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Federal agents raided the offices of a Western Pennsylvania defense contractor that has received millions in federal earmarks at the request of Rep. John Murtha, according to local media reports. The offices of Kuchera Industries and Kuchera Defense Systems were shuttered for the day following the raids, the chief financial officer told the Johnstown Tribune-Democrat. The companies' phone system says they will open again Friday morning, and e-mails sent to top company officials went unanswered. Based in Windber, Pa., just outside Johnstown, Kuchera won $8.2 million in federal defense earmarks in the 2008 budget. The earmarks came at the request...

  Murtha speech gets cheers and jeers By Richard Robbins TRIBUNE-REVIEW Sunday, May 14, 2006 U.S. Rep. John P. Murtha -- one of the most vocal critics of President Bush's handling of the war in Iraq -- drew cheers and boos during his commencement speech at Seton Hill University on Saturday when he once again called for the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops. "We don't care. This isn't about graduation," Leonard Pierce, of North Huntingdon, the parent of a graduate, called out several times from the audience. The catcalls prompted shouts from other audience members that Murtha should be allowed...

Genghis John rides again By Dimitri Vassilaros TRIBUNE-REVIEW Sunday, December 11, 2005 Sen. John Kerry's appearance last Sunday on "Face the Nation" suggests he's mastered the nuanced finesse of betraying his contempt for American soldiers without accusing them of behaving in a fashion reminiscent of Genghis Khan. The Massachusetts Democrat has come a long way since 1971. Back then, Mr. Kerry had the starring role as the principled and decorated Vietnam War veteran testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee about supposed war atrocities committed not by the Viet Cong but by his fellow vets. Kerry earnestly testified that other...

A family member's ties to special interests raise questions in the case of Democrat John Murtha. When Congress passed the $417-billion Pentagon spending bill last year, Rep. John P. Murtha, the top Democrat on the House defense appropriations subcommittee, boasted about the money he secured ... But the bill Murtha helped write also benefited at least 10 companies represented by a lobbying firm where his brother, Robert "Kit" Murtha... Clients of the lobbying firm KSA Consulting — whose top officials also include former congressional aide Carmen V. Scialabba, who worked for Rep. Murtha for 27 years — received a total...

One of the mysteries these days is the about-face of a supposed Democrat war hawk, Representative John Murtha of Pennsylvania. Considered a supporter of the Iraq conflict, the decorated former Marine suddenly came out with statements calling for the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq and that the war is not winnable. After the liberal media feasted on his sudden burst on the national scene, Murtha became the new lightning rod for the antiwar, anti-American movement. Recently, he said that the US military was worn out and unable to protect Americans should a security crisis emerge. And the media again...