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Murtha Bashing Ridiculous
Posted 6-8-2006
I am getting really tired of
the "Murtha bashing" by apologists for Bush's folly, the invasion of Iraq.
The bottom line is this: Jack Murtha has made the focus of his congressional
career supporting our military. He has dedicated himself to seeing they are
properly trained and equipped. He works hard to make sure veterans get
proper care and assistance when they are done serving their country. So when
Jack Murtha says we have a problem in Iraq, people better listen. They
should not bash him or "swift boat" him because they are such flunkies of
Bush they cannot accept the invasion was a grave error.
Because Jack Murtha has the
intestinal fortitude and the credentials to speak out about the war, he got
people's attention when he said our military could no longer resolve the
problems in Iraq. He certainly was not a household name nationally, but was
known within military circles as one of their true supporters on Capitol
Hill. So when Big Jack spoke out, people should have said, "Okay, here is a
true supporter of our armed forces saying the situation in Iraq has reached
a point that it is not helpful to still put our troops in harm's way."
Instead the right-wingers lashed out with nonsense like, "he's a traitor",
"he's giving comfort to the enemy." Tell me, how in the hell do neocons in
this country know what comforts the enemy? If there has been a more stupid
statement made by people who support this invasion, I have not heard it yet.
Jack Murtha has nothing to
gain politically from speaking out. At this stage in his life, he's not
aspiring to higher office. He's served in Congress for over thirty years so
he can retire when he chooses. He doesn't need to knock Bush down any
further because Bush's own antics have lead to his steep tumble in the
polls. If there were Republican members of Congress that cared as much about
our troops as Jack Murtha and had the guts he has, and they weren't afraid
of a political backlash within their own party, they would be speaking out
too.
The latest incident with our
troops possibly killing innocent women and children brought Jack Murtha into
the spotlight again. If anything, the issue highlights Murtha's deep ties
within the military. He spoke out that our troops might have slaughtered
innocent civilians, not too embarrass our troops, but to again focus on the
stressful, no-win situation our troops are in. Yet once again out come the
right-wing mouthpieces attacking a decorated soldier and questioning his
motives. Murtha used the incident to emphasize what he's been saying about
our situation in Iraq and to make it clear we aren't winning the hearts and
minds of Iraqis with bullets.
I've known Congressman Murtha
for many years and have heard him speak many times. He's shown his
compassion for wounded soldiers time and time again in his actions and his
words. The scandal here isn't that Jack Murtha spoke out about keeping our
troops in Iraq. If anything, he's said what many of us have been saying all
along, "if you truly respect our troops and care about their well-being, get
them out of harm's way." They sure as heck aren't defending the USA over
there. The real scandal here is that the right wing attack machine has no
decency and will attack anyone, no matter how credible, that dares to speak
out against their ill-fated misadventures.
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