Murtha isn't calling for immediate pullout from Iraq.

[Lex]

He just said so. Immediate pullout is ridiculous, he says.

But he is calling for us to pullout in a planned, timely way.

Listening to him on Chris Matthews' show.

[Charlie Brown]

1. Dammit. He folded. n/t

[Dawgs]

2. How did he fold?

:shrug:

[Lex]

6. He *didn't* -- Murtha said he wants out in a planned way. n/t

[Charlie Brown]

9. he changed his position to supporting a timetable

before, he had supported a prompt withdrawal.

The Republicans threw a bluff, and Murtha did not think he had a winning deck, so he folded.

Dissapointing.

[Lex]

11. He *is* calling for a prompt withdrawal.

But in a planned way.

[Lex]

3. Here's his resolution.

Murtha's resolution:

Whereas Congress and the American People have not been shown clear, measurable progress toward establishment of stable and improving security in Iraq or of a stable and improving economy in Iraq, both of which are essential to "promote the emergence of a democratic government";

Whereas additional stabilization in Iraq by U, S. military forces cannot be achieved without the deployment of hundreds of thousands of additional U S. troops, which in turn cannot be achieved without a military draft;

Whereas more than $277 billion has been appropriated by the United States Congress to prosecute U.S. military action in Iraq and Afghanistan;

Whereas, as of the drafting of this resolution, 2,079 U.S. troops have been killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom;

Whereas U.S. forces have become the target of the insurgency,

Whereas, according to recent polls, over 80% of the Iraqi people want U.S. forces out of Iraq;

Whereas polls also indicate that 45% of the Iraqi people feel that the attacks on U.S. forces are justified;

Whereas, due to the foregoing, Congress finds it evident that continuing U.S. military action in Iraq is not in the best interests of the United States of America, the people of Iraq, or the Persian Gulf Region, which were cited in Public Law 107-243 as justification for undertaking such action;

Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That:

Section 1. The deployment of United States forces in Iraq, by direction of Congress, is hereby terminated and the forces involved are to be redeployed at the earliest practicable date.

Section 2. A quick-reaction U.S. force and an over-the-horizon presence of U.S Marines shall be deployed in the region.

Section 3 The United States of America shall pursue security and stability in Iraq through diplomacy.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/11/18/163220/03

[kpete]

13. BUT, here's the GOP resolution

Notice the difference?

The GOP version:

RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that
the deployment of United States forces in Iraq be terminated immediately.

Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the deployment of United States forces
in Iraq be terminated immediately.

http://www.dailykos.com /

[Lex]

19. Murtha says that the Repubs are mischaracterizing what he said.

And the GOP resolution is ridiculous.

[maximovich]

7. What the Hell are ya Talkin About?

[NYC Liberal]

10. This was his plan the whole time.

Don't listen to Repuke spin.

[Lex]

14. EXACTLY. That's what Murtha just said in fact!

[NYC Liberal]

20. I'm worried that Dems are apparently buying that this new resolution

is Murtha's. I've seen others here and on other sites express this feeling.

[pocket]

21. Jesus fucking christ !!!! No!!

that motherfucker.

[leftstreet]

4. He wants to REDEPLOY! It's not about cut and run.

Murtha's statements - bold emphasis mine

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/middle_east/july-dec05/withdrawal_11-17.html

"I hope this is a watershed. I hope a lot of people think about what I've said and we can begin to withdraw our troops immediately from that area and put them on the horizon, or over the horizon, so if they have to they can go back in."

"This is an idea of how we can save lives, of how we can be on the periphery of Iraq and send troops back in, in case there is an increase in terrorism that we need to go back in."

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,17287351%255E663,00.html

"to immediately redeploy US troops consistent with the safety of US forces".

"With a US troop redeployment, the Iraqi security forces will be incentified to take control,"

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. He didn't fold. Listen to the interview with Nora O'Donnell.

He said exactly the same thing -- not a withdrawal, a redeployment.

[Lex]

8. I didn't say he folded. nt

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

16. Sorry. The response was intended for another post. My bad.

[Charlie Brown]

12. "Redeployment" is not what got him all the media attention yesterday

If Murtha is going to support an immediate pullout, he should stick to that position, and not modify or alter it under pressure from Republicans.

[Lex]

17. Murtha said the Repubs are mis-characterizing what he said yesterday.

[pocket]

22. "redeployment" is like "advancing towards the rear"

It means get the hell out of dodge, which we should do RIGHT NOW.

[Lex]

23. I agree. nt

[fooj]

15. I've been trying to post about this very issue all day!

He said CLEARLY...REDEPLOYMENT!!!

Peace.

[AuntPatsy]

18. Look how long it took? Amazing and on a dem board too...