John Murtha in State of Denial, by Bob Woodward

On War & Peace: Re-deploy from Iraq at the earliest practicable date

Congressman Jack Murtha, a Pennsylvania Democrat, introduced a resolution in Congress calling for American troops in Iraq to be “redeployed” -- the military term for returning troops overseas to their home bases -- “at the earliest practicable date.”

Murtha, a former Marine and the first Vietnam veteran elected to Congress, had voted for the October 2002 resolution authorizing the president to use military force in Iraq.

“The war in Iraq is not going as advertised,” Murtha said. “It is a flawed policy wrapped in illusion.“ The military was suffering, he said on the House floor. Choking back tears, he added, ”Our military has done everything that has been asked of them. It is time to bring them home.“

Speaker Dennis Hastert asserted that Murtha and other Democrats had ”adopted a policy of cut and run. They would prefer that the US surrender to the terrorists.“ A Republican resolution cynically twisted Murtha’s proposal b calling for an immediate troop pullout. It was defeated, 403-3.

Source: State of Denial, by Bob Woodward, p.423-3 Oct 1, 2006

The above quotations are from State of Denial: Bush at War, Part III, by Bob Woodward. Click here for other excerpts from State of Denial: Bush at War, Part III, by Bob Woodward. Click here for other excerpts by John Murtha. Click here for a profile of John Murtha.
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