Murtha Democrats' Great White Hope

[Miami Vice]

America wants and deserves real answers on Iraq: What is the clear definition of success? Is there a plan? How much longer and how many more lives? In short, what is the end game?

Because we in Congress are charged with overseeing the safety of our sons and daughters when the president sends them into battle, it is our responsibility, our obligation to speak out for them. This obligation has not been met. That's why I am speaking out now.

I offered a concrete plan to get our troops out of harm's way, where they have become the target. I don't expect every member of Congress to agree with my specific proposal in this debate - but I do expect them to take part in that debate, not to squash it.

I am asking you to join me in demanding a real discussion of the war in Iraq from the U.S. House of Representatives.

Tell Congress to Have an Honest Debate For the Safety of Our Troops:

http://www.democrats.org/murtha

For too long Congress has counted itself out of any real debate on Iraq policy. We didn't talk about troop levels, even after the White House fired General Shinseki because he complained the levels were too low. One problem we encountered was the lack of proper training for our troops; service members were placed to guard the prisons but weren't trained; consequently we had Abu Ghraib, and no action from Congress. And if you look at the casualties, they have doubled since then. It's time to change our course - we can't just sit back any longer.

I've taken a lot of trips to Iraq. When I came back from my last one, I had become convinced we were making no progress at all. This can't be Republican and Democrat. It can't be recrimination one way or the other. We have to work this thing out, and we can't let a real solution get caught in the crossfire of an understandably heated political fight.

It's time for a serious conversation, not more rhetoric.

Tell Congress to Have an Honest Debate For the Safety of Our Troops:

http://www.democrats.org/murtha

The past few weeks have had a lot of firsts for me. I have never sought out the spotlight, or even taken the lead in a House floor debate the way I did a few weeks ago. And I've never signed an email like this before. But I see the beginning of a debate that is long overdue, and we can't afford to let it get overtaken by talking points or the news cycle.

I'm offering this petition, which will be delivered to the Speaker of the House in order to keep our Congress focused where it should have been all along. I hope you'll sign if you agree.

Tell Congress to Have an Honest Debate For the Safety of Our Troops:

http://www.democrats.org/murtha

Sincerely,

John Murtha Pennsylvania's 12th District

[xcamel]

Nothing like hanging your hat on a Drunk (TK) and a Senile old fool (JM)

[scottinoc]

Earth to Congressman Arnold: Your cut-and-run plan got the smackdown in Congress 2 weeks ago.

[jocko12]

Murtha has a plan=CUT AND RUN.

[Meadow Muffin]

Murtha is carrying Dingy Harry's and Pelosi's water...he knew the data going in and now he is just being political...he is a loser, in a loser party, with loser ideas.

[msnimje]

Remember the "You don't Speak for me Cindy Tour?"

Somebody needs to get photos of military folks in Iraq with "You don't speak for me Murtha" signs.

[colchicine]

I cannot believe this man tarnished the uniform of the Marines. I thought all the guys like him got fragged back in nam by their own troops.

[carlr]

In his few weeks of "stardom" Murtha has taken so many contradictory positions,ie;immediate pullout,6 months,re-deploy to neighboring countries,or Okinawa, that he is a parody.

He was set up by the dem leadership because of his military record and as such is nothing more than a pawn like Sheehan who will be thrown away when his new found fame gets the better of him and he starts saying really outrageous,not merely foolish,things.

[RTINSC]

General Murtha is becoming a caricature..

[joonbug]

Murtha is a buffoon. Regardless of his heroics in past wars, he is on the wrong side for this one. He should not get a pass for the nonsense he says today, just because of his history.

[george76]

[george76]

[OnRightOnLeftCoast]

Gosh, why nothing from the MSM on this? Looks like a pattern to me:

Junkyard Blog quotes a NewsMax piece that catches Murtha urging retreat from Somalia:

"After terrorists attacked U.S. troops in Mogadishu, Somalia 12 years ago, anti-Iraq war Democrat, Rep. John Murtha urged then-President Clinton to begin a complete pullout of U.S. troops from the region.

Clinton took the advice and ordered the withdrawal - a decision that Osama bin Laden would later credit with emboldening his terrorist fighters and encouraging him to mount further attacks against the U.S.

“Our welcome has been worn out,” Rep Murtha told NBC’s “Today” show in Sept. 1993, after the Mogadishu battle cost the lives of 18 U.S. Rangers.

The Pennsylvania Democrat announced that President Clinton had been “listening to our suggestions. And I think you’ll see him move those troops out very quickly.”

