“This has been a strange story.
When I was first shown the picture, it was a classified photo. The picture was the clearest example to date of the structure of the Taliban. The story, as I would discover, had more layers than an onion. After we reviewed the photo and were told the full story behind it, I wondered if they might declassify it. When I followed up a few days later, I was told indeed it had gone through channels and the photo would be shared with NBC News. It went on the ‘Daily Nightly’ blog.
Fast-forward 24 hours. The picture and the story were taken and used by other reporters. The story, as they say, grew legs. At the same time, I was contacted by a U.S. military spokesman in Kabul. He asked me to take the picture off the Web site, saying it had been a mistake to release it. In a show of concern that perhaps our story would bring danger to U.S. troops, I requested it be taken down while we discussed their concerns.
The problem?
The officer who requested I remove the picture had left his office. His associates told me he was in a chopper, and I would not be able to talk to him Wednesday. I finally reached those who had given me the photo in the first place and was told, "No problem. It's been de-classified. You can use it to broadcast or post on the Web."
So we put the picture back up.”
— Kerry Sanders, NBC correspondent