Miniter's Notebook

"Mr. Ereli said the story that chronicled the then-ambassador to Pakistan's efforts to shut down a program to distribute materials designed to elicit information leading to the capture of Osama bin Laden and other Al Qaeda leaders as "unfair" and "untrue."

Mr. Ereli did not cite any specific facts or allegations that were untrue.

The lawmaker at the center of The New York Sun's exclusive yesterday stands by his account. Rep. Mark Kirk, a Republican of Illinois, who sits on the appropriations subcommittee that funds the State Department, faulted Ambassador Nancy Powell's decision to impound wanted posters, matchbooks, and other items translated into local languages.

Asked for comment yesterday, Mr. Kirk declined to elaborate further, adding that the hunt for Mr. bin Laden has been invigorated by the replacement of Ms. Powell by veteran diplomat Ryan Crocker.

Yesterday, Mr. Ereli said the decision to discontinue the program was made before Ms. Powell arrived in Islamabad - a point attributed to a senior State Department official in Monday's edition.

When asked yesterday by the Sun to comment on Mr. Kirk's statements, Mr. Ereli declined to direct criticism at the lawmaker. Instead, he told the Sun, "I would say suggestions by anyone that Ambassador Powell, our mission in Islamabad, or the Department of State lacks commitment to the war on terror or the hunt for bin Laden are a disservice to the courage and commitment to everyone who works here." The New York Sun article stated no such allegations.

- Richard Miniter"