Is this blackmail?

Here's the full text of the e-mail former Baylor president and chancellor Herbert "Paladin of the Progressive Baptists" Reynolds sent to the editors of book about the Baylor 2012 plan that was to be published by the university, but now no longer will be:

From: [deleted]
Sent: Tuesday, November 07, 2006 7:18 PM
To: Schmeltekopf, Donald; Hankins, Barry G.
Subject: Notice


Messrs. Schmeltekopf and Hankins:

I want to ensure that the two of you understand, as editors of Baylor
Beyond the Crossroads: A Story of Aspiration and Controversy, that I am holding you
responsible for the individual chapters of the book since you had the opportunity to revise or reject (as you did in at least one case) any and all such chapters, or any portions thereof. I also have a copy of The Baylor Situation, the topic of the
paper delivered by Schmeltekopf and Sloan at Notre Dame in September 2005. There is
nothing of a substantial scholarly nature in either of these works.

In re: Sloan's chapter in the book, I will be releasing one or more documents which
I have kept in my "asbestos" files. Readers will quickly see an unvarnished picture
of this "Intentional Christian." You and he, and most certainly others, have opened
the door with both your much publicly touted "Intentional Christianity" and ad hominems. I have placed strategic items in the hands of a trusted confidant who will release them timewise as I have instructed him, so they are now out of my hands.

My tertiary specialty in the Air Force was psychological warfare and I was no mean
student thereof. It is imperative to know everything conceivably possible about your
adversaries and their soft underbelly--and have the patience to await the most strategic moment to strike.

The foregoing is just the beginning. I am nearly 77 years of age and I have nothing to lose. When I was overseas without my wife and small children for a year and a half well over 50 years ago I embraced the truths of Romans 8:35-39 and Phillipians 4:6-7. They have sustained me well in dealing with adversaries such as you and those
in your coterie.

Since you have dispensed with moderation, so shall I.

Most sincerely yours,

Herbert H. Reynolds

In the Chronicle of Higher Education's report on the e-mail and the controversy surrounding it, former Baylor president Robert Sloan said:

"I have written and spoken and preached publicly, and my life has been pretty well scrutinized for the past few years," he said.

"What does disappoint me," he added, "is that the book is not going to be published. I think it's always unfortunate when people give in to external pressure to suppress information. This is a very collegial disagreement that needs to be aired. That's why we have universities and books like these. The suppression of a book -- or threats that some have made if a book is published -- is completely antithetical to
Baptist principles of academic freedom and open discussion."

Speaking to a Chronicle reporter, Reynolds said the e-mail was in fact his own, but denied that it was an attempt at blackmail. "I just wanted them to think twice about what they were doing," he said.

So, let's see: Reynolds warns the editors of a book that if they go ahead with publication, he is going to release secret, damaging information on Robert Sloan, and likens it to military psy-ops warfare. It would be tempting to say that the old fellow is having his General Sash moment (that is, a Flannery O'Connor-ish late encounter with the enemy) -- but this is really serious. It looks like an attack on the academic freedom of the faculty by a powerful former top official of the university who still has an office on campus.

If it's not attempted blackmail, then what is it?