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| Rep. Murtha (D), Col. USMC (ret) calls for immediate withdrawal from Iraq |
| 2005-11-17 |
| Washington D. C. is Zarq's most successful theater of operations WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Warning that other global threats "cannot be ignored," Rep. John Murtha, D-Pennsylvania, a leading adviser on defense issues, called Thursday for the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. "U.S. and coalition troops have done all they can in Iraq," the senior lawmaker said. "It's time for a change in direction." He said he believes all the forces could be redeployed over a six-month period. Murtha, a former Marine Corps colonel and veteran of the Vietnam war, is the first senior lawmaker to call for an immediate withdrawal. Other critics of the war have asked President Bush to set up a timetable for withdrawal. (Watch Murtha's take on 'flawed policy wrapped in illusion' -- 8:11) Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Illinois, blasted Murtha for his comments. "I am saddened by the comments made today by Rep. Murtha," Hastert said in a statement. "It is clear that as [House Minority Leader] Nancy Pelosi's top lieutenant on armed services, Rep. Murtha and Democratic leaders have adopted a policy of cut-and-run. They would prefer that the United States surrender to the terrorists who would harm innocent Americans." Rep. Duncan Hunter, a Republican from California and chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, described calls for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq "a mistake," arguing that leaving Iraq would make it appear that America cannot sustain prolonged military operations. "I just wanted to remind our friends that now is the time for endurance," Hunter said. "Right now, in Iraq, we are changing the world. ... We're changing a very strategic part of the world in such a way that it will not be a threat to the United States and, in fact, will be an ally in the global war against terror." Murtha's call for a withdrawal, however, could have a significant impact on the debate over the future of the Iraq war, as both Democrats and Republicans seek his advice on military and veterans' issues. "A man of stature of John Murtha -- that's a pretty heavy hit, I don't mind telling you," said North Carolina Republican Rep. Walter Jones, sponsor of the House resolution that calls for a timetable for withdrawal. "He ... gives a lot of weight to this debate." Jones said he thinks this will make "some Republicans think about their responsibility as relates to the war in Iraq" and that "this is a week that will help further the debate -- ignite the debate." Another Democrat who voted for the war, Rep. Harold Ford of Tennessee, said he had heard of Murtha's comments and wouldn't endorse his call for immediate withdrawal. But, Ford said, "It a powerful statement coming from arguably the most respected voice in the Congress," and it will be hard for the White House and Vice President Dick Cheney to dismiss these comments as easily as other Democratic criticisms on the war. Murtha, who has served in the House for over three decades, is the senior Democrat and former chairman of the Defense Appropriations Committee and voted in favor of the Iraq war. Now, he said, the presence of U.S. troops in Iraq are "uniting the enemy against us." "Our military has accomplished its mission and done its duty," he said. "Our military captured Saddam Hussein, captured or killed his closest associates, but the war continues to intensify." He said the redeployment will give Iraqis the incentive to take control of their country. The statement comes amid increasingly heated debate over the Iraq war and the intelligence leading up to the March 2003 invasion. A recent CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll also found the public increasingly dissatisfied with the Iraq war. The poll, released Monday, found that 60 percent of Americans said the war was not worth fighting, while 38 percent said it was worthwhile. Monday's poll found that 19 percent of Americans want to see the troops come home now and 33 percent said they wanted them home within a year. Only 38 percent said they should remain "as long as needed." On Tuesday, the Senate also voted 79-19 for an amendment that called for progress reports on the Iraq war every 90 days. The amendment's purpose was "to clarify and recommend changes" to U.S. policy in Iraq. The vote was seen as a reflection of the increasing bipartisan dissatisfaction over the war's progress. On Wednesday, Vice President Dick Cheney dismissed Democratic critics, calling allegations that the administration misled the country as "one of the most dishonest and reprehensible charges ever aired in this city." (Full story) Murtha took issue with the administration's counter-criticism, specifically President Bush's Veterans Day speech in which he said it is "deeply irresponsible to rewrite how that war began." "I resent the fact that on Veterans Day, they criticized Democrats for criticizing them," Murtha said. "This [the war] is a flawed policy wrapped in illusion. The American public knows it, and lashing out at critics doesn't help a bit. You've got to change the policy. That's what's going to help the American people. You need to change direction." Murtha -- who recently visited Iraq's Anbar province -- said it is Congress' responsibility to speak out for the "sons and daughters" on the battlefield, and relayed several emotional stories from soldiers recovering at Bethesda's Walter Reed Medical Center. "I tell you, these young folks are under intense activity over there, I mean much more intense than Vietnam," he said. "You never know when it's going to happen." |
| Posted by:Elmomotle Whinese8662 |
