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Greg Mortenson

April 17, 2011 5:00 PM

He has written inspiring best sellers, including "Three Cups of Tea," but are the stories all true? Steve Kroft investigates.

Questions over Greg Mortenson's stories
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by nubwaxer October 28, 2012 2:45 PM EDT
they're all self serving ego maniacs and many are criminals as well.
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by Chris_Skyba July 21, 2012 7:29 PM EDT
Good work by Mr. Kroft and the team at American Institute of Philanthropy. While Mr. Mortenson's work certainly is commendable, it is clear he abused the privilege of tax exemption. Unfortunately, abuse of tax exemption is far too common in the nonprofit industry. The organization was clearly operating under private interest of Mr. Mortenson, expenses were used towards marketing his book, which he profited from.

www.outcomemeasurements.com
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by bxriot June 12, 2012 9:09 PM EDT
This is why I generally refuse to watch CBS. They'll take anything remotely good and pervert it just so they can run what they consider an interesting news piece. Morons.
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by gmyershere1 May 1, 2012 6:25 PM EDT
Given today's court decision you need to revisit this story... and be a little self critical!
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by brendenr April 29, 2012 6:41 PM EDT
I'm surprised that there are people out there still defending Mortenson. The Montana Attorney General finally produced a report follow a year of thorough investigation that reveals that Mortenson had misappropriated millions of dollars, and they came to an agreement where Mortenson must repay 1 million dollars. Even worse in my eyes, although the dollar amount is substantially less, is that Mortenson and his family were found to have "charged personal items to the charity amounting to $75,276 that included LL Bean clothing, iTunes, luggage, luxurious accommodations, and even vacations" (and that was just in FY 2010). Mortenson really was, as alleged, using the charity as his own personal ATM.
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by Sqrrlady April 29, 2012 6:36 PM EDT
I believe Greg Mortensen is perhaps a bad jugglers of his time, perhaps takes literary license, and may not have the best of bookeepers for himself personally or at CAI. HOWEVER THIS MAN HAS DOONE MORE FOR THE EDUCATION OF THESE ISOLATED CHILDREN THAN ANYONE ELSE. LEAVE HIM ALONE LET HIM DO GOOD HIS WAY.
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by isohappy April 23, 2012 3:28 AM EDT
I am disgusted with Krakauer's hatchet job on Greg Mortenson. I think 60 minutes should be ashamed for their one-sided reporting.
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by hellokitty2012 April 6, 2012 11:25 AM EDT
Are you kidding me with this? What nonsense. This is obviously someone's very, very malicious intent to stop what he's doing. Let's face it, what he's doing goes against everything that part of the world believes in. If you educate, you can't brainwash. This disgusts me. Becuase this guy doesn't know every tax code, he's a fraud? Sounds like this slanderous story is fueled by Taliban money.
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by meowmixer23 February 15, 2012 6:19 PM EST
wowow i love greg
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by Alison_Beil January 22, 2012 1:10 PM EST
CBS should be ashamed for breaking it's own rules, with Jon Krakauer by personally insulting Greg Mortenson, and wrongly accusing him of lying. Krakauer is obviously delusional, deceitful and fictitious in his own books, and inshallah, more Americans - Jews, Christians, and Moslems alike, will come to their senses to realize that. Though it is true that anyone in a traumatized and semi-conscious state of mind, can not be blamed for recalling incompletely what truly occurred to them and when, particularly when NOT TOLD, reasons why a group of people moved someone into protective custody, Krakauer is also evidently vexatious, and more unforgiving of others than himself, in his frivolous and fictional delusions.

To even suggest that when prevailing on citizens of a poor, undeveloped country to help him climb their own mountains, he has any right to blame them for not providing him better assistance in recovering from his own mishaps is only more shameful of himself. Perhaps he would like to come to Canada now, and see how far he gets demanding our RCMP and Forestry Service authorities help him evade being eaten by a bear while wandering alone in our wilderness areas? Perhaps Krakower would also like to try to exploit Cuba, insisting their official's provide for all his health care and book publicity demands there?

Still jealous of "Dr. Greg" and the CAI's evident humanitarian work, Krakower's book "Into Thin Air" remains only an ashamed admission of Krakower's selfish ambitions, ludicrously couched in apparent narcissistic honour of himself. Mortenson's book, by comparison, gives honour to God and the theological virtues of faith, hope, and loving compassion with tolerance, and understanding of cultural difference being the first part of charity.

No one who did not actually see Mortenson, while in solitary confinement, attempt to ask for a Koran, or any other book more sacred than a filthy copy of an out-dated Time's magazine, or even just pray, while alone with God, can with any certitude say that he lied in stating that he did. No matter what the truth or exaggeration of the testimonies it is very apparent that Mortenson's linguistic and translations skills are better than those that testify against him in English. Bidden or not bidden God is present, and witness to the Truth Himself.
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