Correction:
Murtha says he'll see to it that frustration and struggle of soldiers in Iraq grows.
There. That's better.
Posted on 11/13/2006 5:39:47 AM PST by W04Man
Murtha says frustration and struggle of soldiers in Iraq grows
JOHNSTOWN, PA, August 2, 2006 - U.S. Rep. John P. Murtha, D-PA, a longtime champion in Congress of American fighting men and women, said today that a story in the Washington Post last week illustrates what he's been saying for awhile about how hard it is for our troops to fight and survive in Iraq. "Just listen to some of these statements in the story by our courageous soldiers, " Murtha said:
"Think of what you hate most about your job. Then think of doing what you hate most for five straight hours, every single day, sometimes twice a day, in 120-degree heat, Then ask how morale is," Army Staff Sgt. Jose Sixtos told a reporter. "Frustrated?" asked the journalist. "You have no idea," Sixtos said.
A battalion of more than 750 people arrived in Baghdad from Kuwait in March, and since then, six soldiers have been killed and 21 wounded. "It sucks. Honestly, it just feels like we're driving around waiting to get blown up. That's the most honest answer I could give you," said Spec. Tim Ivey, 28, of San Antonio. "You lose a couple of friends and it gets hard."
"No one wants to be here, you know, no one is truly enthused about what we do," said Sgt. Christopher Dugger, the squad leader. "We were excited, but then it just wears on you - there's only so much you can take."
"The commanders in Baghdad and the Pentagon are "looking at the big picture all the time, but for us, we don't see the big picture, it's just always another bomb out here," said Spec. Joshua Steffey, 24, of Asheville, N.C.
Murtha said the comments he hears at military hospitals when he visits the soldiers who've returned home injured and maimed are even sadder. "These men and women have done an outstanding service to our country. We owe them better. We owe putting an end to American involvement in this conflict because we can't win it, only the Iraqis can win it politically." (Soldiers' quotes excerpted from The Washington Post, July 27, 2006.)
This is what the majority of voters in the 12th Cong District of PA bought?
This is such BS. We've been saying for 6 years... where is the President contradicting this garbage.
Why aren't our soldiers being interviewed on the evening news? Put out commercials and newspaper ads to deflate this nonsense.
We make it too easy for the media to cream us.
I wonder if we could get some of the "real troops" to check in and give Murtha some comments?
Run and Cower, Jack Murtha may you expire in your own urine
puddle!
I bet, they're probably 2 words followed by a spit in his eye.
Murtha is definitely NOT sharing all the views of the soldiers at Walter Reed he's heard.
Murtha is going on the defensive. He's fighting for the Majority Leader position as a "defender of our troops". May his dreams go down in flames.
You are right, Mr. Right!
The White House sits back and takes it, and then mumbles something about "staying the course."
The White House has done a dreadful job in representing to the American public why we are in Iraq, and what is happening there.
Mr. Barlett should be let go and replaced by someone who fights back - like Tony Snow, or someone very much like him.
In other words he knows Americans don't want to cut and run so he has to convince us.
When the perception, real or imaginary, in the "war zone" that the folks back home no longer support your mission it is sure to have adverse affects. When you know, as a soldier, you could win the thing in short order given the head to do what you were trained to do, and still you are nothing but a "police man" frustration grows and morale is dropped.
When your access to the media only confirms your fears that the folks back home no longer support your mission and reporters in the field with you keep asking you how you feel about all the discontent back home your resolve begins to lessen.
From personal experience I know this to be true.
Both parties and their supporters will have this to shoulder as yet another fine group of American fighting men are brought home in ignominious defeat (as they perceive it).
"America ... Where are you now?"
This certainly gives the enemy an optimistic report.
With respect: I think it is hard to tell how much of the blame goes to the White House and how much to the dinosaur media.
At least in my alleged mind, there is no question that the newsies would rather see the US lose the war and our friends, our sons and daughters, than see anything like merit be attributed to Dubya or the Republicans.
I am NOT an unqualified fan of Dubya, but I think that since before 2000 the newsies have been more and more outrageous in their twisting of facts and outright lying -- and I think the drumbeat of such things has an effect.
No,no, he has to tell us we do. We, the great unwashed, are so hopeless when it comes to things like that.
Thanks for the Cut and Run reminder, another Democrat Proud Moment.
Forget it. It's the Dems turn, let's see what they make of it.
Watching the 3 hour round table on CSPAN2 yesterday with former soldiers, I got a very different picture
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