Posted on 11/20/2005 12:34:27 PM PST by wagglebee
Undaunted by the House of Representatives overwhelming rejection on Friday of a proposal to immediately withdraw troops from Iraq, Rep. John Murtha, D-Penn., told Tim Russert, host of "Meet the Press, Sunday, that the U.S. will be out of Iraq "very quickly.
"Let me predict this, Murtha said. "We're going to be out of there, we're going to be out of there very quickly, and it's going to be close to the plan that I'm presenting right now.
"You think we'll be out of Iraq by the end of 2006? asked Russert.
"I think we'll be out of there; if not completely out of there, we'll be very close to being out of there, said Murtha. "I think we could be out -- yeah, I predict we'll be out of there -- it'll be 2006."
"By Election Day 2006? qualified Russert.
"You -- you have hit it on the head, Murtha replied.
When confronted by Russert of charges that not a sufficient number of Iraqi forces have been ramped up to U.S. fighting standards, Murtha opined:
"They're going to let us do the fighting, as long as we're there, and, until we turn it over to them, they're not going to be up to standard. So I'm convinced that they can take over this battle and we could move our people to the periphery, out of danger.
As to whether Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld should be replaced, Murtha said that such a decision was up to President Bush. Murtha qualified, however, saying:
"Well, I'll put it this way: There have been an awful lot of mistakes made, and I don't know whether it's his fault, but when he forced the military -- now this is what I hear from the military. He forced them to go in with inadequate forces.
As to whether the intelligence provided by the administration was deliberately misleading, Murtha said:
"I wouldn't say that. I don't think any president would mislead the public on the intelligence. They certainly exaggerated, but I don't think they deliberately misled us.
During the Russert interview, Murtha returned more than once to the theme that the idea of a speedy withdrawal was not going away:
"I have never seen such an outpouring in the 32 years I've been in Congress, of support and people with tears in their eyes, people walking along clapping when I'm walking through the halls of Congress, saying something needed to be said. So they're thirsting for a solution to this and the president can't hide behind rhetoric and neither can the vice president.
This idiot must have tied his tie to tight this morning...
I hope his district elects someone else. He's an embassment to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Murtha=RAT
I'm ashamed this guy is a PA representative.
If that's what happens, it will be just like Vietnam.
Next we'll cut off all funding of the Iraqi government, turning our back on them. And the slaughter will start.
I really really hate politicians.
Murtha = RAT HUM.
Nobody seemed to vote that way though.
The Iraqis will take over more and more of the responsibilities. US troop levels will be drawn down during the year. I fully expect the US to have bases in Iraq for decades.
Pennsylvania - The White Flag State?
At least until Iran, Syria, SA and the Palis are calmed down.
""Let me predict this, Murtha said. "We're going to be out of there, we're going to be out of there very quickly, and it's going to be close to the plan that I'm presenting right now.
The plan this grifting gasbag has said we were to "redeploy" (withdraw) by mid-December this year.
He is a liar. And a self-promoting grifter.
If he is so concerned about our troops not being well supplied, maybe he should cut down on some of his scimming for his brother and pork for his district.
He's the guy in charge of defense spending for Congress. Not us.
"He forced them to go in with inadequate forces.
OMG.
If all I have on when my house catches on fire, am I forced to run out of the house in my underwear?
Yes.
A whole lot like the politicians squawking about high gasoline prices in August and September then taking credit for the lower prices in October and November, every year.
> He's the guy in charge of defense spending for Congress. Not us.
A *Democrat* is in charge of defense spending for Congress? I don't think so.
I think Republicans have a lot to answer for in terms of provisioning the troops and refusing to cut pork when needed.
As for asinine predictions it looks like Murtha is in charge of that. As for who is in control of the Congress and the Presidency, it is the REPUBLICANS. Let's not forget that when bad law comes rolling down the pike so we target the right people.
Some people just dont know when to shut up.
The Iraqi ministry of defence needs to get up and running. Murtha forgets that there is, right now, no THEY to take over. If only he had kept his big mouth shut until after the December 15 election and the establishment of a permanent government.
.....We are in the business of winning wars, not abandoning them.......
Yes but the traitor knows that in January or February after the election, the drawdown will begin and if things are going well will continue for some time. That is, he is merely telling us what everyone already knows.
By the way, The congressman's fax is still busy and has been all day. There is heat incoming....
"I have never seen such an outpouring [of support] in the 32 years I've been in Congress."
He must not be reading his email. Or maybe he forgot the vote was 403 to 3, and not 3 to 403 - and that he voted against his own proposal.
Is this guy a comedian or what? He reminds me of Danny Kaye in the skit in which he plays a 90-year old orchestra conductor.
NO IT WON'T!
When we pulled out of Vietnam, there was never the slightest concern that the NVA or VC would bring the war to our shores!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.