Murtha Responds To Criticism From Pentagon

[sabra]

http://www.news4jax.com/news/5875280/detail.html

Murtha Responds To Criticism From Pentagon

WASHINGTON -- Democratic U.S. Rep. John Murtha said the military is suffering from what he calls "the administration's constantly changing, undefined, open-ended military mission in Iraq."

Murtha was criticized during a Pentagon news conference Thursday, when the chairman of the joint chiefs said Murtha's weekend criticism was "damaging" troop recruitment efforts.

In a statement released by Murtha, the decorated Marine veteran responded that the real damage to recruitment comes from prolonged deployments, inadequate equipment, and the "lack of any connection between Iraq and the brutal attacks of 9/11."

[Hailtothechimp]

1. Take that, B-yotch!!!!

I do love Jack Murtha. He would get this war ended if he were in charge.

[Born Free]

20. nominate that man for president...

[joeunderdog]

32. and let's give the charming and wonderful Jean Schmidt an assist

for elevating Murtha to a new level and giving him a louder voice than ever before!

[Barkley]

34. and let's throw in a Nobel Peace Price Nomination too

If Tookie Williams (founder of an L.A. Street Gang) can be nominated for turn around so can Murtha.

[merwin]

2. There's a theme with people like Murtha and Dean.

They don't respond to the flimsy accusations made by the right wing, and instead they keep pointing out what the right wing is doing wrong. If you start making excuses for yourself, you lose credibility. It is best just to ignore stupid questions and have a discussion on your terms.

[cliss]

14. Yes! I didn't think of that.

Joe Wilson was like that, too. They started attacking him personally. Wilson said, "it's not about me. It's about the rules about divulging etc et". I was always impressed with that.

They ignored the personal attacks, and kept hammering away at the issues. Which the Repubs can't stand.

That IS the way to win against them.

[Jacobin]

25. Yep. Its called having convictions, and they both have them

:thumbsup:

[Straight Shooter]

3. It still boggles the mind that someone like Murtha believed the BS

about the WMD before the invasion. He seems like a man who is pretty good at sizing up someone's character, but he let bush completely pull the wool over his eyes. What a pity.

At least he's calling them out on the bogus connection between Iraq and the LIHOP of September 11, 2001.

[Erika]

5. So many didn't realize that their Pres and CIC is a liar

It hurts but it is true.

[countmyvote4real]

6. And so many still don't get it or their vote on the war was bogus

(playing politics) from the start. I wonder if that's why they can't allow themselves to have a public epiphany. Either they are still playing politics with that misguided vote or their ego is way too large to admit that they made a mistake. Perhaps both. Neither excuse will justify my vote for the next POTUS or Senator from NY or DE.

[pberq]

24. Agreed about the WMD thing - amazing!

And they can't say "but, we were lied to".

There was plenty of information out there in 2002 about the reality of the WMD situation in Iraq - indluding our own William Pitt's book.

[Erika]

4. Murtha is a true marine. He doesn't back down from what's right

He takes the heat of the chicken hawks and keeps on going. He is the true definition of a decorated marine of 37 years.

He'll stand up for our military before any of this administration's chicken hawks will. He has guts and has proven it. He visits the injured troops and fights for the rights of all troops.

It's too bad that he is so alone in this fight because no one in the W administration can even identify.

[rodeodance]

7. Murtha cares about our military vs Jr. who uses it for his own political

purposes. This should be evident to all but apparently it is not.

[rodeodance]

8. nominate for the troops.

[rodeodance]

9. Murtha got a good punch line in also (no link with SH and 9/11). grand.

....In a statement released by Murtha, the decorated Marine veteran responded that the real damage to recruitment comes from prolonged deployments, inadequate equipment, and the "lack of any connection between Iraq and the brutal attacks of 9/11."

[Canuckistanian]

10. Who's the Chairman of the JCS?

I should know this.

[PDittie]

11. Peter Pace

Commandant (yes, really) of the Marine Corps.

[saigon68]

35. Peter Pace is Out of Touch with reality

Not to mention he has to get off his knees and quit elating the NeoCons.

[Harper_is_Bush]

12. Murtha for president!!! n/t

[sabra]

21. I second that :-)

peace

[blue neen]

13. Murtha keeps standing up for what's right. I love this guy.

He's my rep. He'll sure be getting our household's vote again this year!

Murtha knows better than anyone what's hurting recruitment, and he's not afraid to say it. Jack Murtha IS Middle America, and SPEAKS to Middle America.

[Rainscents]

15. You got my support Rep. Murtha!

I got real angry with Ed Schultz for trashing Murtha for 2 days in the row on the radio. Ed lost me as listeners for good!

