House Democrat Wants Immediate Iraq Pullout

Breitbart.com ^ | 11-17-2005 | LIZ SIDOTI AP

[Reagan Man]

An influential House Democrat who voted for the Iraq war called Thursday for the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, another sign of growing unease in Congress about the conflict.

"This is the immediate redeployment of American forces because they have become the target," said Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., one of Congress' most hawkish Democrats. At times during his remarks to reporters, the decorated Vietnam War veteran was choking back tears.

"It is time for a change in direction. Our military is suffering, the future of our country is at risk. We cannot continue on the present course. It is evident that continued military action in Iraq is not in the best interests of the United States of America, the Iraqi people or the Persian Gulf region," Murtha said.

Murtha, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations defense subcommittee, has earned bipartisan respect for his grasp of military issues over three decades in Congress.

He said announcing a U.S. withdrawal would provide the Iraqi government with an added incentive to have their own security forces take control of the conflict.

Murtha is a close adviser to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D- Calif. For months, Pelosi has pushed for the Bush administration to outline an exit strategy, although she has stopped short of calling for an immediate troop pullout.

Some Senate Democrats have called for immediate or phased withdrawal.

Murtha's comments came just two days after the Senate voted to approve a statement that 2006 "should be a period of significant transition to full Iraqi sovereignty" to create the conditions for the phased withdrawal of U.S. forces.

Murtha voted to give the president authority to use force against Saddam Hussein in 2002. In recent months, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee defense panel has grown increasingly troubled with the direction of the war and with the Bush administration's handling of it, particularly following reports of secret CIA prisons in Eastern Europe.

"The war in Iraq is not going as advertised. It is a flawed policy wrapped in illusion," Murtha said.

[street_lawyer]

Redeployment

Enemies of the US will begin to use this word to mean “surrender Iraq to the terrorists.

[strange1]

Doesn't sound manly to me!

I say leave it in there and get the job done!

[tioga]

He is forsaking our troops.

[street_lawyer]

Facelift and chin implant?

[ohioman]

"Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., one of Congress' most hawkish Democrats. At times during his remarks to reporters, the decorated Vietnam War veteran was choking back tears"


He is crying because in his heart he knows he is turning his back on our soldiers and the country. At this time of war, he should be tried for Sedition and jailed.

[carlr]

In other words "SURRENDER".
I am inclined to think that this is as simple as trying to pile on to the President while his polls are low.The dems know that the War on Terror will never be entrusted to them so they have to try to end it at any and all cost.

[Great Caesars Ghost]

rather than nonsense about "disenchantment"?

Good point. I don't recall being "enchanted" in the first place, just wanting us to do what needed to be done sooner at less cost than later at more cost, and at a higher risk of catastrophe.

And, to be consistent, I felt the same way all through the Clinton years. Every time he came on and bit his lip and wagged his finger at Saddam I thought he was finally going to do the right thing and take him out. Then he would lob a couple of cruise missles and hit the proverbial camel in the posterior, and it was back to business as usual.

[Logical me]

Actually the war is going as it was thought since we were involved with insane terrorist. But I see this, as we are winning and the accomplishments are numerous the RATS are afraid that two things will happen:

1. The war will come to a great conclusion with no more terrorist attacks than is happening around the globe. But more important the Iraqi Government will be in total control by 2006, and that scares the CRATS.

2. The recent documents captured in Iraq will show that Saddam had WMD, and they were removed and hidden. This are beginning to lean that way. One problem is I understand that the UN inspectors did not retain all the documents.

[Great Caesars Ghost]

Uh oh....someone has his FBI file.....

You don't suppose....

Remember when Boingyvitch missed the first day of hearings on Bolton, and then came in the next day and was all weepy like a little girl, and then turned into his biggest enemy? You don't suppose he missed that first session because somebody was explaining to him how the world works, and why he was going to be a good little boingy and vote the way he was told to vote, do you?

(I don't like to suggest dirty pool, but that's the only thing I can think of to explain so much of the behavior I see up there in Washington.)

[Great Caesars Ghost]

I remember Vietvictimization.

[Great Caesars Ghost]

But more important the Iraqi Government will be in total control by 2006, and that scares the CRATS.

I would prepare your expectations for moving goalposts in 2006.

[ex-snook]

"The war in Iraq is not going as advertised. It is a flawed policy wrapped in illusion," Murtha said.

The polls will affect politicians.

[Arm_Bears]

Well, I want Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa to immediately go jump off of a bridge, but I don't think he'll accommodate my wishes.

[caisson71]

Being a VietNam vet doesn't give him any pass on being stupid. Look at another VietNam vet - Kerry.

[Hoodlum91]

Dems always want to pull out too early.

[sgtbono2002]

Post 20. Every time I see this female she has that same grin on her face. Obviously the plastic surgeon who placed it there was incompetent, Has she sued him for malpractice? If she hasnt she damned sure should. It reminds me of the look of the Joker in the Batman movie. Can you imagione beoing placed i your coffin with this grimace like smile on your face through eternity?

Now for the thread. Does any of these people have any idea what will happen in the Mid-East if we pull out.? I think a civil war is a certainty, Palestinians will run wild, Iran will probably enter Iraq. Thousand wil die.

Now 2062 dead soldiers is nothing to sneeze at, but wouldnt it be a crime if their sacrifice was annulled by us pulling out?

