why is it that these people all seem to flock to "the last best place"?
David Nolt posted at 9:35 am on Sat, Apr 16, 2011.
Yeah, I suppose all this time Mortenson spent risking his life in Pakistan and Afghanistan has all just been a ploy to sell books? Right.
Pretty shameless on the part of Jon "Full of Hot Air" Krakauer. If he has issues with CAI he should've taken them up with CAI management. To go to 60 Minutes, all too eager to sensationalize for the sake of ratings, is a window to his character. Maybe Krakauer could spend a month with the CAI in Waziristan and find out himself.
People who know Mortenson know better. The real tragedy here would be if this "scandal" damages the genuine and effective efforts of CAI.
SunMostHigh posted at 9:26 am on Sat, Apr 16, 2011.
I'm skeptical. Where there's smoke there's usually some fire. Has 60 Minutes had to retract or apologize for any of its research on other stories in the recent past? When you run a charity, you must ensure that you never give any kind of APPEARANCE of wrongdoing. Everything on the table, in the sunshine. I hope the truth, whatever it is, eventually is revealed. I'm not on either side here - just curious because 60 Minutes has a good reputation of uncovering the facts (as opposed to the "truth" people want to believe). I wish Mortenson well in clearing this up, if he has nothing to hide.
mainstreet posted at 9:15 am on Sat, Apr 16, 2011.
Gee, Krakauer seemed pretty pleased with Mortenson's work for quite some time. Read below-
http://www.seattlepi.com/default/article/Jon-Krakauer-reappears-out-of-Thin-Air-with-a-1069974.php#page-2
jsharper posted at 8:30 am on Sat, Apr 16, 2011.
My wife and I know the Mortensons personally and they are the most generous, selfless people that we know. It is too bad that CBS has to feast on unfounded allegations to get a story. A friendly reminder that our media lacks true facts...
I will continue to support him and his family and stand by the work that is done. Hopefully, everyone else thats knows his moral character will continue to do the same.
micmac posted at 8:11 am on Sat, Apr 16, 2011.
CAI does wonderful work, and the CBS coverage sounds at least a bit like a hatchet job. But the finances as reported in this story look really shaky - the organization probably does deserve an IRS audit.
I also have to say I was very surprised by the unprecedented (in my experience) blizzard of mailings of fat full-color promotional material I received after making a small donation.
jakemont posted at 7:50 am on Sat, Apr 16, 2011.
Now I know why I don't watch CBS anymore.
. This was a hatchet job