Robert O'Harrow is a less than a good reporter

i couldn't say it better:

Robert O'Harrow has a part in the Charles Riecher's story, in fact he helped caused his death. Mr O'Harrow has no shame and hides.


This post seems self serving... what's the point? Assuage some guilt perhaps?

Let me first say that, in general, I applaud the stories of government waste and excess.

However, your article on Mr. Riecher's supposed taking of money was nothing more than reporting on a man taking a job that was arranged by his supervisor. It was not unusual. Yet you presented it like you had found the next Watergate scandal.

In fact, the Post's Ombudsman said your article was lacking "context". That is, you failed to say in your article that by taking the job for two months, as arranged by his boss, Chuck did nothing that many other DoD folk's haven't done before.

Whether the practice is correct or not, you should have included that statement.

By not including it, your one-sided attempt to make a mountain out of a mole hill resulted in a man's death.

I blame you personally, as well as your editor, for his death. I knew Chuck, and thus have the unique perspective to judge your story.

As a life long reader of the Post, and a liberal democrat to boot, I have learned a hard lesson: you can't trust the press: liberal or conservative, republican or democrat, blog or large newspaper, to tell you the unbiased facts.

Sadly, it is a lesson I wish I never had to learn.

Chuck was an honorable and very honest man. Very bright,and yes, a truly loving person.

He would have done great in his DoD position. Any mistakes he made were, tragically, the result of his naivete in trying so very hard to do a good job for his country and his family.

He was, in fact, the exact kind of person I imagine you and your readers would want in this job.

So, when you read about Air Force procurement problems in the future, congratulate yourself that you are a large part of the reason for the problems...you took a good man away from a job he wanted to very hard to do right.

Please make something of this tragedy, and learn from your mistakes.