Roanoke Times Finally Understands -- "Give Bush his Due"

Today's Roanoke Times' editorial echoes what The New York Times and Washington Post suggested days ago -- George Bush deserves credit for the momentous move toward democracy in the Middle East.

"The U.S. war in Iraq has boosted the impulse for democracy in the region...It is a hope nurtured, in part, by President Bush. Give the administration its due. It can lay claim to a share of credit for the encouraging events in Lebanon and other parts of the Middle East."

Reaching this conclusion must have taken a great deal of soul-searching for the Roanoke Times. We hope this opens the door to an overall intellectual self-examination by the newspaper. The departure of Geoff Seamans from the RT offers a perfect opportunity for the RT to broaden the political makeup of its editorial staff. One has to ask -- if the Roanoke Times' editorial board had been more intellectually diverse, would it have exhibited the same faulty judgement with regard to the invasion of Iraq? Been so universally hostile to George Bush?

You can only broaden your mind by listening to another voice, not an echo.