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The Honorable John P. Murtha War in Iraq
house.gov/apps/list/press/ ^ | November 17, 2005 | Honorable John P. Murtha

Posted on 11/18/2005 11:44:54 AM PST by B4Ranch

Congressman John Murtha Representing the 12th District of Pennsylvania
For Immediate Release
November 17, 2005
     
     

The Honorable John P. Murtha
War in Iraq

     
     
     

(Washington D.C.)- The war in Iraq is not going as advertised.  It is a flawed policy wrapped in illusion.  The American public is way ahead of us.   The United States and coalition troops have done all they can in Iraq, but it is time for a change in direction.  Our military is suffering.  The future of our country is at risk.  We can not continue on the present course.   It is evident that continued military action in Iraq is not in the best interest of the United States of America, the Iraqi people or the Persian Gulf Region. 

General Casey said in a September 2005 Hearing, “the perception of occupation in Iraq is a major driving force behind the insurgency.”  General Abizaid said on the same date, “Reducing the size and visibility of the coalition forces in Iraq is a part of our counterinsurgency strategy.” 

For 2 ½ years I have been concerned about the U.S. policy and the plan in Iraq.  I have addressed my concerns with the Administration and the Pentagon and have spoken out in public about my concerns.  The main reason for going to war has been discredited.  A few days before the start of the war I was in Kuwait – the military drew a red line around Baghdad and said when U.S. forces cross that line they will be attacked by the Iraqis with Weapons of Mass Destruction – but the US forces said they were prepared.  They had well trained forces with the appropriate protective gear. 

We spend more money on Intelligence than all the countries in the world together, and more on Intelligence than most countries GDP.  But the intelligence concerning Iraq was wrong.  It is not a world intelligence failure.  It is a U.S. intelligence failure and the way that intelligence was misused.

I have been visiting our wounded troops at Bethesda and Walter Reed hospitals almost every week since the beginning of the War.   And what demoralizes them is going to war with not enough troops and equipment to make the transition to peace; the devastation caused by IEDs; being deployed to Iraq when their homes have been ravaged by hurricanes; being on their second or third deployment and leaving their families behind without a network of support.  

The threat posed by terrorism is real, but we have other threats that cannot be ignored.  We must be prepared to face all threats.   The future of our military is at risk.  Our military and their families are stretched thin.  Many say that the Army is broken.  Some of our troops are on their third deployment. Recruitment is down, even as our military has lowered its standards.   Defense budgets are being cut.  Personnel costs are skyrocketing, particularly in health care.  Choices will have to be made.  We can not allow promises we have made to our military families in terms of service benefits, in terms of their health care, to be negotiated away.  Procurement programs that ensure our military dominance cannot be negotiated away.  We must be prepared.  The war in Iraq has caused huge shortfalls at our bases in the U.S. 
Much of our ground equipment is worn out and in need of either serious overhaul or replacement.  George Washington said, “To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace.”  We must rebuild our Army.   Our deficit is growing out of control.  The Director of the Congressional Budget Office recently admitted to being “terrified” about the budget deficit in the coming decades.  This is the first prolonged war we have fought with three years of tax cuts, without full mobilization of American industry and without a draft.  The burden of this war has not been shared equally; the military and their families are shouldering this burden. 

Our military has been fighting a war in Iraq for over two and a half years.  Our military has accomplished its mission and done its duty.    Our military captured Saddam Hussein, and captured or killed his closest associates.  But the war continues to intensify.  Deaths and injuries are growing, with over 2,079 confirmed American deaths.   Over 15,500 have been seriously injured and it is estimated that over 50,000 will suffer from battle fatigue.  There have been reports of at least 30,000 Iraqi civilian deaths.

