Posted on 05/08/2006 7:52:41 PM PDT by smoothsailing
Murtha urges speedy return of Iraq troops
Crowd overflows auditorium to hear representative speak, answer questions Sunday
Diana Samuels 5/8/06
The U.S. has spent too much on the war in Iraq and has ruined its international credibility; now it should withdraw its troops, Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) told local residents at a town hall meeting with Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) on Sunday.
"I'm not saying there's going to be complete peace when we leave," Murtha said. "But there's a civil war and the only people who can solve it are Iraqis."
The crowd of about 500 gave Murtha standing ovations after his speech and after he answered audience members' questions. There were too many people to fit in McCormick Auditorium at Norris University Center, so about 100 watched the speech on a live video feed in the Purdue Room, said Leslie Combs, district director for Schakowsky.
Schakowsky, who has also spoken in favor of withdrawing troops, invited Murtha to speak in her district, Combs said. Northwestern was chosen as the venue for the town hall meeting because it was a local facility that fit the size needed and because community members knew where Norris was, Combs said.
Schakowsky called Murtha the "most credible voice in our country to bring our troops home and to end this war in Iraq."
Murtha introduced a House resolution in Nov. 2005 that called for the withdrawal of U.S. troops. It was defeated by a 403-3 vote.
In his speech, Murtha criticized the Bush administration's methods in the war in Iraq, saying the U.S. went to war without a threat to national security, without enough troops to constitute an overwhelming force and without an exit strategy. He told stories about visiting injured soldiers in hospitals, and he and Schakowsky cited statistics about the cost of the war - $8 billion a month, or $3,100 a second, Schakowsky said.
"Our country is going to be a long time in overcoming this," Murtha said. "Our credibility has been destroyed."
"We have diverted ourselves away" from the more important issue of battling terrorism, Murtha said. News organizations are no longer calling the war a "War on Terror" anymore, Murtha said. Instead, they are calling it the "War in Iraq."
"We went into Afghanistan," Murtha said. "That's where the terrorism was, that's who attacked us."
Murtha said he expected the president to announce a "significant" withdrawal, of about 50,000 to 75,000 troops, this fall.
"It won't come about because (the president) wants it to," he said. "It will come about because of the public pressure that's been put on him."
Throughout the event, Murtha emphasized the power of Congress and its constituents, and the importance of the midterm elections this November.
"Don't think that the president of the United States is all-powerful," he said. "He's only as powerful as the people he represents. The public is saying, 'We want to redeploy our troops, the time has come.'"
Audience members praised Murtha's message.
"I think it's so nice to hear someone so nice and straightforward and honest," Oak Park resident Sydney Baiman said. "It's just such a delight."
Evanston resident Benjamin Solomon said he appreciated Murtha's "forthright support for our troops without equivocation."
"As a World War II veteran, I was very moved by John Murtha and his concern for our soldiers," Solomon said.
Reach Diana Samuels at dzsamuels@northwestern.edu.
© Copyright 2006 The Daily Northwestern
murtha : Pay attention
You have been hanging around to long with cut and run hanoi kerry
The Brothers and Sisters on The Wall know what you have done.
And before you complain about me, I was there also.
DISMISSED!
Marine NOT afraid to not be "PC" Ping!
Young Marine Blasts Rep. Murtha at Town Hall Meeting
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1558047/posts
"Yes sir my name is Mark Seavey and I just want to thank you for coming up here. Until about a month ago I was Sergeant Mark Seavey infantry squad leader, I returned from Afghanistan. My question to you, (applause)
"Like yourself I dropped out of college two years ago to volunteer to go to Afghanistan, and I went and I came back. If I didn't have a herniated disk now I would volunteer to go to Iraq in a second with my troops, three of which have already volunteered to go to Iraq. I keep hearing you say how you talk to the troops and the troops are demoralized, and I really resent that characterization. (applause) The morale of the troops that I talk to is phenomenal, which is why my troops are volunteering to go back, despite the hardships they had to endure in Afghanistan."
Murtha's War Hero Status Called Into Question
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1557630/posts
Too bad the "Move on FReepers" don't have a clue!
"There are 'sheppards' who only take care of themselves." (Jude:12)
BTTT
His seat isn't safe by a longshot.
Pelosi, this Sunday, with Russert was asked if she endorsed a "cut and run" strategy for Iraq. She said no, she favored Murtha's approach..well, duh!!
(Or should I say winter festival tree?)
BTTT!!
And another bump!
WOW !! I am so encouraged to see a young person so dedicated to the right ideals.
Our country is in jeapordy and maybe beyond.
Sometimes it seems so big(the corruption) but I believe Our Constitution to be the best in the world. Too many Americans have become so apathetic. How can this be ?
Murtha is a disgrace to everything good and right.
The only people talking about "redeployment" is this moron and his kool-aid drinking followers.
Madame Binhs 7 point peace proposal July 7, 1971:
1. Regarding the deadline for the total withdrawal of U.S. forces.
The U.S. Government must put an end to its war of aggression in Viet Nam Iraq, stop its policy of "Vietnamization Iraqization" of the war, withdraw from South Viet Nam Iraq all troops, military personnel, weapons, and war materials of the United States and of the other foreign countries in the U.S. camp, and dismantle all U.S. bases in South Viet Nam Iraq, without posing any condition whatsoever.
The U.S. Government must set a terminal date for the withdrawal from South Viet Nam Iraq of the totality of U.S. forces and those of the other foreign countries in the U.S. camps.
Same play book, different year, different war.
These people disgust me!
Go Diana!!!
Murtha is in dire need of a specialist.....you know which kind.
No truer words were ever spoken, she'll bring integrity back to the 12th District.
j
Nicely done with the Vietnam playbook. :)
Thanks! ;*)
Murtha will keep saying this till the day troops do leave ( or as rummy has framed it....not brought back in) and then he will declare victory.......claiming that he was right all along.
This is the EXACT same strategy that the islamists employ.....say they will drive us out and no matter how lone we stay some of them will claim they won when we do go. Amazing feeling it must be to be making the same arguments that the islamis fanatics make!
It's really quite sad, isn't it?
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