Posted on 01/13/2006 2:58:55 PM PST by Anti-Bubba182
Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) believes the vast majority of U.S. troops in Iraq will be out by the end of the year and maybe even sooner. In his boldest words yet on the subject, the outspoken critic of the war predicts the withdrawal and tells Mike Wallace why he thinks the Bush administration will do it. The interview, a portion of which will appear on tonight's (13) CBS EVENING NEWS, will be broadcast on 60 MINUTES Sunday Jan. 15 (7:00-8:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.
"I think the vast majority will be out by the end of the year and I'm hopeful it will be sooner than that," Murtha tells Wallace, in the 60 MINUTES interview.
"You're going to see a plan for withdrawal," says Murtha, which he believes Congress will pass because of mounting pressure from constituents tired of the war that could affect the upcoming midterm elections. The political situation will force President Bush to accede to Congress, he says. "I think the political people who give [the president] advice will say to him, 'You donÕt want a democratic Congress. You want to keep a republican majority, and the only way you're going to keep it is by reducing substantially the troops in Iraq,'" Murtha says.
The president has said publicly that any decision regarding Iraq would be based on the situation there and not on Washington politics.
Murtha rejects the president's argument that the war on terror is being fought in Iraq. "The insurgents are Iraqis - 93 percent of the insurgents are Iraqis. A very small percentage are foreign fighters.... Once we're out of there, [Iraqis] will eliminate [foreign fighters]," says Murtha. "[President Bush] is trying to fight this war with rhetoric. Iraq is not where the center of terrorism is," he says. "We're inciting terrorism there.... We're destabilizing the area by being over there because we're the targets," Murtha tells Wallace.
When Wallace challenges him by saying, "General Peter Pace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, says your comments are damaging recruiting and hurting the troops," Murtha responds by saying it's the military's own fault. "[Troops] are rotated [into Iraq] four and five times. They have no clear mission," says Murtha. "One of the problems they have with recruitment is [that] they continually say how well things are going and the troops on the ground know better."
President Bush has said there are only two choices in Iraq: victory and defeat. And he has implied that Murtha is a "defeatist." Murtha, of course, disputes that.
There have been 13 servicemen from his Congressional district killed in Iraq. Could the families of those dead be offended? Wallace asks. "Well, I hope [those families] understand," says the Vietnam combat veteran. "It's my job, my responsibility to speak out when I disagree with the policy of the president of the United States," says Murtha. "All of us want this president to succeed... I feel a mission here, with my experience, that I have to help the president find a way out of this thing."
Developing...
Oh I really believe that.
Who elected him Sec. Of Defense?
Meglomaniac!!!
Everyone knows that the plan all along has been to draw down the troops after the Iraqi elections. Now the Dim Bulbs want to position themselves to claim that Bush is only doing it because they told him to do so.
If things keep going the way the are, Murtha will get his wish.
The troops will be redeployed to Iran.
BINGO
The solution is obvious...just declare victory and start withdrawing troops, it's not like anyone will be able to tell anyway.
Wanna bet?
I'd like to see Biden, Chuck and Murtha in a room with a camera and which one survives.
Fifteen minutes is up Murtha. Take your cue from Cindy and consider travel out of the states.
Why is anything this slug says important?
A dem blaming the United States for something,I can hardly believe it.
Does this guy thinks he was elected President? Twice?
They may be out of Iraq and in Iran by the end of the year. Murtha will be delighted.
Decorated Marine or not, what nerve this jerk has. Talk about egotistical and messianic attitudes getting the better of him and the fact that he's being manipulated by his own fellow Democrat traitors and is either to dense to know it or so in love with himself he can't see it....a sad situation for any American veteran to be in. I feel sorry for this guy, and ashamed.
"VAST MAJORITY OF U.S. TROOPS: MURTHA WILL BE OUT OF HIS MIND BY END OF WEEK"
Just saw footage on FOX NEWS of Murtha & Moran getting OWNED by a member of the military in a Q&A session.
Wonder if CNN will show it.
Iraq just happens to be in the center of Syria, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Iran and Saudi Arabia....I can see why Murtha would think that it isn't the center of terrorism.
Speaking of Murtha...on Brit's show they just showed him being confronted by one of his constituents that spoke on behalf of his men in the field that have high morale, and that have NEVER received a letter or visit from Murtha upon their return. Everyone should catch it later tonight if you didn't see it. It was excellent. Wish I'd caught the gentleman's name. I believe they said Vaughn?
"Decorated Marine or not..."
See this thread about Murfa's Awards.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1557630/posts?page=175
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.