Posted on 01/02/2006 5:36:07 PM PST by jmc1969
Rep. John Murtha, a key Democratic voice who favors pulling U.S. troops from Iraq, said in remarks airing on Monday that he would not join the U.S. military today.
A decorated Vietnam combat veteran who retired as a colonel after 37 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, Murtha told ABC News' "Nightline" program that Iraq "absolutely" was a wrong war for President George W. Bush to have launched.
"Would you join (the military) today?," he was asked in an interview taped on Friday.
"No," replied Murtha of Pennsylvania, the top Democrat on the House of Representatives subcommittee that oversees defense spending and one of his party's leading spokesmen on military issues.
"And I think you're saying the average guy out there who's considering recruitment is justified in saying 'I don't want to serve'," the interviewer continued.
"Exactly right," said Murtha, who drew White House ire in November after becoming the first ranking Democrat to push for a pullout of U.S. forces from Iraq as soon as it could be done safely.
"Let me tell you, war is a nasty business. It sears the soul," he said, choking up. "And it made a difference. The shadow of those killings stay with you the rest of your life."
Asked for comment, a Defense Department spokesman, Lt. Col. John Skinner, said: "We have an all-volunteer military. People are free to choose whether they serve or not."
"Our freedom of speech in this country allows all of us the opportunity to voice an opinion. It's one of our great strengths as a nation," he added.
(Excerpt) Read more at alertnet.org ...
As if he hadn't already stepped over the line.
Murtha's NOT on our side.
"Let me tell you, war is a nasty business. It sears the soul," he said
Obviously it doesn't sear the memory...as evidenced by Kerry's 'Christmas in Cambodia' tale.
"Murtha told ABC News' "Nightline" program that Iraq "absolutely" was a wrong war for President George W. Bush to have launched."
That first statement there is all I need to know when I weigh any opinions of Murtha on the Iraq war, he is biased from the get go.. and he should just go.
The man is an embarrasment, I lost respect the first time he opened his mouth last month. Each time subsequently, it has deserved to be duct taped shut.....at least in a just world.
Disgusting traitorous PIG.
In his 31 years in the USMC, how much was active duty? I have had my fill of career reservists.
The military won't take you if you wet the bed.
It wasn't neutral, but apparently Rep. Murtha didn't feel the need to elaborate on his answer. Which is pretty telling, IMHO.
I had no idea who Murtha was until he spoke out against the war. I respect him for his military service, but he really needs to STHU. Al Jazeera (sp?) puts statements like his to use and it hurts our military men and women.
Would the armed services have him? That is the question.
Wise decision. Looking at his paunch, he'd never even make it through a French boot camp.
Yep, the good ol' days of joining the military when Clinton was Commander in Chief are long gone.....
Apparently the thousands of young men and women who joined the military after 9-11 and are continuing to re-up...are not seeing it John Murtha's way.
Murtha was a drill sergeant with 3 yrs. active duty, the rest spent in the reserves. Yet the press tries to make him into a military expert.
John Murtha or Kerry? or both?
"Let me tell you, war is a nasty business. It sears the soul," he said, choking up. "And it made a difference. The shadow of those killings stay with you the rest of your life."
How convenient...the US Military wouldn't have him!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.