The Washington Post announced today that it was withdrawing sponsorship of the America Supports You Freedom Walk, the Pentagon's subdued fourth-anniversary commemoration of the 9/11 terror attacks, culminating in a National Mall concert by Clint ("I Raq and Roll") Black. Antiwar activists, the Post's Newspaper Guild local, and some Post reporters all questioned the seemliness of the paper's sponsorship of an event that seemed to be plumping for the long-discredited connection between the war on terror and the Iraq War. Post flak Eric Grant announced:

As it appears that this event could become politicized, The Post has decided to honor the Washington area victims of 9/11 by making a contribution directly to the Pentagon Memorial Fund. . . . It is The Post's practice to avoid activities that might lead readers to question the objectivity of The Post's news coverage.

A propos of that last point, we anxiously await word on the cancellation of Bob Novak's column. -- HOLLY MARTINS

Post Drops Plans to Promote Pentagon Event [Washington Post]