| #13 The Honorable John P. Murtha House of Representatives 2423 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515-3812 Re: Iraq Dear Representative Murtha: "Our military has accomplished its mission and done its duty," he said. "Our military captured Saddam Hussein, captured or killed his closest associates, but the war continues to intensify." Congressman, I think you have been misinformed, or perhaps are uninformed. I do not believe the war is intensifying. I read Michael Yon's reports, and reports from Kuwait (KUNA), Arab News, and other sources. I believe we are very close to winning the war. As we were in Vietnam, Congressman. My son fought in Iraq last fall and winter, with the Marines, and received a commendation. His Mother and I are very proud of him and will be glad to have him go back next year to win the war on terror. (Well, maybe not glad, but certainly proud!) Over 2,000 military have sacrificed their lives for the war on terror. They were all volunteers, Congressman. Over 3,000 were drafted by the enemy on September 11, 2001. Please reconsider your position, Congressman. How did you feel in Vietnam when your Congress did not support you? Respectfully, (Bobby) C'mon Rantburgers! WRITE sumbody! Make a DIFFERENCE! |
| Posted by: Bobby 2005-11-17 21:42 |
| #12 Setting a timetable or having an immediate withdrawal would be a grave mistake. U.S. credibility would be zip in that part of the world for a long time to come. We cannot abandom the Iraqis. |
| Posted by: John Q. Citizen 2005-11-17 21:27 |
| #11 I won't attack Rep. Murtha personally. He's an ex-Marine, and I thank him for his service. I think he's wrong on this one. We have not done all we can, and it would certainly be seen by most of the world as a cut-and-run. We can't allow that. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2005-11-17 20:21 |
| #10 Murtha has become a political hack. While he may have good motivations in his heart, it is hard for me to believe the wacko wing of the Democrat party did not talk him into doing something he would not otherwise have done. His party abandoned him and he hasn't figured it out. Too bad he hangs with Reid and Pelosi. |
| Posted by: Slaiger Thragum4769 2005-11-17 20:13 |
| #9 ES, you are right regarding the intensification at the terminus of the conflict. I was considering that as I wrote it. But I was also looking at the fact that the war is encompassing a smaller and smaller footprint. It is more intense in that footprint, but less so across the entire country. You are spot on with your other comments. Murtha is a short-sighted fool. |
| Posted by: remoteman 2005-11-17 20:02 |
| #8 remoteman: What planet is this asshole living on? We are winning this war and we are in the final stages of the military conflict. His assertion that the war is intensifying is an outright lie. You are both right. We are winning and the war is intensifying. The final stages of WWII involved extremely high casualties for Allied Forces, as the remaining Axis Powers fought ferocious last ditch battles to prevent the homeland from being overrun. The closer we get to winning, the higher our casualties will be. The problem is that this rule also applies if we're not winning. What Murtha is saying is that since there's no way of telling whether we're winning or not winning* in Iraq, let's just cut our losses today. What he left out is the fact that the blow to our credibility will encourage other adversaries to go to war with our allies because they believe Uncle Sam doesn't have the gumption to stick it out. Murtha talks about how other global threats cannot be ignored, but the fact is that withdrawal from Iraq may cause these threats to come to fruition. Withdrawal from Vietnam triggered the Iranian revolution, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the Sandinista takeover of Nicaragua. A withdrawal from Iraq is a message to potential adversaries that we will back down after a mere 2000 military casualties even after 3000 people are slaughtered on American soil. What does this mean for our alliances all over the world? Murtha doesn't care about American interests. He just wants to emote, just like all the other liberals out there. * Note that he's careful not to say that we're losing. He's saying that it's not worth the cost. |
| Posted by: Elmenter Snineque1852 2005-11-17 19:50 |
| #7 Murtha wants to do for Iraqis what he did for South Vietnamese and Cambodians. I guess Murtha is in the farce phase of his life. |
| Posted by: ed 2005-11-17 19:41 |
| #6 "Our military has accomplished its mission and done its duty," he said. "Our military captured Saddam Hussein, captured or killed his closest associates, but the war continues to intensify." What planet is this asshole living on? We are winning this war and we are in the final stages of the military conflict. His assertion that the war is intensifying is an outright lie. "I tell you, these young folks are under intense activity over there, I mean much more intense than Vietnam," he said. "You never know when it's going to happen." Uh, riight. Going up against the "Lions of Islam" is faaaaar more intense than going up against hardcore, well trained and supplied NVA. What utter and complete bullshit. This Marine is a traitor. I hope that thousands of active and retired Marines flood his office telling him just that. |
| Posted by: remoteman 2005-11-17 19:23 |
| #5 Thought Murtha was the large moth from the Japanese horror flicks. Maybe it was Mothra. |
| Posted by: John Q. Citizen 2005-11-17 18:57 |
| #4 Murtha was elected to congress in 1974. You remember them, the Watergate class who voted to abandon the Vietnamese in 1975. Wonder how he voted on that. |
| Posted by: Whavimble Unaque8791 2005-11-17 17:04 |
| #3 So when Murtha was in Nam, did he really like it when politicians back home screwed him? Or is this like being the adult child of an alcoholic, where one does what is familiar? |
| Posted by: eLarson 2005-11-17 17:01 |
| #2 I'm gonna check into the Dark Side thingy. It sure is a seductive little tart these days amongst the Alzheimers set. Maybe in another decade or three I'll become as addled as John. Yo, Murtha, you need to change your Depends and lay off the Cut and run. What an epitaph. This is hubris of the I believe my own PR sort. |
| Posted by: .com 2005-11-17 16:57 |
| #1 Dupe. Delete. |
| Posted by: Whavitch Creth5450 2005-11-17 16:53 |