On 3rd Anniversary, Conservative 'Tribune-Review' Calls for Iraq Pullout

editorandpublisher.com ^ | March 19, 2006 | E&P Staff

[summer]

NEW YORK -- Several weeks ago, the reliably-conservative Tribune-Review of Pittsburgh and Greensburg, Pa., startled many readers when it suddenly came out for the start of a U.S. withdrawal from Iraq. It did so, however, with a reference to preparing to take on Iran if necessary, so some dismissed the editorial as merely hawkish-in-a-different-direction.

What would it do on the thrid anniversary of the start of the conflict?

In a Sunday editorial, the newspaper affirmed its pullout demand--few Democrat-leaning papers have joined it--while also making clear it was not in favor of pre-emptive war elsewhere.

Here is the editorial.

*

On the third anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, the long-term interests of Americans and Iraqis converge.

This war, a painful loss of blood and treasure and predicated on the myth of weapons of mass destruction, must wind down. Quickly. There are far greater challenges in a dangerous world. Toward these, the United States must replenish its economic resources and restore its unity.

To be clear, this is decidedly not a call for another "pre-emptive war." It is a call for peace through strength. An adversary will be informed by what you can do. As such, he will not be eager to find out what you will do.

This newspaper supported regime change but opposed the invasion. We supported the war effort once begun -- until it became clear the torch should be passed to the people of Iraq.

The United States has removed the despicable Saddam and has devoted three years to overseeing the constitution of a government, establishment of security forces and sowing the seeds of civil society.

Whether those seeds rot or germinate is up to the Iraqis. Should they wish, in the face of civil war, to build a nation of ethnic and religious compromise, they may. Or may not.

For building a nation is, by definition, intrinsic to a people; no surrogates need apply. An obstinate president does neither his nation nor Iraq any good.

[summer]

I read on a Dem site that this editorial (published above in the article) was from Richard Mellon Scaife, who, according to the Dem site, is the publisher of this newspaper and, according to the left, is also an "extreme right wing financier of the Clinton impeachment."

I don't know if this is his newspaper or not, but if it is, it's interesting he would write/publish such an editorial.

[summer]

Here's the editorial, currently posted on the newspaper's site.

[summer]

And, the Dem site I was reading seems angry that Dem "leaders" lack the spine this guy has. Here's how the Dem site describes the editorial:

While Liberal Newspapers, the Democratic Leadership, and Hillary Clinton Still Won't Call for an Iraq Pullout, the Newspaper of the Extreme Right Wing Financier of the Clinton Impeachment, Richard Mellon Scaife, Calls AGAIN for Bringing the Troops Home Now. 3/20

[summer]

BTW, I don't have any comments to make on the war -- I think it's such a hard time for all the good people who want the best for Iraq and the free world, and I support our troops, and I still support GW, despite his low ratings. I also believe that good things happening in Iraq don't always get reported.

But, I must say I find it fascinating how the "extreme" left and right have found common ground here in this editorial.

[SandRat]

To Whom ever wrote the editorial

I Really am trying to see your point of View.

[summer]

Well, I guess that's another way to look at it!

[RasterMaster]

Are they also promoting troop pullouts in Germany, Japan or South Korea?

[ladyinred]

MORON!

[ladyinred]

Oops. I am calling the person who wrote this a moron, not you summer! I hope you know that! :-)

[SandRat]

Instructor Demonstrated this at the Night College of Political Proctology.

[RichInOC]

I don't suppose they'd settle for our giving the insurgents a reacharound instead...?

[Dane]

Richard Mellon Scaife and William Buckley(who also went into lefty Vietnam defeatist mode) must have agreed over their position while sipping on gin & tonics on one of their yachts.

Funny how the DUmmies are now agreeing with two cut and run capitalists.

[Dane]

But, I must say I find it fascinating how the "extreme" left and right have found common ground here in this editorial

Not really, Dick Scaife and theresa heinz are neighbors in the "old" money suburb of Pittsburgh, Fox Chapel.

JMO, Dick Scaife may have a problem with Lynn Swann being the Pubbie nominee for Governor.

The Fox Chapel Republicans used to run the Republican party in West. Pa., but no more. Pro-abortion Elsee Hillman(somehow she is related by marriage or blood to Dick Scaife, I don't know which) used to be the Grand Dame of the Pubbies, not anymore.

[summer]

I did not know any of that; thanks for your post.

[summer]

Re your post #9 - LOL... no problem, Ladyinred. :)

[summer]

Re your post #10 - LOL...

[Dane]

I did not know any of that; thanks for your post.

Fox Chapel is literally a real poltical Peyton Place.

[summer]

Richard Mellon Scaife and William Buckley

Yeah, I think I have heard or read somewhere there are in fact some conservatives who want the troops home now. But, here is what I personally take from all this: if the cvonservative leaders all decided to bring the troops home now, the Dem leaders would jump on board -- but the Dem leaders do not lead. They follow when they think it is in their interest to follow, and as for leading, well, they just never do. It's also fascinating to me to see how totally demoralized the Dem base feels about recognizing this basic failure of their Dem leaders. As for me, it makes me think: well, at least the GOP is strong enought to decide what position to take. Even if some in the GOP take another position. The Dem leaders just seem totally clueless to me. It's like -- whatever way the wind blows, they'll blow that way, too.

[summer]

Well, you get my drift, Dane -- despite my typos! :)

[Dane]

It's also fascinating to me to see how totally demoralized the Dem base feels about recognizing this basic failure of their Dem leaders. As for me, it makes me think: well, at least the GOP is strong enought to decide what position to take. Even if some in the GOP take another position. The Dem leaders just seem totally clueless to me. It's like -- whatever way the wind blows, they'll blow that way, too

Well see that's the thing, people like Buckley and Scaife, hang around in circles, where panic rules(i.e mostly rich people who think they know everything and read everything form the NYT and Wash Post). They as Pubbies take a stand instead of the fence sitting hem-hawing by the democrats, and those as Pubbies or Conservatives, take Buckley and Scaife to task, especially given that the liberal media Buckley and Scaife rely on are wrong and or lying.

With the democrats, it's different, it's all about power not results, and they know jumping on the Vietnam like defeatist bandwagon is a loser(i.e 1.5 million innocent people slaughtered in Cambodia), except to the people who are their base and rely on most, the leftist moonbats(DUmmies, KOSkids, etc.).