Huh?
You work for a company in his district?
Posted on 03/25/2006 3:31:51 AM PST by smoothsailing
03/25/2006
Murtha defends position on war in Iraq
By Amy Zalar , Herald-Standard
U.S. Rep. John Murtha (D-Johnstown), theorized Friday that President George W. Bush was trying to justify what didn't happen following the first Gulf War when he waged war on Iraq three years ago.
Murtha, 73, said he believes there was a miscalculation when troops didn't stay around to rehabilitate the Middle East after the conclusion of the first Gulf War, and it led to the current conflict.
Regarding the current Iraq war, Murtha said when initial threats that biological weapons would be used if troops crossed a certain line didn't come to fruition and weapons of mass destruction were not found, he felt something was wrong and started "sending signals to the White House."
Speaking during a taping of "Behind the Headlines" for HSTV, Murtha said although he supported the war initially, he began to lose confidence because of the way it has been handled. The Vietnam veteran said the three things that are needed to go to war were not there for the Iraq invasion, including a threat to national security, the use of overwhelming force and an exit strategy.
Murtha has been criticized for publicly taking the position that the United States needs to get out of Iraq, a stance that he unequivocally defended.
"It's time for us to redeploy to the periphery and let the Iraqis do this themselves," Murtha said. He said he is also concerned about the $450 billion cost of the war and the burden on the American people.
Murtha said he is perplexed as to why Bush will not admit he made a mistake by relying on flawed intelligence. He said when Bush's father, George Herbert Walker Bush, contemplated the first Gulf War, he established a real international coalition and Congress participated in the process, two things that did not occur this time. A long-time member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, Murtha has had intimate involvement with major war decisions during his years in Congress. He was first elected in 1974.
Now, Murtha said the Iraq conflict has deteriorated into a civil war and the American troops are caught in the middle. "The Iraqis are fighting with each other and we're caught in between," Murtha said.
Murtha said Vice President Dick Cheney was a "damn good secretary of defense" in the elder Bush's administration, but many people said they don't know Cheney today. "You have to wonder if they're competent," Murtha said of the people making decisions regarding the war.
Calling this administration the most secretive he has ever seen, Murtha said when you are in public office, you must listen to the people and look at history. Murtha said some Republicans would have to speak out against the war for anything to change. "I feel it is an American problem and not a political problem. Because (Bush) didn't seek advice it has gotten to where it is now and that's a very dangerous situation," Murtha said.
In being asked to speak about comparisons between the Iraq War and Vietnam, Murtha said that big difference is we support the troops in the current war. Murtha said he has worked to ensure troops receive body armor and equipment that is needed. "We have separated the warrior from the war and in Vietnam we didn't do that," Murtha said.
A weekly visitor to military hospitals, Murtha said in addition to the 2,300 American soldiers that have been killed, there are between 16,000 and 17,000 that have been wounded, and the government must take care of them.
Murtha said he wasn't completely surprised that his military record was attacked when he spoke out against the current direction of the war, but he said he didn't think such vicious attacks were warranted. He said attacking someone who disagrees with you isn't the way it should be done. "To me what's important is the country," Murtha said.
Murtha said the White House tried to get military officials to attack him, which was largely unsuccessful. He predicted a Democratic-controlled Con-gress after the fall election, and possibly a Democratic-controlled Senate also.
Murtha is seeking re-election, but will not face a Democratic challenger. Washington County Commissioner Diana Irey has filed to run as a Republican. Murtha said he takes any opponent seriously. He said since Irey has taken a position in favor of the war, it will likely be a campaign issue.
Murtha said he has credibility in the House, as well as years of experience and an important position on the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. He said it would be difficult for a new person to get things done for the district that he has achieved.
Murtha said he concentrates on a lot of projects that are important to the district, including diabetes, and works with county commissioners to get infrastructure projects, which he called the glue to put everything together. ©The Herald Standard 2006
Contribution to Irey just sent, thanks for the link.
Murtha deserves retirement after his lifetime of service, and it can't come soon enough!
Huh?
You work for a company in his district?
And where did that leave us? - with mass killing of Shiites, failed sanctions, dying Iraqi children, "international" oil-for-food fraud, and troops on the border pressuring for WMD inspections. In my neighborhood, what 'W" has done is called "learning from experience".
I have nothing but respect for the Marine Corps.
But there is an exception to every rule.
Lee Harvey Oswald and John Murtha are that exception.
John "ABSCAM" Murtha is a disgrace to all of us that have served.
Semper Fi'
Jarhead
Let's hear from some people from Johnstown. I hear Murtha is the king of pork and even tried to name a building after his wife. Don't know if that is true. Johnstown is a dying mill town with little left but Murtha's pork and the liberals from a University of Pittsburgh campus.
Good hard working people live there, I hope they don't listen to the "there is no exit strategy" stuff. There are two strategies in war, win and surrender. Murtha wants to surrender.
W knows,Murtha don't.
"My prediction - that civil war will come to an abrupt end on election day 2006..."
As we slowly begin to stand 'down' and allow the Iraqi's to 'stand up', there has been a significant decline in the number of deaths of American soldiers and a greater number of Iraqi deaths.
Heard this bit of propoganda from a democratic strategist when confronted with this information. Response goes something like this........"The decline in the deaths of American soldiers and the increase in the number of deaths of Iraqis is clearly evidence of Civil War. They are simply killing each other"
I expect that as we turn over more responsibility to the Iraqis and the number of Iraqi deaths increases it will, in the minds of the leftists, validate the civil war mantra and negate any evidence of progress in Iraq.
Scary Place, that...
Troop levels now are 35,000 fewer than in
December, I saw yesterday. Surprised? That's the LSM, for you.
He said he is also concerned about the $450 billion cost of the war and the burden on the American people.
Why is it that when the subject is war and/or defence a certain party suddenly become a bunch of wildeyed born again budget hawks in green eyeshades and red pencils?
Yeah, all that empty space, grasping for a thought..until Nancy Pelosi comes back..and whispers.."John, say this today".
Pretty cold here in s.e. florida today too. Only going to be about 65.
I know, I know, shut the heck up.
Take care and find a warm spot and while in D.C. tell those bastards to quit spending my money.
Every time this senile bag of excrement opens his mouth, the odds of him being defeated increase
And the downside is.......? :-)
looks like a gerrymandered district to me.
Well, gotta go Joe, we've got a family thing today.Have a great weekend! :)
Are you people in this idiot's district going to re-elect him???? If you do, you deserve what he's dishing out......
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