Murtha isn't a coward or a traitor. He is just an old fool that the dems have manipulated. He accomplished much in his life and didn't know when to quit. He's like captain Sawyer in Horatio Hornblower. It is a shame to watch.
I suspect he was strongarmed into making his statement by his Dem colleagues. They threatened him with cooperatng with the ongoing ethics inquiry involving his brother's company.