Let's see how that retreat played out in Al Qaeda's thinking. In Osama's Fatwa of 1996 he said:

Few days ago the news agencies had reported that the Defence Secretary of the Crusading Americans had said that "the explosion at Riyadh and Al-Khobar had taught him one lesson: that is not to withdraw when attacked by coward terrorists".

We say to the Defence Secretary that his talk can induce a grieving mother to laughter! and shows the fears that had enshrined you all. Where was this false courage of yours when the explosion in Beirut took place on 1983 AD (1403 A.H). You were turned into scattered pits and pieces at that time; 241 mainly marines solders were killed. And where was this courage of yours when two explosions made you to leave Aden in less than twenty four hours!

But your most disgraceful case was in Somalia; where- after vigorous propaganda about the power of the USA and its post cold war leadership of the new world order- you moved tens of thousands of international force, including twenty eight thousands American solders into Somalia. However, when tens of your solders were killed in minor battles and one American Pilot was dragged in the streets of Mogadishu you left the area carrying disappointment, humiliation, defeat and your dead with you. Clinton appeared in front of the whole world threatening and promising revenge , but these threats were merely a preparation for withdrawal. You have been disgraced by Allah and you withdrew; the extent of your impotence and weaknesses became very clear. It was a pleasure for the "heart" of every Muslim and a remedy to the "chests" of believing nations to see you defeated in the three Islamic cities of Beirut , Aden and Mogadishu."

[george76]

[Congressman Billybob]

Anyone who has ever read the history of the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Civil War, WW I, WW I, the Korean War, or The Gulf War, knows that Jack Murtha is a geopolitical moron. It is not just American administrations, but all administrations of any nation that has fought a major war, who know that one CANNOT have a specific plan for how that war would go, much less for exactly what would be done once the war ended.

Any reporter who'd ever read any such histories, would also know that Murtha is a fool, plain and simple. Being charitable to the American press, I conclude that more of them are ignorant, than know these histories and are dishonest in not putting those facts side by side with Murtha's foolish statements.

Mere history is all it takes to blow Murtha out of the water. But the job of presenting those facts is on us, in the alternative media. I mean, can you see Katie Couric doing an in depth comparison between Murtha's babbling and Germany and Japan, from the middle of WW II until four years after V-E and V-J days.

President Roosevelt did not have a "detailed plan" either for exactly how the balance of the war would be fought and won. He did not have a "detailed plan" for the reconstruction of Germany and Japan after their surrenders. And if Roosevelt had had such plans, circumstances and problems on the ground would have prevented the US from following the plans as written.

This is plain common sense. Murtha had his common sense surgically removed about five years ago. Members of the American press are (largely) hired because they can demonstrate that they were born without common sense. So we have to make up for that lack.

Congressman Billybob

Latest column: "My Friend, Gene McCarthy, 1916-2005"

[FlingWingFlyer]

It's pitiful watching an old Marine allowing himself (and his military service) to be used as a "useful idiot" by the Socialists and Marxists in the "DemocRAT" party. It's his friends on the left, not Schmidt and the Republicans, who are laughing at this old fool behind his back. Sad. Wake up Jack. Start acting like a Marine again.

[smoothsailing]

Have you still got that Murtha as Bahgdad Bob pic?

[paguch]

Murtha is the "King of Pork" in Johnstown. Clearly a man of politics over principle. I think he may have named some pork project after his wife. Would love to hear from someone in Johnstown.

[OnRightOnLeftCoast]

Here's more:

Will The Real Murtha Stand Up? Investor's Business Daily, 11/21/2005

National Security: Contrary to popular opinion, Rep. John Murtha, the decorated ex-Marine who called for an immediate withdrawal from Iraq, is no hawk.

He may also soon be probed for misusing defense appropriations.

"If you want anything done on the committee, you go to Murtha." He's delivered so much pork to his congressional district, an airport and a major highway are named after Murtha.

Ashdown and his nonpartisan watchdog group criticized Murtha for using the $417 billion fiscal 2005 Pentagon spending bill to give business to his lobbyist brother.

The Los Angeles Times in June reported that Murtha funneled nearly $21 million to 10 or more corporate clients of KSA Consulting, where Robert "Kit" Murtha is a senior partner.

Carmen Scialabba, a Murtha congressional aide for 27 years, is also a high-ranking official at KSA.

The newspaper Roll Call reported that there might be a House ethics committee investigation of Murtha's apparent improprieties.

But is that possible now that Murtha has become the media's "hawk with a conscience?"

Come to think of it, could Murtha have been thinking about a possible ethics investigation when he decided to throw himself into the public limelight last week?

[shield]

WHITE FLAG...DEMBOS...