If the other papers held back until NYT pulled the trigger - I totally agree with you.
One can never be sure these days, but that's the way I heard it. Something else that I find curious is that if being first is so important to these rags, why did they in fact apparently publish simultaneously??? Makes one wonder if the Neverland Times wasn't looking for a little company to spread the treachery around. A lot tougher for Bush and company to go after the cabal, eh?