The de facto Arab Foreign Minister, New York Times columnist Tom Friedman, who has long courted the Arab world and counts among his hosts Arab dictators across the region, now may be tinged by an unfolding scandal involving Saudi Arabia.

Over two years ago, Tom Friedman introduced to American audiences a Saudi peace plan which consisted of Israel basically relinquishing control of lands captured in the defensive 1967 War, in return for vague promises of diplomatic recognition by the Arab world. This "peace plan" was created by Saudi Arabia to deflect attention from its role over the years of fomenting hate around the Muslim world, for supporting terrorism around the Western world, and for the complicity of its citizens in the 9/11 attacks on America.

The New York Times endlessly trumpeted the "virtues" of this plan, and Tom Friedman took great pride in being the one to present it to America. Now the Justice Department has begun an investigation of the possibility that this very campaign violated federal laws regarding foreign agents operating in America. The crux of the matter is that the Saudis' public relations firm Qorvis failed to disclose that it was being paid by a foreign government to spread its propaganda and failed to register as a foreign agent....

The New York Times does not need to be paid for pushing the interests of Arab dictators — they do it for free. Nevertheless, the blowback from his investigation hopefully will tarnish the suspect virtues of the Gray Lady.

Ed Lasky   12 17 04