These traitors are literally telling the insurgents and fanatical Mullahs to hold on . We are going to run. Are they too stupid to see that? Or dont they care?

[polymuser]

Are they too stupid to see that?

Yes. They're stuck on stupid.

[Paulus Invictus]

It's looking like a repeat of the RATs (and many RINOS) who destroyed our chance to actually win the Viet Nam War by cutting off the funds to run it, including to the South Vietnamese troops. It worked, and we lost our second war in history. Millions died as a result or were forced to attend the commie concentration/re-education camps.

For a reminder of how the end came, I recommend you read "Saigon Goodnight." It is an eye opening account of the last days of South Viet Nam and how the Congress made sure we lost while they ignored, and still do, how many lives were lost as a result and how close we were to winning it, but they ignored it.

[Teófilo]

Then what, sir?

From the pages of the Conemaugh Valley Times in Mr. Murtha's own district!

Folks, according to the AP/Johnstown Tribune-Democrat:

John Murtha (D-Johnstown), an influential House Democrat who voted for the Iraq war, called today for the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, another sign of growing unease in Congress about the conflict. Murtha, called for the United States to immediately redeploy U.S. troops consistent with the safety of U.S. forces. With a U.S. troop redeployment, the Iraqi security forces will be incentified to take control, Murtha said in remarks prepared for delivery. The decorated Vietnam War veteran is a close adviser to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. For months, Pelosi has pushed for the Bush administration to outline an exit strategy, although she has stopped short of calling for a pullout troops. Some Senate Democrats have called for immediate or phased withdrawal. Murthas comments came just two days after the Senate voted to approve a statement that 2006 should be a period of significant transition to full Iraqi sovereignty to create the conditions for the phased withdrawal of U.S. forces. Murtha voted to give the president authority to use force against Saddam Hussein in 2002. In recent months, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee defense panel has grown increasingly troubled with the direction of the war and with the Bush administrations handling of it, particularly following the disclosure of purportedly secret CIA prisons in Eastern Europe. The war in Iraq is not going as advertised. It is a flawed policy wrapped in illusion, Murtha said.

Commentary. I have the highest regard for Congressman Murtha, but now and then, we disagree. Like in this instance, for example. What's your alternative plan, Congressman? The Iraqis are transitioning to democracy, their security and armed forces are making great strides in terms of training and preparedness, the Iraqi infrastructure is being rebuilt in spite of relentless terrorism, what would you have the Administration do differently? You yourself are not quoted as calling for a "withdrawal," but for a "redeployment." That means that you know very well that an immediate withdrawal from Iraq will be detrimental to our national interest. So, what are you really saying, sir? Gen. Colin Powell said that the "Pottery Barn rule" applies here, that "if we break it we own it." Well, sir, let's say for the sake of argument that "we broke it" in Iraq. Now we own it. Our responsibility is to fix it. Let the troops finish their job in Iraq so that they don't have to go back there in the future, uncircumstancesumnstances.

[CharlesWayneCT]

Here is an e-mail I sent to McCain, who has worked WITH Murtha on torture but was opposed to the Warner amendment:

---

Honorable Senator McCain,

First, I want to thank you for your strong stance against the Warner amendment to the Defense bill. I especially liked this paragraph of your statement:

---

But that’s not what these amendments suggest. They signal that withdrawal, not victory, is foremost in Congress’ mind, and suggest that we are more interested in exit than victory. Mr. President, a date is not an exit strategy. This only encourages our enemies, by indicating that the end to American intervention is near, and alienates our friends, who fear an insurgent victory. Instead, both our friends and our enemies need to hear one message: America is committed to success in Iraq and we will win this war.

---

However, since you said that, your compatriot on the anti-torture front, Rep. Murtha, has called for an immediate withdrawal of our troops from Iraq -- showing that, in fact, the Democrats are committed to exit as our goal, rather than victory.

I know you think you are doing the "Lord's work" and finding allies where you can. But you must realise after Murtha's comments that working with the Democrats on this war is giving aid and comfort to the enemy in Iraq. They use your name and prestige where they can, and then call for actions that you find reprehensible.

I wish the parties could get along, but the leadership of the democrat party has been BOUGHT and PAID FOR by MoveOn.Org (a perverse but predictable outcome of your mistaken attempt to control campaign spending which has blown up in america's face). That leadership has put winning back power as the prime goal of their "government service". They don't care about our troops, they don't care about the war on terror, they just want to win in 2006.

So they push policies that virtually guarantee defeat. They discourage the american people, whipping up resentment toward our goverment in the hopes that falling public opinion will hasten our retreat/surrender in Iraq.

They do this in reckless disregard for the consequences, seeing their ascendency back to power as more important to our future than winning the war on terror. I think they liked it better when THEY had the white house and we were doing nothing to stop Al Qaeda.

So I urge you to DENOUNCE Murtha's "surrender" policy, to get with other military republican veterans to fight back against this push by the democrats to give Iraq to the enemy (in the hope that the people blame Bush and the republicans).

This is not a fight for our party, it is a fight for our military, or way of life, and our credibility. Senator Lieberman, while voting FOR the Warned amendment, clearly saw the danger his own party presented, denouncing their amendment as one that would encourage terrorists, discourage our troops, and confuse our allies.

Sincerely,