I just recently visited Anbar Province Iraq in order to assess the conditions on the ground.  Last May 2005, as part of the Emergency Supplemental Spending Bill, the House included the Moran Amendment, which was accepted in Conference, and which required the Secretary of Defense to submit quarterly reports to Congress in order to more accurately measure stability and security in Iraq.  We have now received two reports.  I am disturbed by the findings in key indicator areas.  Oil production and energy production are below pre-war levels.  Our reconstruction efforts have been crippled by the security situation.  Only $9 billion of the $18 billion appropriated for reconstruction has been spent.  Unemployment remains at about 60 percent.  Clean water is scarce.  Only $500 million of the $2.2 billion appropriated for water projects has been spent.  And most importantly, insurgent incidents have increased from about 150 per week to over 700 in the last year.  Instead of attacks going down over time and with the addition of more troops, attacks have grown dramatically.  Since the revelations at Abu Ghraib, American casualties have doubled.    An annual State Department report in 2004 indicated a sharp increase in global terrorism.

I said over a year ago, and now the military and the Administration agrees, Iraq can not be won “militarily.”  I said two years ago, the key to progress in Iraq is to Iraqitize, Internationalize and Energize.  I believe the same today.  But I have concluded that the presence of U.S. troops in Iraq is impeding this progress.  

Our troops have become the primary target of the insurgency.  They are united against U.S. forces and we have become a catalyst for violence.  U.S. troops are the common enemy of the Sunnis, Saddamists and foreign jihadists.  I believe with a U.S. troop redeployment, the Iraqi security forces will be incentivized to take control.   A poll recently conducted shows that over 80% of Iraqis are strongly opposed to the presence of coalition troops, and about 45% of the Iraqi population believe attacks against American troops are justified.  I believe we need to turn Iraq over to the Iraqis. 
I believe before the Iraqi elections, scheduled for mid December, the Iraqi people and the emerging government must be put on notice that the United States will immediately redeploy.  All of Iraq must know that Iraq is free.  Free from United States occupation.  I believe this will send a signal to the Sunnis to join the political process for the good of a “free” Iraq. 

My plan calls: 

To immediately redeploy U.S. troops consistent with the safety of U.S. forces. 
To create a quick reaction force in the region.
To create an over- the- horizon presence of Marines. 
To diplomatically pursue security and stability in Iraq 

This war needs to be personalized.  As I said before I have visited with the severely wounded of this war.  They are suffering.


Because we in Congress are charged with sending our sons and daughters into battle, it is our responsibility, our OBLIGATION to speak out for them.  That’s why I am speaking out. 

Our military has done everything that has been asked of them, the U.S. can not accomplish anything further in Iraq militarily.  IT IS TIME TO BRING THEM HOME. 

(####)

     
     
     
 

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TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government
KEYWORDS: 109th; iraq; murtha
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U.S. Rep. John P. Murtha has dedicated his life to serving his country both in the military and in the halls of Congress. He had a long and distinguished 37-year career in the U.S. Marine Corps, retiring from the Marine Corps Reserve as a colonel in 1990;
1 posted on 11/18/2005 11:44:55 AM PST by B4Ranch
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To: B4Ranch

Then it's even more sad that he turned into a traitor to his Marine Corp and the people he serves. He's nothing more than a John F. Kerry at this time.


2 posted on 11/18/2005 11:46:51 AM PST by sissyjane (Don't be stuck on stupid!)
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To: B4Ranch

Honorable?

If he says so.


3 posted on 11/18/2005 11:48:25 AM PST by JennysCool (Non-Y2K-Compliant)
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To: B4Ranch

Nothing honorable about the man at all.


4 posted on 11/18/2005 11:49:21 AM PST by OldFriend (The Dems enABLEd DANGER and 3,000 Americans died.)
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To: B4Ranch

Bullfeathers. Grow some spine. Fight the gaddam terrorists and run 'em into the ground now or we will wish we had when we had a chance.! I don't give a gaddam how long this guy's military career was, he's obviously got hardening of the arteries, at this point and has hung around Washington too long brownnosing with the pols. I don't give a hang about his esteemed opinion - it is wrong. It is chicken manure. We need to fight and we need to win! From a former military chick with a spine of sttel and an iron will! The Islamists want us DOA


5 posted on 11/18/2005 11:49:34 AM PST by yldstrk (My heros have always been cowboys-Reagan and Bush)
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To: B4Ranch
His plan calls for the instant death of thousands that have sacrificed in the war. I call for him to STFU.
6 posted on 11/18/2005 11:49:45 AM PST by yobid (What we have here is a failure to communicate)
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To: B4Ranch

U.S. Sen. John F. Kerry has dedicated his life to serving his country both in the military and in the halls of Congress. He had a distinguished career in the US Navy, retiring from the US Naval reserve as a lieutenant in 1978. Like his buddy John P. Murtha, John Kerry enjoys stabbing active servicemen in the back and second-guessing commanders serving in the field as well as being an award-winning backseat driver.


