NYT: The Road Home

The New York Times only did one Editorial today, Sunday, July 8, 2007. On most days, they have more than one, in addition to the Op-Eds. I wonder if they planned it this way because of the editorial's topic -

It is time for the United States to leave Iraq, without any more delay than the Pentagon needs to organize an orderly exit.

You can't get more important than this.

Get out of Iraq. No ifs, no ands, not buts - Get Out!

The NYT Editorial Board traces its support of the war from the beginning. They realize that they are eight months behind what the American people asked for in November 2006. They understand the mechanics of withdrawal will be difficult. They don't care. They see, finally, that it has to be done. There is no other solution.

An even greater declaration that they make is that the problem was begun, fomented, and continued solely by the Bush Administration. Bush is to blame.

Like many Americans, we have put off that conclusion, waiting for a sign that President Bush was seriously trying to dig the United States out of the disaster he created by invading Iraq without sufficient cause, in the face of global opposition, and without a plan to stabilize the country afterward.

and later

President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney have used demagoguery and fear to quell Americans’ demands for an end to this war.

They also come to a conclusion that the Bush Administration refuses to ackowledge as the one very major course change that has to occur:

For this effort to have any remote chance, Mr. Bush must drop his resistance to talking with both Iran and Syria. Britain, France, Russia, China and other nations with influence have a responsibility to help. Civil war in Iraq is a threat to everyone, especially if it spills across Iraq’s borders.

Of course, tomorrow, at the daily press briefing the editorial will be outright dismissed as the left now having total control of the NYT, being totally out of touch with giving the surge a chance, using the cowardly way out, or giving in to the terrorists. Oh, and, of course, not supporting the troops.

The following line from the editorial identifies all of the support the troops need:

Continuing to sacrifice the lives and limbs of American soldiers is wrong.

This is the true advocacy that U.S. troops need.

Some may see the New York Times as a long time in the making. Some may say that it is not enough. Others may totally disagree and say that it is out of touch with reality. Here is some reality for them - SEN. RICHARD LUGAR, SEN. JOHN WARNER, SEN. GEORGE VOINOVICH, SEN. PETER DOMENICI, REP. WALTER JONES, REP. JOHN DUNCAN, SEN. JUDD GREGG, SEN. LAMAR ALEXANDER - the list of Republicans is growing.

as comedian Robin Williams once said,

Reality. What a concept!

the New York Times has helped bring reality closer, even if a little...