Why does Anders Gyllenhaal want it both ways?

A few days ago we learned that a U.S. Naval officer based at Guantánamo Bay sent a letter to Miami Herald executive editor Anders Gyllenhaal that complained about the behavior of the Herald's Guantánamo correspondent Carol Rosenberg.

The officer, Jeffrey D. Gordon, alleges that Rosenberg has engaged in pattern of sexual harassment towards him and others at the base.

The story hasn't gotten much play other than a piece in Saturday's Washington Post.

The Herald ran a short, three sentence item in Saturday's paper that raised more questions than it answered.

That report was finally posted online today.

A U.S. Navy public affairs officer assigned to the office of the Secretary of Defense has sent a letter of complaint to The Miami Herald about the conduct of reporter Carol Rosenberg, who covers the detention center at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.

In a letter dated July 22 to Executive Editor Anders Gyllenhaal, Cmdr. Jeffrey D. Gordon alleges that comments made over the past year by Rosenberg toward Gordon and other military personnel were unprofessional and constitute sexual harassment.

Gyllenhaal said Gordon's complaints are being looked into and that because this was a personnel matter, it would be inappropriate to comment further.

That last line struck me as odd. Call me crazy, but if you're going to report on personnel issues at other companies, then shouldn't you be just as quick to report on your own problems.

And right now it looks like the Herald is using a double standard when it comes to informing its readers. Avoiding the perception of a cover-up is just as important as not engaging in one in the first place. (Gyllenhaal should know this. He currently chairs the Pulitzer board which oversees the Pulitzer Prizes which are awarded for journalism excellence.)

But until Gyllenhaal decides it's time to give his readers all the news on this story, you'll just have read it here at Random Pixels and elsewhere.

And I'd be remiss if I didn't direct you to the lively debate going on about the merits of the navy commander's complaint over at Miami New Times.

Tim Elfrink thinks the guy is a crybaby.

And Kyle Munzenrieder says not so fast. "I have no idea if Rosenberg 'hates the U.S. military,' but blatantly disrespecting an officer sure doesn't help quell the wingnut crowd."