A message from Adam Bellow, Doubleday’s executive-editor-at-large and the man who acquired the AQ Reader. He is also my editor, Jonah’s editor, the former editor of VDH, and NR’s onetime literary editor:
Doubleday is not “hyping” the Al Qaeda Reader. Far from it. The news of the signing was leaked prematurely–presumably by a disgruntled competitor—and we are responding as best we can to the resulting media storm. If Mr. Coffin had bothered to call someone here before writing his article, he would know that. I also don’t know where he gets the idea that we are motivated by the liberal “peace through understanding” delusion. I’m quite sure that none of our public statements can be interpreted that way, and it is pure projection on his part. Witness the fact that we’ve been attacked from the left as pushing a “conservative” agenda with this book. Both kneejerk reactions are equally wrong.