Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) is the kind of Dem that Republicans usually don’t mind too much. He’s a tough moderate, a decorated Vietnam veteran, and he represents a district full of working-class Reagan Democrats. Murtha has a very centrist voting record with one constant: he always backs the military.<\/p>\n
As one of the biggest hawks in the House Dem Caucus, Murtha has never opposed a Pentagon budget. He was also one of the strongest Dem supporters of the war in Iraq in the House. Murtha, in other words, is the quintessential pro-Defense Democrat.<\/p>\n
Which is why I was so disgusted to see the House GOP turn their rhetorical guns on him<\/a> yesterday because he had the nerve to criticize the way in which the war is being fought.<\/p>\n “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….[He added that] the problems in Iraq are due to a “lack of planning” by Pentagon chiefs and “the direction has got be changed or it is unwinnable.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Keep in mind, Murtha wasn’t advocating a cut-and-run strategy. He expressed support for increasing U.S. troop strength and sending the troops already in Iraq more equipment. He even said that he wasn’t calling for Rumsfeld’s resignation.<\/p>\n To the GOP attack squad tell it<\/a>, Murtha had just pledged allegiance to Saddam Hussein. Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas, the majority leader, accused Murtha of participating in a “calculated and craven political stunt.”<\/p>\n “The Democrats are quitting, calling the war unwinnable while we have our men and women and their families sacrificing every day” charged Rep. Sam Johnson, R-Texas, who was a prisoner of war in Vietnam.<\/p>\n Democrats are “basically giving aid and comfort to the enemy,” echoed Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n This is growing pretty tiresome.<\/p>\n The first time Republicans attack the patriotism of a decorated Dem war hero, it’s troubling. The second time, it’s offensive. The third time, disgusting. But now that it seems to be a daily exercise for these fools, one wonders if it will ever stop.<\/p>\n Murtha’s crime? Stating the obvious — the existing strategy for the war in insufficient — and recommending stronger support — more troops with more resources.<\/p>\n At yesterday’s event, Murtha, a former Marine, didn’t exactly sound like a pacifist. While Republicans said his comments undermined the troops, Murtha reminded<\/a> everyone that the troops already know the truth.<\/p>\n You think the troops don’t know about these shortages? You think the troops don’t have — I went over there. This General was telling me how good the morale was. I said, you don’t need to tell me, General, how good morale is. I’ve been around too long. I’ll talk with troops to find out how the morale is. <\/p>\n You saw the Stars and Stripes report. That was before it got hot. Now it’s starting to get hot again. They don’t need to tell me about checking with troops. I know what affects them. They want to be taken care of, and they’re not being taken care of. That’s what I want to get done. I want to change the course of this thing.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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