I agree. In my eight short years in the Army I made a few acquaintances like Murtha, both enlisted and officer. They are known as "Empire Builders" and they learn to game the system for all that they can get out of it. What little I read about Murtha, I learned that he enlisted in the Marine Corps during Korea. Many, many of the Korea "lifers" would have mustered out of the service in the '60's, had it not been for Vietnam. This situation gave the Empire Builders another chance to prosper and rise within the military services.
By the end of the draft and America's involvement in Vietnam, there were more senior NCO's and light colonels in the rifle services than there were privates and corporals. When the Empire Builders finally retired with an extra 10 to 15 years punched on their retirement tickets, provided by Vietnam, the entered the public and private sector to practice their trade that they polished in the service. I can't state that Murtha is categorically one of them, but he has all the history and personality attributes of an "Empire Builder". His history merits that Congress "follows the money".
Thanks, man.