Posted on 11/21/2005 9:24:07 AM PST by Reagan Man
U.S. Rep. John Murtha, a key Democrat on military issues, on Monday defended his call to pull U.S. troops from Iraq, saying he was reflecting Americans' sentiment.
"The public turned against this war before I said it," Murtha said. "The public is emotionally tied into finding a solution to this thing, and that's what I hope this administration is going to find out."
Murtha, 73, a decorated Vietnam veteran and the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations defense subcommittee, said he has received support from the public since calling for the troop pullout on Thursday. He said he has gotten e-mails from World War II veterans and parents of American soldiers in Iraq.
Murtha noted that his great-grandfather served in the Civil War, his father and three uncles in World War II, and that he and his brothers were Marines. Murtha said western Pennsylvania, where his district is located, is a "hotbed of patriotism and they've lost confidence in this effort."
He said Iraqis must take control of their own destiny.
"We cannot win this militarily. Our tactics themselves keep us from winning," Murtha said at a scheduled news conference after a speech to a civic group in his hometown of Johnstown, about 60 miles east of Pittsburgh.
House Republicans on Friday pushed for a vote on a nonbinding resolution to pull out the troops after Murtha's comments. It was rejected 403-3, but Democrats said the quick call for the vote was a political stunt designed to undermine Murtha's comments.
"The guys in Congress are scared to death to say anything because they might be vilified," Murtha said. "The soldiers can't speak for themselves. We sent them to war and, by God, we're the ones that have to speak out."
Murtha said he was unmoved by criticism he's received from President Bush, others in Congress and the public.
U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt, R-Ohio, spoke on the House floor Friday about a phone call she got from a Marine colonel who said, "cowards cut and run, Marines never do." Asked about it, Murtha called the comment ridiculous.
"You can't spin this. You've got to have a real solution," Murtha said. "This is not a war of words, this is a war."
Aware that his comments last week would draw fire from conservatives, Murtha said he specifically asked more liberal members of his party not to step forward to support him.
"I didn't want (the public) to think this was a Democrat position plotted from the left wing," Murtha said.
Murtha expressed confidence that terrorist bombings in Iraq would cease once U.S. troops were gone and Iraqis became solely responsible for their destiny.
"Absolutely, we're the target. We're the enemy," Murtha said. "(The Iraqis) are a proud people, they've been around a lot longer than we have. They've going to win this themselves, they're going to settle this themselves. They have to, there's no alternative."
Murtha said he believes President Bush needs to realize how citizens feel about the war.
"All of us want to support the president when he's at war," Murtha said "But you can't support him when he won't change directions, won't listen."
I do not believe they will have fought for nothing. Their job is to obey the orders of their Commander-in-chief, which they all have done willingly.
Every time one of these Lefties opens their mouth I thank God we have freedom of speech in America...
makes it easier to spot the idiots! LOL
compare what the Lefties were saying Friday night to what Cheney said today and it just doesn't seem fair! :-]
You can word any poll to get the results you want. Most people (about 55%) think a pre-mature pullout from Iraq would be a mistake. Don't listen to polls, esp. the ones touted by the MSM. They are misleading and designed to erode morale. The only polls that count are in November of even-numbered years.
You are correct and I could not have summed up Murtha's comments and our leaders inability to communicate/educate the public better.
i can agree that we are "winning" but i don't see a true victory with our current tactics. mostly because even if we won a resounding victory, MSM would undermine it.
you can't truly win a military victory if the MSM refuses to report a victory. part of military tactics needs to include a co-operative media that will report successes and help de-moralise enemy combatants.
He's spent to much time surfing DU....
Someone on the Drudge thread last night suggested "Simper Flee!" is more apt for Murtha.
Wasn't it an premature pullout that got the dna on the blue dress?
Haha right you are! I just couldn't help myself from taking a jab. Now you bring "reckon" into the situation! LOL!
I can't say I've heard of Central City. All this talk has made me decide what I want for dinner! I'm going to have to dig thru the freezer and see if I don't have a dozen or so potato pirohi left (not none of the Mrs Paul's stuff but made by little bubas at church)
Hey yinz guys! Lookit da hicks!
Caneven spell "pierogi" 'nat...
LOL! Prolly eat 'em with sketty sauze like ravioli too... LOL!!!
Not enough money in this war for Murtha's brother... Is that it Mr. Murtha?
http://www.livejournal.com/~mparent7777/103785.html
The congressman from Pennsylvania is a Murtha Focker
LOL
Nope...boiled and served with onions and a little butter or oil, sour cream, salt and pepper
Or fried in butter and savored with sour cream and lots of salt and pepper.
A real heart stopper on a plate....
This is a lie. If it were true the dems would have climbed over each other to vote yea to get the troops out expecting to be embraced by the American people...but they voted nay...they know the truth...Americans don't want to leave a critical job undone. Americans don't want the party of "cut and run".
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