formed group (can you guess their name?):
Posted on 01/05/2006 2:16:48 PM PST by Sub-Driver
Gen. Pace Criticizes Sen. Murtha Remark
By ROBERT BURNS, AP Military Writer 17 minutes ago
A Democratic congressman's remarks about the military are damaging to troop morale and the Army's efforts to rebound from a recruiting slump, the nation's top general said Thursday.
Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was asked at a Pentagon news conference to comment on remarks by Rep. John Murtha (news, bio, voting record), D-Pa., a Marine Corps veteran who has become a leading voice in Congress advocating an early withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq. Murtha told ABC News this week that if he were eligible to join the military he would not, nor would he expect others to join.
"That's damaging to recruiting," Pace said. "It's damaging to morale of the troops who are deployed and it's damaging to the morale of their families who believe in what they are doing to serve this country."
Pace called the news conference to discuss his weeklong trip to Iraq and elsewhere in the Persian Gulf region. He said he found good troop morale and a "quiet confidence" that U.S. efforts in Iraq were on the right track.
In commenting on Murtha's remarks, Pace praised the congressman's record but criticized his remarks.
"When a respected leader like Mr. Murtha, who has spent 37 extremely honorable years as a Marine, fought in two wars, has served the country extremely well in the Congress of the United States — when a respected individual like that says what he said, and 18- and 19-year-olds look to their leadership to determine how they are expected to act, they can get the wrong message," Pace said.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
shows how ignorant the media is; Murtha is a congessman, not a senator.
Stern would be throwing him in the brig and putting panties on his head.
Good job, Peter.
About darn time!
The story got it right. The headline writer is a dunce.
Whomever typed the heading called him a Sen. In the article it says Rep.
I'm sure DU and Pelosi are calling this "rightwing trashing of a man who served honorably." They always do when someone dares respond to their crap.
I love the way Murtha and the media think he's qualified to say whatever the hell he wants because he's a vet. Newsflash: there are other vets in Congress, too.
Benedict Murtha's remarks are detrimental to morale. But that's what he intended.
Hmm...I don't remember the Dems praising George Bush (the elder) for his service. I guess being shot down and barely evading the Japanese doesn't count as "honorable" in their eyes.
Murtha attained the rank of Col....and if it is true that once and officer, always an officer, why can't Gen Pace just order Murtha to keep his mouth shut?
I know there are thoughtful and helpful Freepers which can straighten me out on this matter.
And don't forget 'seared, seared I tell you' himself, Hanoi John Kerry in the Senate.
McCain is another good example of a hero who can be corrupted by power and politics.
Duke Cunningham too.
Murtha shouldn't be spared from criticism about his politically motivated, morale crushing BS just because he has good military record. Any more than Wesley Clark or Colin Powell. Poor leadership is poor leadership.
Back then they were in their "Military = Murderers" phase. Still are, they just don't say it so much.
Too damned few, and fewer every election cycle.
It's time for professional military men to start taking Murtha to task. One lass from Ohio, I think, did and was blasted for it.
What is Pace doing? Where are the ex military men that Murtha can't harm? What's going on here? Where are the Marines asking, "Who is this guy? Did someone tell me he used to be a Marine? Why would the Marines keep such a clown? Were the Marines wimps in his day?"
Or, "I guess old Marines never die. They just get senile."
Or, "If Murtha was a Marine, praise the Lord we have the US Army."
It's time to stop trying to accommodate Democrats. It's time to start humiliating them. Geez! They deserve it.
Murtha reminds me of Barry Goldwater--who, in his dottage, because enamoured with liberalism. I believe the the younger Murtha was indeed a patriot. Unfortunately, many people change as they age--and not for the better. From what I've observed many (not all) tend to get more fuzzy in their thinking. Often this is a prelude to Alzheimers.
'Murtha attained the rank of Col....and if it is true that once and officer, always an officer, why can't Gen Pace just order Murtha to keep his mouth shut?'
Because now he is a Colonel in the 5th Civ Div. IOW retired.
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