Posted on 12/01/2005 2:04:13 PM PST by johnmecainrino
Murtha: Army 'Broken, Worn Out'
LATROBE, Pa. (AP) -- Most U.S. troops will leave Iraq within a year because the Army is "broken, worn out" and "living hand to mouth," Rep. John Murtha told a civic group.
Two weeks ago, Murtha created a storm of comment when he called for U.S. troops to leave Iraq now. The Democratic congressman spoke to a group of community and business leaders in Latrobe on Wednesday, the same day President Bush said troops would be withdrawn when they've achieved victory, not under an artificial deadline set by politicians.
Murtha predicted most troops will be out of Iraq within a year.
"I predict he'll make it look like we're staying the course," Murtha said, referring to Bush. "Staying the course is not a policy."
Murtha, 73, the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations defense subcommittee, expressed pessimism about Iraq's stability and said the Iraqis know who the insurgents are, but don't always share that information with U.S. troops. He said a civil war is likely because of ongoing factionalism among Sunni Arabs, and Kurds and Shiites.
He also said he was wrong to vote to support the war.
"I admit I made a mistake when I voted for war," Murtha said. "I'm looking at the future of the United States military."
Murtha, a decorated Vietnam war veteran, said the Pennsylvania National Guard is "stretched so thin" that it won't be able to send fully equipped units to Iraq next year. Murtha predicted it will cost $50 billion to upgrade military equipment nationwide, but says the federal government is already reducing future purchases to save money.
Murtha, who represents a western Pennsylvania district that includes Latrobe, was first elected to Congress in 1974.
Lt. Col. Chris Cleaver, spokesman for the Pennsylvania National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap, said "there are some deployment concerns."
Cleaver said some guard units had to leave equipment in Iraq when they returned to the United States, which could cause training problems here.
But Cleaver also said most of the 2,100 Guard troops now deployed with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team can't be sent back to Iraq for a second tour of duty anyway, because of regulations that limit redeployment.
What the hail would he know?
my bad
mods delete
dupe
They misunderstood him. He was talking about his wife.
HEY NEWBIE, are you the post police for today? This item should be posted multiple times a day. Don't read it if it is old news to you.
Murtha seems to do a really good job of encouraging our enemies.
Cool, I can play that game too. ;-)
Relax a little, mmmmm kaaaay?
Duplicate posts are against FR posting policy. If you don't like that policy, talk to JimRob about it.
Dupes just eat up more of Jim's limited resources and cumulatively waste people's time.
"Search twice; post once."
Murtha is the broken down tired old man - obviously getting senile to boot - not to mention he is a frickin' @hole
Murtha is the broken down tired old man
You beat me by 10 seconds.
He sounds as f*****g stoopid as John Traitor Kerry.
Of course, he has the right to say what he wants, but when the media makes a deliberate choice to circulate his remarks far beyond what they would do for another elected official of a different stripe, we have to question both intention and purpose. And, maybe, even start to think about challenging broadcast licenses in the public interest.
He is.
I wish some Rs would turn the "broken and worn out" phrase against the 'Rats and start proclaiming that it is the Demagogic Party and its leaders which is "broken and worn out"!!!!!!! That phrase could become the new tag-line to describe the demagogues who are trying to drag the mission in Iraq into their puerile and pathetic world of defeat and surrender. I'm sorry, Rep. Murtha, if you think your honored military service makes your word in politics unquestionable, but there are lots and lots of other distinguished veterans who now despise you for your recent attempts to degrade our military and our government.
He's been Pelosified!
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