[President Kerry]

38. I listen to Ed regularly. I never heard anything critical he ever said

of Murtha. What did he say?

[The_Casual_Observer]

16. "damaging" troop recruitment efforts

Got to love it when those sorry bastards blame their own personal failures on somebody else. Chicken shits like that are running the military? Fuck them all.

[westernpenndem]

17. We are witnessing a truly great historic American figure!

Jack Murtha continues to make history and will long be remembered by our posterity as THE military voice of reason and truth that ultimately changed America's mind about the Iraq War and the course of our involvement there. Little by little, we will see all the steps recommended by Mr. Murtha and these will be the only hope of salvaging some success there--for us and the Iraqis.

I'll never forget his speech in June '04 at my wife's graduation from Waynesburg. He was much more subtle, and didn't discuss the Bush Admin. specifically, but the references in his speech were unmistakeable. Something like this:
"...great leaders listen to the experts, even if they disagree."
"...great leaders admit when they make mistakes."
"...great leaders don't go it alone."

He will go down as the one who finally convinced the average American that the decision to launch an unprovoked war with Iraq was a collosal mistake--as unprovoked, poorly planned wars/reconstructions inevitably are. (See, there was good reason why the National Council of Churches and the Pope so strongly urged against an invasion without provocation.)

History before our eyes, my friends.

Jack Murtha makes me so proud to be from PA!

[leftchick]

18. Rep. Murtha is THE Democratic Hero!

:patriot:

[DemExpat]

19. Excellent retort.

If only more Dems were like Murtha....

:kick:

DemEx

[stickdog]

22. Democratic "leaders" need to clone a bunch of Murthas and

use them for spine implants.

[leftchick]

23. AP Yahoo Link has more ....

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060106/ap_on_go_co/us_iraq_7

[Justitia]

26. So, PACE confirmed DEAN'S assessment?!?

From the article:

"Speaking before a town hall meeting on Iraq in Arlington, Va., hosted by Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va., Murtha said Pace called him to discuss the war.

"Peter Pace told me this last night: They know militarily they can't win this," Murtha said."

I guess the good doc was out there in front of the bullshit spin yet again.

Will the administration hoist Pace on his own petard like they tarred & feathered Dean for the same comment?
Nah, they'll just pin a medal on him.

Somebody make sure that blowhard Eagleburger gets wind of this - chump.

[leftchick]

27. I noticed that too

so pace is a fucking LIAR! What a surprise.

[PATRICK]

28. Should have teamed that up with the draft

that if they want recruits and get the support they need they will have to involve the whole nation and Congress with full responsibility, not rely on kids, foreigners, the desperate and the misinformed to make do with mismanagement.

We keep getting that angry whine or "caveat enlistee"- you signed a contract, so die. Not with a draft. Not with a real war and a real citizen army. If we are to continue with the obvious decline in the army because of this criminal disaster, the sooner the supply of GOP fodder dries up the better. Otherwise the slow grind of denial will dessicate the Armed Forces until the draft comes as a late and catastrophic mess itself.

Meanwhile death, dishonor, and betrayal make a Vietnam out of the homefront itself.

[tabasco]

29. Sad to see such poor leadership from the senior ranks.

This is what happens when criminals control the country and appoint only yes-men to top positions.

Blaming Murtha for poor recruiting. Pathetic.

[PittPoliSci]

30. keep it up jack!

[Griffy]

31. I went to SEE MURTHA last night... IT WAS PACKED!!!!

in fact it was so packed I didnt get in, I talked to others in the hallway.. and directed them to DU :) So when Rep. Murtha was done, some people left the the room and then the police let more people in. So I did hear Rep Moran (VA), who is my rep... and he spoke strong on a need for a change in tactics and how we are targets. There were even a couple of angry misinformed people that quoted GOP talking points. (they got hisses from the crowd.. and a bullshit cough (al la top gun) from me!)

He said at the end, it is us who can push change, and we need to talk to our friends and family all over the country and call and write or reps and the press! Basically keep doing what most of us here are doing!

[Barkley]

33. Murtha & Byrd (two old white guys) make Hillary and "DiFi" look stupid!

If you had told me this before the Iraq war I'd never believe it
But its true.

[Boojatta]

36. Admitting that US troops have died in Iraq is damaging troop recruitment

So why doesn't the Pentagon simply announce that no US troops have died in Iraq? While they're at it, they can also announce that no US troops have been injured, and that the sand in Iraq is edible and tastes like pizza, but is more nutritious than pizza.

[0007]

37. If the Pentagon and White House can't comes to terms with

what Murtha is saying, then it only goes to prove, how out of touch and into denial these clowns indeed are.....

You're either with us or against us, and the motto isn't changing.