Posted on 01/02/2006 5:36:07 PM PST by jmc1969
Rep. John Murtha, a key Democratic voice who favors pulling U.S. troops from Iraq, said in remarks airing on Monday that he would not join the U.S. military today.
A decorated Vietnam combat veteran who retired as a colonel after 37 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, Murtha told ABC News' "Nightline" program that Iraq "absolutely" was a wrong war for President George W. Bush to have launched.
"Would you join (the military) today?," he was asked in an interview taped on Friday.
"No," replied Murtha of Pennsylvania, the top Democrat on the House of Representatives subcommittee that oversees defense spending and one of his party's leading spokesmen on military issues.
"And I think you're saying the average guy out there who's considering recruitment is justified in saying 'I don't want to serve'," the interviewer continued.
"Exactly right," said Murtha, who drew White House ire in November after becoming the first ranking Democrat to push for a pullout of U.S. forces from Iraq as soon as it could be done safely.
"Let me tell you, war is a nasty business. It sears the soul," he said, choking up. "And it made a difference. The shadow of those killings stay with you the rest of your life."
Asked for comment, a Defense Department spokesman, Lt. Col. John Skinner, said: "We have an all-volunteer military. People are free to choose whether they serve or not."
"Our freedom of speech in this country allows all of us the opportunity to voice an opinion. It's one of our great strengths as a nation," he added.
(Excerpt) Read more at alertnet.org ...
We are better off not having pantywaists like Murtha in our military.
Your correct to bring this up...he was active duty less than 7 years... and in the reserves...total service less than 20 years...this is a puff piece to builf this Traitor up so he can tear the USMC down...wow that is something to proud of Col Mother
Wow. There is no limit to what this guy will say is there?
Ill never forgive any of these people for the awful things they have said during this war. They can never make up for it, ever. Never forget.
It's funny how quickly Murtha has been elevated to Voice Of Reason by the media, who didn't know who he was a few months ago, even though he'd expressed similar opinions long ago. Has NOTHING to do with the MSM's desperation over the positive news from Iraq, I'm sure.
The bitterness of Max Cleland says it all. To this day, Max does not realize how he was used in the Kerry Dog and Pony show. To this day, Max blames the nasty, mean conservatives for destroying his Senate career.
He has never even considered he may have lost on his record.
I want to know one thing... How did he get into the military, was he drafted or did he enlist?
Well said. Hell, no -- perfectly said!
I think you are right. I am not in Murtha's district (but close by) and it is like he 'awoke' to the national media and he can't get enough of them right now. He doesn't know when to stop...alot of SW Pa kids serve in the military. No matter how much pork he brings back to Johnstown, at some point those military families are going to get P'Oed.
I'm convinced the Demo bigshots have told Mutha that he will be remembered forever as a beacon of the resurgence of the demo party. He's old. Gonna retire. Why not go out as a bigshot? A$$HOLE!
He's not worthy of joining.
I think he would be much worse than 'rejected'....
THIS ISN'T FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
THIS IS TRAITOROUS LANGUAGE.
WE ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED WITH AN ENEMY.
When are we going to start calling the Democrats on their racism?
Note to Murtha. It's I who have a son in Iraq for the third time, not you. Stop your bawling. Stop cutting. Stop running.
"He used to be a great man."
Cowards cut and run, Murtha... Marines NEVER DO!
Somebody should remind this loser that his 15 minutes were over LAST YEAR.
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