The BBC Investigates Three Cups of Tea Controversy

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A few days back I posted a story about a damning report from 60 Minutes on Three Cups of Tea author Greg Mortenson. The CBS investigative reporting program alleged that Mortenson took, shall we say generous liberties with his own story, which has sold millions of copies and inspired people across the globe. They also contend that Mortenson’s charity organization, the Central Asia Institute, which builds schools and other facilities in Pakistan and Afghanistan, is woefully mismanaged and taking claim for things that it hasn’t done. (Watch the entire 60 Minutes clip here)

Now, the BBC has looked into the affair and is trying to get to the bottom of the story themselves. They posted this story yesterday which takes a look at the work of Mortenson and the CAI from the perspective of the people living in the regions that he is trying to help. Unsurprisingly, what they found was a bit of a mixed bag as well.

First of all, the BBC story side-steps any controversy surrounding Mortenson’s personal tales and doesn’t even touch on the allegations that he has fabricated significant portions about his past. Instead, it goes straight to Pakistan and Afghanistan to discover what the people there think about him and the CAI. The message that they received is that Mortenson has done a lot of great work in the Himalaya, and that CAI may have helped fund and build even more schools than it takes credit for on its website. The people living in the villages where the organization has helped fun projects, seem extremely grateful for the help that they have received, with many crediting Mortenson himself.

But once again, there are also charges of mismanagement and deceit, with some officials, particularly in Afghanistan, saying that CAI hasn’t done much of the things they say they have. Some of those comments come off a bit like sour grapes however, as it seems that the organization has sometimes operated without direct supervision from local leaders, which has put them at odds at times. Still, it is clear that Mortenson and his non-profit are not universally lauded even in the countries that he is trying to help.

The BBC story doesn’t really shed much new light on the topic, although it was good to be able to read the perspective of Pakistanis and Afghanis whose lives CAI’s work has had a direct impact on. 60 Minutes couldn’t have done a better job of having those elements in their piece as well.

As I said in the original piece I wrote a few days back, clearly Mortenson and CAI have done some great things in the Himalaya. Even if he had only built one school, that is more than what most people have done to help the people there. CAI has in fact built dozens of schools and helped fund and manage even more. That doesn’t mean that there hasn’t been mismanagement of the program or that they shouldn’t be more transparent with their operations out of respect for the donors however. And why Mortenson would feel the need to embellish his stories remains a mystery as well. He should be proud of the great things that he has accomplished and that ought to be enough.

Thanks to reader Dennis Large for sending me a link to this story. It is much appreciated and I’m happy to see another side of what CAI and Mortenson have done in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Kraig Becker

7 thoughts on “The BBC Investigates <i>Three Cups of Tea</i> Controversy”

  1. Very good comments.

    I think Greg is BOTH:

    * A liar who appropriated non-profit funds for personal use and poorly managed overseas operations;
    * A humanitarian who pioneered a brilliant way to help third world children.

    It is essential for anyone commenting on this controversy to first read JK's very thorough research on http://www.byliner.com, especially Hornbeins closing words.

    The real question is not what Greg did but what is best now for his project. I think he certainly needs to be reduced to the figurehead only, and a new stronger Board take control of all finances and operations, totally separating his book sales from the CAI. This shouldn't be personal; it should be about what's best for the children we all would like to help.

  2. Well said Buzz. I think you're right, it is time to continue the great work of the project without Greg. At least until a lot of this stuff can be sorted out.

  3. Working,at present, in a developing country…I know how Greg had to 'work around' government officials to do good work for the people! I know how easy it is to 'stepped on toes'-just to get the job done.
    The phrase-"No Good Deed Left Unpunished"…comes to mind. I'm sure that those who are criticizing haven't done a bit of charitable giving of themselves!

  4. Greg Mortenson, unfortunately has come under a heavy criticism. We appreciate his work in Pakistan and we are witness his work. He has opened school in places where government of Pakistan could not reach in this century. This criticism was based on un researched findings. There much should have been seen before ‘60minitus’ and one cannot cover a whole life efforts in 60minitus.
    Amir Wali Khan
    Chief Editor
    The Education Watch Pakistan
    http://www.theeducationwatchpakistan.org

  5. Greg Mortenson, unfortunately has come under a heavy criticism. We appreciate his work in Pakistan and we are witness his work. He has opened school in places where government of Pakistan could not reach in this century. This criticism was based on un researched findings. There much should have been seen before ‘60minitus’ and one cannot cover a whole life efforts in 60minitus.
    Amir Wali Khan
    Chief Editor
    The Education Watch Pakistan
    http://www.theeducationwatchpakistan.org

  6. Buzz, you do realize that Greg was paid and funded by the CAI for his honorable work in Pakistan and Afghanistan? "Appropriated" is not the correct term.

    Non-profit does not mean everyone working for it is a unpaid volunteer.

    I very much doubt that separating the book sales from the CAI is possible or "best for his project" -the book has encouraged millions in donations to the CAI.

    I constantly wonder at JK's sources, for he cites practically nothing. If Greg Mortensen is really making $25,000 per reading, why doesn't JK mention GM's yearly taxable earnings?

  7. I would have liked to have agreed with previous comments, but unfortunately I have just read Krakauer's 'Three Cups of Deceit. His WAS a meticulously well-researched and verified account of what really… may have happened. If I stole millions of dollars from people I'm sure I'd use some of it for charity work, too.

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