I have taking some heat because I think John Murtha is right. Get out of Iraq as soon as we can. The locals don't want us there and I can't blame them. How would you feel if foreign troops marched up and down of Main Street USA.
Declare victory! Saddam is gone, there is no WMD and if they want a democracy let them build it. But the usual nonsense has got in the way. Instead of answering the criticism the response has been to attack the messenger. Maybe Murtha doesn't have the solution, I doubt if anyone does.
When this man is called a traitor by some jerk who avoided Vietnam because he had a cyst on his fat ass it makes my blood boil.
Some say Murtha is misguided, but everything I have read about the man suggest he knows more about what is going on in the military than any other member of the legislature.
From T-Blog:
Congressman Murtha is so well-respected for his first-hand knowledge of military and defense issues that he has been a trusted adviser to presidents of both parties on military and defense issues and is one of the most effective advocates for the national defense in the country.
Known as a friend and champion of officers at the Pentagon and in the war zone, it is widely believed in Congress that Murtha often speaks for those in uniform and could be echoing what U.S. commanders in the field and in the Pentagon are saying privately about the conflict.
Several times a year, Murtha travels to Iraq to assess the war on the ground and he often visits wounded troops in hospitals at home. And he sometimes just calls up generals to get firsthand accounts.
There is much more about John Murtha I can tell you but if you are paying attention you already know. When a tough old bird like Murtha tells you are in a hopeless situation maybe you should pay attention.
I tend to trust those with experience more than I trust those who have cute, catchy phrases. Experience counts for something in our world.
ReplyDeleteI like the colts analogy. Can't exactly hide 120k plus troops in a U-Haul.
ReplyDeleteThe 10-15 years is a good point too. Think of our own Democracy at our foundation. Time between Declaration of Independance and the signing of the Constitution: 1776-1787. Hm. More than 10 years. Don't forget that the war with England started prior to 1776 and the "No Taxation without Representation" rhetoric goes back into the 1760's and further. My point is that Democracy goes through growth pains and it's unreasonable to think this will take 5 years. The problem is that nobody in the administration is willing to admit that this is the case.
Also, who helped us build our Democracy. The French helped fight our war, but when that was over, the soldiers went home and left us to fend for ourselves. Perhaps we should consider that model for success. Babies don't learn to walk unless somebody lets them go first.
And I'm pulling for Clark in 08. Clark/Warner.