Read the amazing story of Chiquita Brands International's illegal payoffs to Columbian terrorists in an extortion scheme and prosecution by the US government. To those inside the company it must have seemed a no-win situation: Make the payoffs and support terrorists and break the law or stop the payments and put your employees' lives at risk.

The company tried to walk a middle line by continuing the payments while going to the government. In the end, the company plead guilty, paid millions in fines, employees were killed, careers were ended, and the Columbian business sold.

In the middle of this nightmare it might have seemed hard to tell right from wrong, but with the benefit of hindsight it seems fairly predictable that the with no good outcome possible, the best end would have been to stop the payments immediately, apologized publicly and saved as much of the company's reputation as possible.

Ultimately, Chiquita sold its Columbian unit. In a statement on the US Chamber of Commerce website, Chiquita tells its side of the story. In an effort by new management to begin repairing the reputational damage caused, the line is to blame the government for not lifting the threat of prosecution to help the company do the right thing. Not a winning argument, but probably a fair criticism.

Updated 11/24/2007 2:31:48 PM

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