And the accomplice is... NBC!

So...

Yesterday, there was a hostage crisis at the Discovery Channel headquarters in Maryland. A man upset about mankind's threat to nature and the environment, as well as Discovery's sister network, TLC's, promotion of super-breeding, as seen in such shows as Kate Plus 8 and the other one with the 19 kids (sorry, I forget the real title) stormed the lobby with guns and explosives. He left several hours later in a body bag, shot dead by local police. Thankfully, none of the hostages were physically harmed. It was a dangerous situation. The man was clearly unstable and said he cared nothing for the people in the building. He had a remote detonator on him and pipe bombs strapped to his body. According to police reports he wasn't very cooperative and seemed ready to die.

I say again, thankfully the situation was resolved with no bomb blasts, and only the hostage-taker dead. It could have been worse, as, come to find out, NBC News stuck it's nose into the situation and actually called the lobby of Discovery where the man was holed up with three bystanders and proceeding to speak to the man for 10 minutes. Are you kidding me?! What was NBC thinking? This is a police matter. It's one thing to interview someone after a crisis is resolved, but to call to speak with the hostage-taker during a tenuous situation like this is beyond belief. They could have easily upset the man, causing the situation to become worse. For all they know, he had a grudge with media in general and could have taken offense to the call. Also, the police are the ones who should be talking to this man, not NBC News. They are lucky it didn't backfire on them. So lucky. Plus, they later revealed that they didn't inform police that they spoke to the man until after the situation was resolved. So, just to be clear, you not only call the hostage-taker, but then don't even inform the cops of what he told you - which could have been helpful to their handling of the situation. Shame on you, NBC. You put three innocent lives in jeopardy.

Now, I know you are ratings starved and always looking to make a splash, but this is simply immoral and wrong. I feel like NBC has become the go-to network for criminals to share their thoughts. Was it not also NBC that the Virginia Tech shooter sent a "care package" full of photos and a written manifesto? The behavior they displayed with the Discovery Channel hostage crisis only encourages this behavior, as if they are saying it's okay, we will listen to you. Go ahead, do your crime and we will publish your photos.. print your manifestos.

Even though the Discovery situation resolved without the hostages being killed, NBC committed a heinous act by interjecting itself into the situation. Just because they could make the call, doesn't mean they should have. Did ABC, CBS, Fox or any other's call? No. And if they had, what then, the hostage taker spends his time speaking to the media while the cops try to reach him. It's simply one more thing the authorities and the hostages shouldn't have to deal with. One more voice clouding up an already foggy situation.

If criminal charges could be brought against NBC, they should be. The reporter at NBC who placed the call, as well as the the supervisor who approved it should be held responsible. If I was a hostage or one of the cops, I would ask for their immediate resignation. There comes a point when a story isn't worth the cost.