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Murtha Says it’s Time to Bring Our “Murdering Scum” Home

Rep. John Murtha (D-Penn.), a leading Iraq War critic said he’s pushing legislation that would order U.S. troop withdrawals to begin in the Fall and predicted Republicans will support it. “As I’ve been saying for some time, the troops deployed in Iraq have shown themselves to be ‘murdering scum,’” Murtha asserted. “Keeping them there only serves to perpetuate the slaughter and atrocities.”

Under Murtha’s plan, troop withdrawals would start in November 2007 and take about a year to complete. A vote on Rep. John Murtha’s proposal likely will come in September, after Iraq commander Gen. David Petraeus is expected to deliver a promised assessment on the war.

The House passed a similar proposal a few months ago, but President Bush vetoed it. But Murtha said he predicts this vote will be different because of polls indicating mounting voter frustration with the war. “It doesn’t really matter what Patraeus has to say,” Murtha added. “We all know this war is lost. The polls confirm it. It’s time to cut our losses.”

Bush has insisted that US troops need to remain engaged in Iraq to fight al-Qaeda and has repeatedly appealed to lawmakers for more patience. However, Murtha says his bill will be the president’s final chance to escape judgment. “If the president won’t agree to the withdrawal we will have to move House Resolution 333,” Murtha said. HR 333 is the impeachment resolution sponsored by presidential candidate Representative Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio).