Posted on 04/08/2006 5:01:15 AM PDT by Libloather
Murtha tells City Club the war is lost
Pa. congressman outlines failures
Saturday, April 08, 2006
Donna J. Miller
Plain Dealer Reporter
U.S. Rep. John Murtha's booming Marine colonel's voice filled the tight spaces between Greater Clevelanders packed into the City Club Friday to hear him protest President Bush's war on Iraq.
He repeated the message he began trumpeting in November: that American military efforts in Iraq are failing and will continue to fail, while costing taxpayers $450 billion by the year's end.
The 37-year decorated Marine and 32-year congressman from Pennsylvania said:
Iraqis with 80 percent of them wanting the U.S. out need time to solve their own civil war. "It took 100 years to get stability in our country, with its own civil war."
"We needed to win the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people." Instead, more than 40 percent of them say it is all right to kill Americans.
"We needed to be able to pick up the trash, restore power and get the people working again." Instead, oil production remains below prewar levels; electricity is available for just 10 hours a day in the sweltering desert climate; 30 percent of the population is without drinkable water; 60 percent are unemployed.
Troops are undermanned, underequipped and dying at rates higher than during World War II and the Vietnam War. "I visit the [veterans hospitals] every week. The troops don't know what their mission is any more." And 8,500 of them have returned with shattered bod ies or brains and the permanent "shadow on your soul" that fighting a war creates.
Murtha took questions from several luncheon attendees who worried that Bush may be planning to invade Iran. The ranking and longtime member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee nearly shouted, "we will not" be entering Iran.
He also said that the subcommittee would not approve funding the construction of permanent military bases in Iraq. The audience broke into applause.
Murtha criticized Bush for using fear of terrorism to maintain public support for the war, when real dangers exist here.
U.S. ports are not secure, but they could be in one month, if the money that has been spent on the civil war in Iraq was spent on ports, he said.
Asked to predict the next threat to America that might require military force, Murtha said he's concerned about China and its increasing need for oil.
"And if they think that we can't respond because we are overextended in Iraq. . ." He shook his head.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
djmiller@plaind.com, 216-999-4852
This would turn it into quagmire. This is quite possibly the dumbest idea and the worst advice possible. I think the Talk Radio heads and self appointed arm chair experts better leave this to the real experts. Fairly obvious the Arm chair crowd have NO idea what they are talking about when they say the above sort of crap. This is so mind boggling bad advice from a Counter Insurgency viewpoint there simply isn't enough time to explain why this is a stupid idea.
He means His war against America is Dead! Bush Won.
Pray for W and Our Freedom Fighters
Thanks for the links. I'm marking this thread for future reference.
That's a letter worth adding to your link list, brother!
It is sad to see this hero slip into drooling senility. Very sad.
BTTT
It was quite the lib-fest. Dennis Kucinich, Marcy Kaptur, Stephanie Tubbs Jones, and a bunch of other lefties and peace groups seemed to be the majority of the crowd.
Almost all of Murtha's career was spent in the Reserves, most of it as a sitting Congressman. No way they were going to pass over a Congressman who sat on a military appropriations subcommittee.
"I have been to Johnstown. There isn't much there, but what is there seems dependant on government contracts. I stayed at a hotel there and in the lobby was a big picture of Murtha. He does bring in a lot of pork considering the size of the town."
Make that "considering what's left of the town" and I'll agree, but Murtha's "pork" hasn't stemmed the tide. Unfortunately, the "pork" hasn't spurred any ancillary "growth", which is puzzling, to say the least. Of course, I can actually remember when the Johnstown area was thriving. Those days are gone and aren't likely to return any time soon. :(
My husband's family has been in this area since 1840, but alas, we're the last generation to reside here. My children and the vast majority of their generations are gone for good. As it is, we'll probably be leaving after my husband's retirement, as increasing taxes and regulation will drive us out too.
My point is that it's easy for Murtha's "pork" to look like a whole lot more than it is, when that's *all* there is. :( Whether it's enough to keep him in office, I don't know.
bump
What was Johnstown in its hayday? Manufacturing center?
Bethlehem Steel, US Steel and coal mines, primarily. Rent the Tom Cruise movie "All the Right Moves", which was shot in Johnstown, for views of the area. Listen to the Billy Joel song "Allentown" and substitute "Johnstown" and the lyrics fit the "mentality" of the area at the time.
The "bottom" fell out in the early 80's and the area has never recovered. Considering local and state "politics", it's doubtful if it ever will. :(
But the incline is up and running again, has been for many years. :)
Thanks. It always seemed to me that some other business should have come in to the rust belt towns.
Hey Murtha: Tell it to the Marines.
Be Ever Vigilant!
GREAT picture!
Why does he hate this country so much?
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