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
I love writing letters in the mornings when well rested.
Go get 'em! ;-)
Ah, yes.
Murtha was for Okinawa before he was against it. And for it again. Heck, jets can come from there in just... ten hours.
And ten hours back. For a laden F-16 or F-18 that's 8 to 10 trips to the tanker on the way in.
By the way, Murtha was a Regimental (not battalion or company!) staff officer in Vietnam. He never held a combat command, and he STILL won't release his records (I wonder why?). I'm so impressed... not.
If you're a GI, "Murtha" is only half a word.
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18F
Thanks, I learned something I didn't know. Maybe all five should be prescribed for him. :-)
Thanks for the ping!
Actually it is much farther when considering they would have to fly south of China and India, then fly up the Persian Gulf.
I'm beginning to believe he never attended drills as a Reservist. An E-3 could come up with a better plan.
Well, Murfa. How 'bout not opening that maggot mouth of yours then there won't be a problem...
LOL!
"So Murtha used a poll to bash the US--"
Attitudes toward the U.S. remain quite negative in the Muslim world, though hostility toward America has eased in some countries. Many Muslims see the U.S. supporting democracy in their countries, and many of those who are optimists about the prospects for democracy in the Middle East give at least some credit to U.S. policies. But progress for America's image in these countries is measured in small steps; solid majorities in all five predominantly Muslim countries surveyed still express unfavorable views of the United States.
Strikingly, China now has a better image than the U.S. in most of the European nations surveyed.
http://pewglobal.org/reports/display.php?ReportID=247
Fascinating reading here from the site of the anti-American Maddy Albright and her "Pew Poll"
We are perceived as an occupying force by our enemies.
Just looking at the many other Murtha quotes and one doesn't need to guess why. Murtha himself advances this perception
Ah yes, the Pew poll.
Would that be THIS Pew?
http://www.chronologictiming.com/pepe.jpg
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18F
Beautifully put!
Answer yer danged FReepmail! ;-)
Thanks Tonkin!
LOL! Might as well be!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
