Posted on 07/28/2006 6:24:11 AM PDT by Just A Nobody
Author of new book touted by Murtha calls Murtha demand for immediate U.S. withdrawal from Iraq "irresponsible" and "shameful"
(MONONGAHELA, July 27) -- Washington County Commissioner and Pennsylvania 12th district Republican Congressional nominee Diana Irey -- responding to a press release from U.S. Rep. Jack Murtha touting Washington Post correspondent Thomas Rick's new book, "Fiasco" -- today released the following statement:
"Does Jack Murtha read his own press releases before they go out?
"Today Jack Murtha put out a press release touting Thomas Ricks' new book, 'Fiasco,' about the conduct of the war in Iraq. Here's the opening line of Jack Murtha's press release:
"I want to bring to your attention a book review that appeared in The New York Times on July 25 that described the book, Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq, by Thomas E. Ricks. The article affirms what I have been saying about Iraq."
"I saw Mr. Ricks on Sunday morning's 'Meet the Press,' being interviewed by Tim Russert. Perhaps Jack Murtha missed that show -- because if he had, I'm not sure he'd be touting Mr. Ricks today.
"Asked by Mr. Russert at the end of the interview, 'But you do not think American troops should withdraw immediately,' Mr. Ricks replied:
"I think it would be irresponsible, to go in there and to do what we've done and walk away from it. There's a lot of Iraqis out there who have committed their lives to helping the Americans do something there, and to abandon those people would be absolutely shameful ...
"Jack Murtha is known for one thing on Iraq -- his demand for an immediate withdrawal of U.S. armed forces. When Tim Russert asked what he did, he might as well have said, 'Do you agree with Jack Murtha that American troops should be withdrawn immediately?' For Thomas Ricks to reply as forcefully as he did, and say that an immediate withdrawal would be 'irresponsible' and 'absolutely shameful,' and then to have Jack Murtha put out a release touting Mr. Ricks, well … it just kind of makes you wonder if Jack Murtha is bothering to read his releases before they go out the door.
"Thomas Ricks is right. We are in Iraq, and we are fighting terrorists in Iraq. It's far better to fight them in Baghdad than in Belle Vernon. Abandoning Iraq to the terrorists would send exactly the wrong message at exactly the wrong time to exactly the wrong people.
"There are 103 days left in this campaign. The good news is, that's plenty of time to make sure the voters of the 12th District know just who Jack Murtha really is."
You're absolutely right -- this is an astonishing press release. I've read the book from cover to cover already, and I can tell you, the author does a remarkable job of putting together the indictment against the Bush Administration and its handling of the run-up to the war and the execution of the war itself, and its aftermatch. Nowhere in the book itself does he come anywhere close to ripping Murtha; in fact, the author's arguments about how we got into the war and what the Bush Administration did wrong in its execution of a war plan track exactly with what Murtha has been saying.
Nevertheless, it is true that he said on MTP what Irey says he said. After walking him through everything the Bush Administration did wrong from start to finish, Russert then closed the interview by giving Ricks the chance to discuss future options. And Ricks just slammed the door shut on immediate withdrawal, calling it "irresponsible" and "shameful."
You say "adroit." I say "clever." :)
"There are 103 days left in this campaign. The good news is, that's plenty of time to make sure the voters of the 12th District know just who Jack Murtha really is."
;*)
I have no idea how to take this post.
Well, I don't think Mr. Ricks is actually on our side so they are probably strong words for him to use.
No argument here!
Sad, but true!
I suppose that is one way to look at him...hard for me to think of him as a gift. However, I see your point in that he keeps giving Diana fuel to add to the fire. ;*)
Some people are locked in a PC world. I am not.
Just one of the things I love about ya! ;*)
Pointing out that Murtha has been touting the book as a confirmation of his (Murtha's) position, that the author and Murtha agree point for point on everything until we get to
a pullout.
And that Timmy pretty much stepped right in it, never saw it coming, and better yet, that it was adroitly and cleverly
caught
by Diana.
It appears she doesn't miss much : )
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