7 posted on 11/18/2005 11:50:17 AM PST by wideawake (God bless our brave troops and their Commander-in-Chief)
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To: B4Ranch
He had a long and distinguished 37-year career in the U.S. Marine Corps, retiring from the Marine Corps Reserve as a colonel in 1990;

37 years and he couldn't manage one star? What kind of an idiot is this guy?

8 posted on 11/18/2005 11:51:39 AM PST by AmishDude (Mathematics -- better than science, harder than science, and always true. Always.)
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To: yldstrk

The Islamists want us DOA and we babysit their children here in the US while they accomplish their goals. We have more traitors in the US today than I ever thought would be possible.


9 posted on 11/18/2005 11:51:56 AM PST by B4Ranch (No expiration date on the oath to protect America from all enemies, foreign and domestic!)
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To: B4Ranch
We have more traitors in the US today than I ever thought would be possible.

Indeed. Of course, the traitor du jour is the cowardly John P. Murtha.

10 posted on 11/18/2005 11:53:06 AM PST by wideawake (God bless our brave troops and their Commander-in-Chief)
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To: yldstrk

I saw a post earlier which pretty much sums this up. Allow me to paraphrase, "...I believe Benedict Arnold served our country well up until that little mishap..."


11 posted on 11/18/2005 11:53:17 AM PST by unionblue83
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To: B4Ranch
All of a sudden, the Congressional leftists tell us a man's word is unassailable because he's a retired Marine officer and a Viet Nam veteran.

I don't remember it being that way as recently as 1987...


12 posted on 11/18/2005 11:53:29 AM PST by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum.)
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To: B4Ranch
Image hosted by TinyPic.com
Murtha
13 posted on 11/18/2005 11:54:13 AM PST by Old Seadog (Inside every old person is a young person saying "WTF happened?".)
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To: B4Ranch
Someone want to dig up his Hardball interview transcript from 2003 or 2004? Despite the medias attempt to make him look like a pro-war hawk now against the war, he can't change the harsh words he has had about the war in the last two years. It was during this Hardball interview he was saying some of the same things he is saying now.
14 posted on 11/18/2005 11:54:44 AM PST by NavyCanDo
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To: B4Ranch


Nothing new here, folks - this is just a publicity ploy that amounts to nothing more than restating what he has said before and calling it news ~ Media Ignore Congressman Murtha’s Long History Of Opposition to the Iraq War

15 posted on 11/18/2005 11:55:12 AM PST by Zacs Mom (Proud wife of a Marine! ... and purveyor of "rampant, unedited dialogue")
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To: B4Ranch

Murtha is just a tired old man who is a victim of believing the "polls" being released by the Bush-hating Commies in the MSM. These "polls" do not represent what the American people think. The Liberal MSM is manipulating the results of these "polls" in an effort to regain control of our wallets and checkbooks. PERIOD!!


16 posted on 11/18/2005 11:56:48 AM PST by FlingWingFlyer (It's no coincidence that the Democrat mascot is a jackass.)
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Comment #17 Removed by Moderator

To: B4Ranch
"I like guys who have never been there to criticize us who have been there. I like that. I like guys that have 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."

--himself.

In John Murtha's case, "The Honorable" is an identification of rank , not an actual description.

18 posted on 11/18/2005 11:57:17 AM PST by RichInOC (Democrats p**s me off!)
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To: B4Ranch

I've been wondering if Soros/Moveon got to him somehow? This is too big a switch to be anything else.


19 posted on 11/18/2005 11:59:08 AM PST by Arizona Carolyn
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To: B4Ranch
The disHonorable John P. Murtha
20 posted on 11/18/2005 12:00:04 PM PST by Paleo Conservative (Hey hey ho ho Andy Heyward's got to go!)
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