Posted on 06/27/2006 11:05:53 PM PDT by smoothsailing
06/28/2006
Murtha claims he was misquoted
U.S. Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Johnstown) says he was quoted out of context on two recent occasions.
The first occasion, he said, was coverage in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel on his appearance in Florida over the weekend.
Murtha said, "I was recently misquoted following a speech I gave at a Veterans forum at the Florida International University Biscayne Campus on June 24, 2006. During the speech, I made a point that our international credibility was suffering, particularly due to our continued military presence in Iraq and that we were perceived as an occupying force. For illustrative purposes, I provided the example of a recent Pew Poll which indicates a greater percentage of people in 10 of 14 foreign countries consider the U.S. in Iraq a danger to world peace than consider Iran or North Korea a danger to world peace.
Murtha added, "It is imperative that these issues be discussed in an open and informative manner. I will continue to insist that this administration face the true realities of its policies with respect to Iraq and insist that they change direction."
In response to the misquotes, the Web site www.theinfozone.net e-mailed a Miami Herald reporter who also covered the event. The following is excerpted from a story posted on the Web site:
"The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported Murtha as saying, 'American presence in Iraq is more dangerous to world peace than nuclear threats from North Korea or Iran' to a crowd of more than 200 in North Miami Saturday afternoon.
"In the article, reporter Elizabeth Baier quoted several other of Congressman John Murtha's statements in her article, as well as a quote from others at the event, but did not quote the comments alleged to have been said by Murtha in the first paragraph of her article. Melissa Sanchez of the Miami Herald, replying to an e-mail, says that while Murtha made the comment, 'That was in reference to international polls. It was not so much his own conjecture, but a conclusion drawn from polls in various countries.'
"So this alleged and most controversial statement written by Baier appears to have taken his comments out of context."
Statement on redeploying to the perimeter
In a recent appearance on "Meet the Press," host Tim Russert asked Murtha to explain where our troops could be stationed if they redeployed from Iraq.
Murtha replied: "Kuwait's one that will take us. Qatar, we already have bases in Qatar. (Also in) Bahrain. All those countries are willing to take the United States...
We don't have to be right there. We can go to Okinawa. We can redeploy there almost instantly."
Murtha has repeatedly explained that his plan calls for the redeployment of U.S. forces from Iraq at the earliest practicable date and a quick reaction U.S. force and over-the-horizon presence of U.S. Marines to be deployed to the region if needed.
He further explained, "I have said several times that we could deploy a quick reactionary force from Kuwait, Bahrain or Qatar or could deploy a larger contingency of Marines from Okinawa or the United States, if needed.
"We currently have a Marine division headquartered in Okinawa, thus logistics and existing facilities are already in place. Additionally, during the course of this war, Marines at the battalion level or lower have already been deployed from Okinawa to Iraq," Murtha said.
"But let me be clear, these forces should only be deployed to Iraq if our own national security is at risk or if the security of our allies in the region is threatened. These forces should NOT be used to intervene in the case of growing sectarian violence in Iraq. The Iraqis must settle their own civil war," said Murtha.
©The Herald Standard 2006
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Excellent point!
BTTT
Not sure if he comprehends their words. More likely they just upped his meds.
A couple of thoughts- Murtha's staff must be completely deaf, uninformed or inept. It took them over two weeks to attempt to correct his Okinawa faux pas. That's encouraging!
Also- I am waiting..tap-tap...waiting...for some fearless reporter to ask him directly just what he said to the New York Times about publishing the SWIFT banking story. Reading the transcript of the interview betwee Bill Keller and Wolf Blitzer it is still unclear- though it is apparent that he did express his opinion to the Times...
Oh, don't forget, these stomps have been "mellowed" and "sanitized" for family viewing.
Bump and Elect Diana Irey
Murtha's an embarrassment to the dems - and that takes a lot...
He jumped the shark. Too late.
At least Fonzi made it over the danger zone.
Sure would like to see the Swift Boat guys get involved too!
Give 'em time. It's early. :-)
Don't believe what your lying ears say they heard Murtha say. What your ears heard was distorted when Murtha farted during his rant.
The release of methane from both ends is confusing as well. Making Murtha a complicated critter to comprehend.
Not to mention SMELL!
jack murtha is lying scum and we will hang those words around his chicken neck.
What you said!
A repeating phrase from "Deadwood" keeps running through my mind. I wish that I could print it here for enemy traitor murtha to read. I do not want to be banned!
LLS
So Murtha used a poll to bash the US--but he doesn't the poll? Nowhere in his "misquotation" statement does he say that the US is NOT a danger to world peace. Murtha's complete lack of integrity and core beliefs is the real problem--and the reason voters should retire him.
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