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
One of Irey's campaign people should keep an eye on the FR PreWarDocs threads
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=prewardocs
It would make for some VERY interesting ammunition.
Have someone on her team, look over his words here:
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/pa12_murtha/pr051117iraq.html
Then read over the translations coming out from the Docs.
There is enough in that one "statement" from November for Diana to sink him.
Thank You! :)
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Even if she is busy, someone from her campaign could *continuously* ghost write editorials for her (in a traditional newspaper) taking snippets of his words or stance and then referencing Code Pink or the PreWar Docs.
THEN we can post those editorials to FR and blogs ans RSS them!
Great idea. What say you SS?
BTW, what is RSS? I should know, right?
RSS is a subscription feed.
Think of people that are subscribers to a paper route.
On the Net, there is an HTML code that gets pasted in a webpage when you subscribe to content.
I like it!
RSS = Raspberry Swirl Sundae? :)
What's with all the talk about food on this thread? LOL!
Ohhhhh, thanks!
Dang, I sat down to watch a Michael Schiavo interview on Dateline. It was about some other guy who murdered his wife (I guess his interview is Sunday, with appearances on the Today show Monday and the lil' wife on Tuesday.) and fell sound asleep.
GOOOD to see you Calpernia!!!!!!!!
(FYI I had a couple sugar cookies when I woke up just now : )
Where are my cookies?????
That is actually a good idea. It is raining today and I will need an indoor activity for the kids.
Making cookies is now on the list :)
he he, I should add a picture of my kitchen after the kids are done 'cooking' :))
I love that teapot house!
Oh! Murtha forgot to use the phrase of the week "Dangerously Incompetent" when talking about the administration.
I'm ready for a mandatory retirement age for our legislators. We have a minimum, why not a maximum age?
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