Murtha speaks out against permanent bases in Iraq

[sabra]

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/nation/14895526.htm

Murtha speaks out against permanent bases in Iraq

MIAMI - American presence in Iraq is more dangerous to world peace than nuclear threats from North Korea or Iran, Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., said to a crowd of more than 200 in North Miami Saturday afternoon.

...

A former Marine and a prominent critic of the Bush administration's policies in Iraq, Murtha reiterated his views that the war cannot be won militarily and needs political solutions. He said the more than 100,000 troops in Iraq should be pulled out immediately, and deployed to peripheral countries like Kuwait.

"We do not want permanent bases in Iraq," Murtha told the audience. "We want as many Americans out of there as possible."

Murtha also has publicly said that the shooting of 24 Iraqis in November at Haditha, a city in the Anbar province of western Iraq that has been plagued by insurgents, was wrongfully covered up.

[serryjw]

1. We are never leaving

I aprreciate Murtha's efforts but we will 50,000 troops there for decades

[vssmith]

2. Decades or until the oil runs out

[serryjw]

3. RFLOL! You got it!

Which ever comes first.

[Theduckno2]

4. If Bushco got their way, we wouldn't be leaving.

These days I am no longer sure that the Iraq occupation isn't reversible. IMHO Bushco really irritated the Iraqi leadership when word of the 50,000 troops remaining indefinitely was revealed. Given that the Coalition of the Willimg is dwindling and Bush is whining to get nations to ante up the funds that they pledged, to defray the costs of reconstruction, I think it will be a hard sell to justify the expenditure on a permanent presence in what would be hostile territory.

Should Bush attack Iran, well that would be a different matter altogether. Yes, I have a pessimistic side too!

By the way, Rep. Murtha evidently doesn't depend only on the MSM for HIS information or he probably would't have found out about the 4 permanent bases.

Pssst, We are building a 3,000 person embassy in Baghdad too! :)

Edit: spelling

[cliss]

5. This has got to be driving them crazy.

The administration doesn't want the bases to be public knowledge. The media is silent on this issue.

I bet you a lot of Americans are listening to John Murtha are surprised right now. Bases? What bases? We're building 14 bases? Since when did that happen?

Congress is complicit.

[Terran1212]

6. A center-right hawk is telling the truth more than the "liberal" Democrats

A pro-life, pro-business, pro-military budget Democrat has been speaking the truth and being more proudly anti-occupation than the whole lot of Pelosi, Reid, Kerry, and company.

What does this tell you?

[karynnj]

7. Kerry has spoken out against permanent bases since 2004

He spoke against them in the debates - where he likely had the largest audience he ever had. He has repeatedly brought the issue up in the SFRC with people like Dr Rice. It was a key point in his Oct 2005 plan - where he said both it had to be policy and that it should be announced immediately.

Kerry is NOT Reid - he has spoken out about this at least as often as Murtha or any one else.

What it tells me is that YOU HAVEN'T BEEN LISTENING.

[Terran1212]

9. What it tells me is you're changing what Kerry is

to make him fit what you wish he was. He's never consistently cited polls showing Iraqis want Americans out, as Murtha has -- and never used the "immediate withdrawal" phrase either.

[Robbien]

8. It is so good that Murtha is speaking of the permanent bases

right now. Since he is under the spotlight because of the Swiftboat attacks everything Murtha is saying will hopefully get some play. The fact that we are building these permanent bases needs to be discussed in the public forum.

[2020]

10. But it's upsetting the article does not mention permanent bases as fact.

I wish Murtha would present the evidence that has been posted on this board many times that we're building something like 14 specific permanent bases there at considerable cost, most to protect our oil company's holdings. That fact has never been brought to the attention of the public that I'm aware of.

[Vidar]

11. But it'll be so much fun to replay the battle of Verdun in Bagdad.