Posted on 11/20/2005 8:26:47 AM PST by SmithL
BEIJING - U.S. President George W. Bush on Sunday all but apologized to a hawkish Democrat who the White House had called a liberal like American moviemaker Michael Moore for demanding an immediate U.S. pullout from Iraq.
Bush, dogged by questions about Iraq during a week-long Asia tour, tried to cool partisan tempers in Washington that flared over the withdrawal demand by Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. John Murtha (news, bio, voting record). One Republican had called Murtha a coward.
"Congressman Murtha is a fine man, a good man who served our country with honor and distinction as a Marine in Vietnam and as a U.S. congressman," Bush said.
He did not repeat the White House accusation that Murtha was from the extreme liberal wing of the Democratic Party like Moore, the "Fahrenheit 9/11" filmmaker who is a liberal celebrity loathed by American conservatives.
"I know that the decision to call for an immediate withdrawal of our troops by congressman Murtha was done in a careful and thoughtful way. I disagree with his position," Bush said.
Many Democrats have called on Bush to present a plan to end the war and an estimate of when U.S. forces can start to be withdrawn based on conditions on the ground. Only a few have called for a set timetable for withdrawal.
Murtha has said Iraq cannot be won militarily and the United States must withdraw to send a signal to Iraqis that they are "free from the United States occupation."
Murtha's opposition broadened a partisan divide in Washington and prompted the Republican-led House of Representatives to engineer a vote on Friday on a resolution to pull U.S. troops immediately from Iraq.
It was defeated nearly unanimously in what Democrats called a political stunt.
A CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll this week said 63 percent of Americans oppose Bush's handling of the Iraq war, and 52 percent say troops should be pulled out now or within 12 months.
Bush said a premature withdrawal would have "terrible consequences," but that he recognized Iraqis would like to defend their country on their own and he looked forward to that day.
"As the Iraqi security forces gain strength and experience we can lessen our troop presence in the country without losing our capability to effectively defeat the terrorists," Bush said.
"A reduced presence of coalition force would clearly demonstrate to the Iraqi people that we have no ambition to occupy their country. As I've often said we'll stay as long as necessary but not one day more," Bush said.
Bush, speaking to reporters after talks with Chinese leaders, said no one should question Murtha's patriotism and that it was his right to express his opinion.
"People should feel comfortable expressing their opinions about Iraq," he sai
This is an apology??? What universe is that?
The calculating left is using Murtha like a whore.
Murtha is a Trojan horse and is no more a patriot than Michael Moore. He has voted to raise taxes, for restoring the draft, and has been blatantly anti-war for well over a year now. In fact, he's advocated negotiating with Al-Qaeda and other terrorists, something absent from the news coverage of this "influential hawk." He was one of the first congressman to announce 18 months ago that the war in Iraq was unwinnable.
Murtha has created a new attack strategy for the DemonRATs in the next year's run for the 2006 elections to regain the House and the Senate. President Bush's effort to tone down the rhetoric will only cause the DemonRATs to ramp up the rhetoric. I hope they hang themselves good like useful fools who are stuck on stupid.
I wouldn't send our troops to settle a muslim civil war.
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