Murtha: It's Time to Redeploy

[sabra]

http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/IraqCoverage/story?id=2019526&page=1

Murtha: It's Time to Redeploy
In Light of Atrocity Investigation, Rep. Murtha Says U.S. Is Losing the Iraqi People


May 30, 2006— The investigation into whether U.S. Marines killed 24 unarmed civilians — many of them women and children — in the Iraqi city of Haditha last November has broken the heart of a congressman, who wonders whether there was an attempted cover-up.

"Eighty percent of the Iraqis want us out of there," said Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., a decorated Marine veteran and prominent critic of U.S. policy in Iraq, on "Good Morning America." "Forty-seven percent say it's all right to kill Americans. Yet when we went in, they thought it was wonderful to topple Saddam Hussein. Now we've lost that war, and now it is time to redeploy." Murtha believes the United States can no longer win the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people.


...

"It breaks my heart to think that Marines would do this," Murtha said. "Hopefully, this is an isolated incident. But we're supposed to be selling ideas of America, ideals of America, and we're losing that war. The reason we've lost the hearts and minds (is) these troops are under tremendous stress. Day after day these roadside bombs go off. They don't know who the enemy is. Then they kill innocent people."

[uppityperson]

1. Heard him on NPR today, calling this murder

very fiery speaking. "Was this murder? Yes. Was there a coverup? Yes. We need to investigate both."

[rodeodance]

2. ah, but we are ARE---redeploying from Kuwait to the troubled spots. Wrong

way I realize.

[Faygo Kid]

3. When the heroes are written from my era, John Murtha will be listed

And I was born when Truman was president, so my list is long. Very long. John Murtha is a profile in courage.

[wordpix]

4. Murtha is right but the *chickenhawk$ won't listen to an old war horse

who's been there and back. I despise BushCo. TIME TO PUT THEM IN JAIL, PEOPLE. HELP YOUR DEM CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE, PLEASE!

[superconnected]

5. always nice when a former marine recognizes it is Murder.

As opposed, to it being okay and just a soldierly act or war, since it's in a wartime situation.

[imax2268]

6. Check this out...

some repubs talking about Murtha...

http://www.azfamily.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15282

[Imagevision]

8. imax2268> repuke forums sound incredibly ignorant, had to take a peek!

[Imagevision]

7. BUSH: It'll be up to future presidents to complete the mission in Iraq...

1500 more US. troops sent from Kuwait to Iraq Yesterday, it's starting to look like Viet Nam, yes it is...! Afganistan has begun to see part two of the taliban tour lately also.

[Terran1212]

9. Why is Murtha the only Congressmen who cares about Iraqi opinion?

The rest only care about what Bush or Hilary or someone says. The dirty arab Iraqis don't matter.

Murtha deserves praise for doing the right thing.

[Callalily]

10. Part of me is in shock

over this incident, and part of me understands how this horrific act could happen. More innocent lives gone. And the cover-up is just inexcusable. My heart is so sad when I hear episodes like this, sometimes I just can't stand it.

My heart goes out to those soldiers who are just trying to stay alive until they are sent home. I pray Sen. Feingold can convince all to bring troops home by years end.

We should get out of the business of war. It's immoral to say the least. Absolutely no good has come out of this whole mess.

[bdamomma]

11. we had no business being in Iraq

we must get these criminals out of the WH. this is getting very bad and serious for all of us.

[Alcibiades]

12. Occupation is inherently destabilizing

Those who argue that we must not "cut and run" don't get it. The mere presence of American troops on Iraqi soil is inherently destabilizing. We should have learned from the Khobar Towers Bombing in 1996 that Arabs will not tolerate American troops on Middle Eastern soil, even as guests of the ruling regime, let alone as an occupying army.

Now these "Marines" defile the uniform by murdering civilian children. These were not raw recruits, as some of the right-wing talkers would lead us to think, but hardened 2 and 3-tour veterans. How much longer do we think that the average Iraqi will put up with this? Anyone would come to the conclusion that any Iraqi government that puts up with this could only do so because it is an illegitimate puppet.