Sen. Rick Santorum admonishes the Post-Gazette editorial board regarding its distortion of his position
on our progress in Iraq ("Telling the Whole Story About Iraq," Jan. 18 In Rebuttal). But he refuses to explain why he holds this position. What progress have we made? How
does he define winning the war?
He states that the terrorists can only achieve their objectives by deflating support here in America. But
he does not define these objectives. He does not tell us how the terrorists plan on deflating support here.
He claims that the media does not acknowledge any action or incident in Iraq that does not include violence
and bloodshed. Yet he does not provide one example of an action or incident that deserves reporting.
In recent weeks, I've read stories about an Iraqi journalist/interpreter protecting an American reporter (National
Geographic, February 2006). I've read in the Post-Gazette about an Iraqi baby with spina bifida being rescued by U.S. soldiers
(Jan. 1). If I've seen these "positive" reports, perhaps with a little effort Sen. Santorum and his staff might be able to
find a few more stories.
Charles E. Premick, Hampton
Letter to the editor, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Jan 24, 2006
Response from Santorum's communication director:
About this criticism
Letter writer Charles E. Premick ("What Progress?" Jan. 24) criticized Sen. Rick Santorum for an op-ed piece published
in the Post-Gazette ("Telling the Whole Story About Iraq," Jan. 18 In Rebuttal"). Let me first point out that the senator was responding to an editorial and, in the limited space provided,
believed it most important to correct the inaccuracies circulated by the Post-Gazette's editors.
Second, the questions that Mr. Premick asks -- how does Sen. Santorum define winning the war, what are the terrorists'
objectives, what progress have we made -- were all addressed during the senator's speech given at Valley Forge Military Academy,
a speech I attended. If the Post-Gazette had accurately reported on the substance of the speech in the first place, Mr. Premick
would have the answers he's looking for.
Finally, Mr. Premick is incorrect in his assertion that Sen. Santorum "did not provide one example of an action or incident
that deserves reporting." The senator did point out one such instance in the op-ed, and outside of that article, he has spearheaded
the effort to communicate the positive stories coming out of Iraq to the American public. Among other things, he has held
press conferences with soldiers and military bloggers, spoken about this issue on the Senate floor and entered e-mails he
received directly from our troops abroad into the Congressional Record.
If Mr. Premick, or anyone else, has questions about the senator's position on the war in Iraq -- or on any issue for that
matter -- they should feel free to access his Website, www.santorum.senate.gov, or call his Washington office at 202-224-6324.
Robert Traynham, Communications Director, U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum
Letter to the editor, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Jan 28, 2006
