Tribune Co.'s independent directors fired back at the Chandler
family Thursday, accusing the super-rich California clan of
putting their own financial interests head of other
shareholders.  In a letter signed by Tribune lead director
William Osborn and six other independent board members, the
directors defended their support of a $2 billion stock buyback
plan that the Chandlers say weakens the company.  "Our
unwillingness to delay the tender offer in order to accommodate
your demands ... was based on our good faith judgment that the
tender offer benefited all shareholders, while your proposed
restructuring [of some Tribune-Chandler partnerships] primarily
benefited the Chandler Trusts at the expense of other
shareholders," the directors wrote.  The Chandlers were asking
Tribune to unwind two complex partnerships that hold more than
$3.5 billion in real estate and Tribune stock before proceeding
with the share buyback. But those proposed transactions would
have resulted in a big tax bill for Tribune, an outcom