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| Home Front: Politix |
| Influential House Democrat Wants Immediate Iraq Withdrawal |
| 2005-11-17 |
| NY Times: "It is time for a change in direction," said Representative John Murtha of Pennsylvania, the leading Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee's defense subcommittee. "Our military is suffering, the future of our country is at risk." Mr. Murtha, a conservative who voted in 2002 for the resolution authorizing use of force in Iraq and who supported the Persian Gulf war in 1991, called for "the immediate redeployment of American forces." "It is evident that continued military action in Iraq is not in the best interests of the United States of America, the Iraqi people or the Persian Gulf region," Mr. Murtha said during an emotional news conference on Capitol Hill. His remarks were quickly denounced by House Republicans as defeatist and wrongheaded. ----- Representative Kay Granger of Texas, a Republican member of the Appropriation's defense subcommittee who appeared with Mr. Hunter, said a quick withdrawal from Iraq would break faith with America's troops. As for the Americans killed in Iraq, she said, a withdrawal would mean "their lives have been lost in vain." Earlier, Ms. Granger called Mr. Murtha's remarks "reprehensible and irresponsible," according to The Associated Press. "It shows the Democratic Party has chosen a policy of retreat and defeatism which will only encourage the terrorists and threaten the stability of Iraq," she said, according to The A.P. Mr. Murtha's demeanor and personal history as well as his status on the Appropriations Committee may lend extra weight to his words. He generally shuns publicity and does not often speak on the House floor. ------ After serving in the Marines in the early 1950's, he re-enlisted in 1966, at the age of 34, and served in Vietnam, earning a Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts and the Vietnamese Cross for Gallantry, according to The Almanac of American Politics. When he won his House seat in a special election in February 1974 he became the first Vietnam veteran to serve in Congress. From his backgroud, he sounds like an old-school Democrat, the kind I used to vote for before the weenies highjacked the party. Wonder why he's pushing for an "immediate" withdrawal, though - it seems like that would send a message of weakness to our enemies, plus dishonor the sacrifice of our fallen warriors. |
| Posted by:Glaviling Ebbosing9255 |
| #13 Think of the military as your bodyguard. Would you tolerate your bodyguard calling you a "chickenhawk"? My response would be - "just do your job, or find some other line of work". |
| Posted by: Elmenter Snineque1852 2005-11-17 20:53 |
| #12 tu: I'll shut up since I've never been there, but a lot of you folks have. How do you respond to this guy? The brutal truth is this - your role as a civilian isn't to empathize with the troops or to let veterans of any stripe dictate to you what your views should be. It is to decide what you feel to be in your interests and the nation's interests, and vote that that way and communicate your views to your elected representatives. I am grateful to veterans for having served, but they have no special right to dictate to us what our views should be. If Murtha wants to do that, maybe he should run for the position of dictator-for-life instead of Congressman. I won't stand for veterans giving me backtalk any more than I will stand for former accountants or lawyers giving me backtalk. |
| Posted by: Elmenter Snineque1852 2005-11-17 20:38 |
| #11 If the civilians were required to shut up, teh constitution would require military service before election to higher office. Salute Murtha for his service then tell him to f*&k off for disrespecting and throwing away the sacrifices made by this generations' fighters. He's seen the way to get re-elected in the Donk party is to tear down America. He can kiss my civilian ass |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-11-17 20:23 |
| #10 Don't shut up tu3031. That's exactly the aim of those who trot out the chickenhawk accusations. If Murthas arguments had merit he wouldn't be trying to shame into silence those who disagree with him. |
| Posted by: Scott R 2005-11-17 18:53 |
| #9 He re-enlisted at 34 to fight in Viet Nam and was highly decorated? He sounds like Colonel Kurtz. |
| Posted by: SLO Jim 2005-11-17 17:35 |
| #8 He's for real. But he's a Democrat. Check this quote May 6, 2004 I don't think the Democrats will do well by playing politics with national security this way. |
| Posted by: Graigum Phineck3308 2005-11-17 17:29 |
| #7 After serving in the Marines in the early 1950's, he re-enlisted in 1966, at the age of 34, and served in Vietnam, earning a Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts and the Vietnamese Cross for Gallantry, mighty, mighty impressive. Almost too impressive. Did anyone check to see if this guy is for real, or just another John Kerry? BTW, did you know Kerry served in Vietnam? Very strange. I demand a DNA test! |
| Posted by: 2b 2005-11-17 17:11 |
| #6 What this assclown did 30 years ago isn't relavant anymore. Cut and run isn't what we do, if he thinks so screw him. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet O´ Doom 2005-11-17 17:00 |
| #5 It seems there IS such a thing as an "ex-Marine"... |
| Posted by: mojo 2005-11-17 16:49 |
| #4 Former Chariman of the House Armed Services Committee. Col. USMC, ret. Elected to the House with the ignominious class of 1974 that abandoned the Vietnamese. This is electoral politics, plain and simple. Alito will put SCOTUS squarely in the R column. If the donks doen't get one house of congress in 2006 or the White House in 2008, they are irrelevant for a generation. Washington D. C. is Zarq's most successful theater of ops in the war for Iraq. And he may win. |
| Posted by: Craque Angaith9122 2005-11-17 16:47 |
| #3 Vice President Dick Cheney jumped into the fray Wednesday by assailing Democrats who contend the Bush administration manipulated intelligence on Iraq, calling their criticism "one of the most dishonest and reprehensible charges ever aired in this city." Murtha, a Marine intelligence officer in Vietnam, angrily shot back at Cheney: "I like guys who've never been there that criticize us who've been there. I like that. I like guys who got five deferments and never been there and send people to war, and then don't like to hear suggestions about what needs to be done." I'll shut up since I've never been there, but a lot of you folks have. How do you respond to this guy? |
| Posted by: tu3031 2005-11-17 16:46 |
| #2 A different article about this guy said he is one of Nancy Pelosi's key advisers... |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2005-11-17 16:23 |
| #1 "There's people in hell wantin' ice water, but they're not gonna get it either." -- My Old Man |
| Posted by: mojo 2005-11-17 16:15 |