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

By: E&P Staff 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 third 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.

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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.