Murtha: Iraq ‘Unwinnable’

[NewJerseyDem]

http://www.rollcall.com/issues/49_120/news/5469-1.html (subscription required)

Signaling a new, more aggressive line against the Bush administration’s policy on Iraq, Rep. John Murtha (Pa.), the House Democrats’ most visible defense hawk, will join Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) today to make public his previously private statements that the conflict is “unwinnable.”

Democrats’ new approach came as lawmakers on both sides of the Capitol grappled with how to respond to stunning photos of Iraqi prisoners being abused and braced for debate over a $25 billion additional appropriation for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Pelosi’s most trusted ally on military issues and a senior defense appropriator, Murtha, a Vietnam veteran, sent a shockwave through the Caucus when he told Members at a leader’s luncheon Tuesday that under the current Bush administration course the United States cannot win the war in Iraq. Murtha’s comments — characterized as angrier and more discouraged than in the past — came on the heels of recently released photos of Iraqi prisoners posed by U.S. soldiers in degrading positions.

The term “unwinnable” is widely viewed among Members as a major shift in the Caucus’ message on the conflict, especially from a veteran, pro-military Member who supported the U.S. role in Iraq.

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. That is major

dems and GOPers working together to bring troops home

One salient point, he is a War Vet, it shows

[Hotdiggitydog]

16. But, but, but,...

We've only lost 23 Soldiers there this month. No big deal.

(OH CRAP! ITS ONLY MAY 5!) We're continuing to lose military members at the same rate as April. Time to pull out of that friggin clusterflux.

[maddezmom]

2. WOW

:wow: The secrecy in this WH will be it's downfall.

[krkaufman]

3. The qualifier is it's unwinnable...

Murtha qualifies his statement, saying that Iraq is unwinnable "under the current Bush administration course."

So he's not necessarily advocating a wholesale pullout, only that * is insane. ("Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." -- Albert Einstein)

The Chimp refuses to change strategies or to remove those responsible for the failed strategies.

[Just Me]

4. Finally. *whew*

Too bad it didn't happen before all the damage was done. :cry:

But, maybe, this time, we will refuse to allow this situation to unravel to epic proportions. :D

[bemildred]

5. Damage control.

When they say "withdraw" I will believe it, not before.

[TacticalPeek]

6. "characterized as angrier and more discouraged than in the past"

I would not want to see him angrier than when he spoke out about our troops shot up for lack of body armor, and the maladmin blind to the growing insurgency. Last year I think, at a press conference with Pelosi. That man was cussing mad, because any chance of 'winning' was evaporating while the WH lived in Fantasy Land.

Angrier? Watch out.


------------

Iraq Toll Hits a Nerve With Murtha
Veteran Hawk Says Some Bush Strategists Have to Go

By David S. Broder
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, September 27, 2003; Page A07

sniped

"Every single wounded person I met at Bethesda or Walter Reed (hospital) after
Afghanistan and Iraq said, 'If I had had Kevlar, this wouldn't have happened to me,' "
Murtha said. He cited other shortages of equipment that also contributed to U.S.
casualties.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A7368-2003Sep26?language=printer

[bluestateguy]

7. Jack Murtha

He's kind of an old fashioned congressman: he usually keeps his mouth shut in public; is real big on constituency service and pork barrelling; he has friends on both sides of the aisle and puts statesmanship above politics.

I can't say I'd be that kind of congressman if I got to Capitol Hill, but it's still admirable.

[AlCzervik]

8. Shrub sitting in his thinking chair saying to hisself

"Well, i've lost Murtha"

[Liberal Gramma]

15. That explains a lot!

It's the chair that does the thinking!

[JohnOneillsMemory]

9. Somebody get Cronkite to declare this unwinnable.

Ok, nobody remembers who Cronkite is.

Somebody get Cronkite to convince Jennings, Rather, and Brokaw to declare this war unwinnable.

[Cocoa]

10. I bet there will be a big battle over the $25 billion

my hope that the dems have been strategizing and that they're going to make
a big anti-war move soon.

[AlCzervik]

11. that battles gonna ratchet up

when it turns into 50 to 75billion.

[Cocoa]

13. they should assume it already is that amount

if there's one thing we've learned about Bush, don't EVER believe his numbers.

[The_Casual_Observer]

21. It's probably double that amount

Already Dennis Hastert is framing this as an investment in our war against terror, the new 3rd rail.

[legin]

12. I do remember seeing Pelosi with some guy

a while ago doing a press conference, TacticalPeak's post above could indicate it was Murtha also. They looked comfortable together, sort of a double act.

I'll take a guess again (when do i do otherwise ;-) ), maybe Murtha is part of Pelosi's circle and functions as her foreign policy and military expert. Can't help noticing the 'hawk' bit attached to him which might explain some of Pelosi's behaviour.

[Upfront]

17. Send Kerry The message!

Murtha should let our hard charging leader in on his thinking.

[NewJerseyDem]

18. That's true

Murtha is considered part of Pelosi's inner circle of about a dozen or so democrats in the House. He has been one of her strongest supporters in her 2 runs for leadership positions even though he is viewed as much more conservative than her. He is the ranking democrat on the Defense Appropriations subcommittee and is a very big supporter of defense spending and his hawkish (voted for both Gulf wars). Also, he is socially conservative and pro-life so the two are an unlikely couple.

[evworldeditor]

14. Dennis Kucinich still on the campaign trail...

He as on the O'Franken factor today talking about the need to pull the troop out of Iraq. He point is that we have so muddied the waters in the Mideast -- and around the world -- that the mere presense of our troops will only serve to foment strife. He said he need to pay reparations to those we injured, but we need to get out ASAP.

[eridani]

19. If Dennis could see it--

--whythehell couldn't Murtha? Especially a Vietnam veteran ferchrissakes!

[burrowowl]

20. Good OpEd by Pfaff in IHT

http://www.iht.com/bin/print.php?file=518286.html

We may get out but how to tell the sheeple all was for naught?

[Wright Patman]

24. My guess is

no one will and we will wind up there for 10 years taking casualties nearly every day. I still don't know how they are going to avoid a military draft in the long run, but maybe there is an endless supply of stupid Bubbas down here in the South who will sign up to do their part in the 'war on terr' even if this is not technically part thereof.

The Bubbas aren't too skilled at discerning technicalities like that.

[IndianaGreen]

22. “Unwinnable” ? We already lost the war!

The only question remaining is how many people will die before our politicians, from both major parties, have the cojones to publicly say so and call for an immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all US troops and personnel from Iraq.

"Staying the course" is a recipe for more unnecessary bloodshed!

[dbt]

23. "Unwinnable" is a good word, but

Walter Cronkite is the person who needs to say it to us all-- on the evening news.

:evilgrin:
dbt

[maddezmom]

25. Murtha Statement on Iraq War Draws Fire

We cannot prevail in this war as it is going today," Murtha said Thursday at a news conference with House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi. Murtha said the incidents of prison abuse in Iraq were a symptom of a problem where U.S. troops in Iraq are undermanned, inadequately equipped and poorly trained.


"We either have to mobilize or we have to get out," Murtha said, adding that he supported increasing U.S. troop strength rather than pulling out.


Republicans responded at their own news conference, with Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, saying that "this morning, in a calculated and craven political stunt, the national Democratic Party declared its surrender in the war on terror."


He said Democrats "want to win the White House more than they want to win the war, and our enemies know it."


Democrats, said Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, "basically are giving aid and comfort to the enemy."

~snip~
more: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=512&ncid=703&e=8&u=/ap/20040506/ap_on_go_co/congress_iraq