Posted by shyla at 8:24pm Nov 25 '05Murtha says Americans agree with him
DAN LOVERING - AP
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - Rep. John Murtha on Monday defended his call to pull U.S. troops from Iraq, saying he was reflecting Americansâ sentiment in his comments last week.
âÂÂThe public turned against this war before I said it,â said Murtha, a key Democrat on military issues. âÂÂThe public is emotionally tied into finding a solution to this thing, and thatâÂÂs what I hope this administration is going to find out.âÂÂ
Murtha, 73, a decorated Vietnam veteran and the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations defense subcommittee, said he has received support from the public since calling for the troop pullout on Thursday. He spoke at a news conference after a speech to a civic group in his hometown of Johnstown, about 60 miles east of Pittsburgh
He said he has gotten e-mails from World War II veterans and parents of American soldiers in Iraq.
Murtha, first elected to Congress in 1974, said his great-grandfather served in the Civil War, his father and three uncles in World War II, and that he and his brothers were Marines. Murtha said western Pennsylvania, where his district is located, is a âÂÂhotbed of patriotism and theyâÂÂve lost confidence in this effort.âÂÂ
He said Iraqis must take control of their own destiny.
âÂÂWe cannot win this militarily. Our tactics themselves keep us from winning,â Murtha said.
House Republicans on Friday pushed for a vote on a nonbinding resolution to pull out the troops after MurthaâÂÂs comments. It was rejected 403-3, but Democrats said the quick call for the vote was a political stunt designed to undermine MurthaâÂÂs comments.
âÂÂThe guys in Congress are scared to death to say anything because they might be vilified,â Murtha said. âÂÂThe soldiers canâÂÂt speak for themselves. We sent them to war and, by God, weâÂÂre the ones that have to speak out.âÂÂ
DAN LOVERING - AP
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - Rep. John Murtha on Monday defended his call to pull U.S. troops from Iraq, saying he was reflecting Americansâ sentiment in his comments last week.
âÂÂThe public turned against this war before I said it,â said Murtha, a key Democrat on military issues. âÂÂThe public is emotionally tied into finding a solution to this thing, and thatâÂÂs what I hope this administration is going to find out.âÂÂ
Murtha, 73, a decorated Vietnam veteran and the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations defense subcommittee, said he has received support from the public since calling for the troop pullout on Thursday. He spoke at a news conference after a speech to a civic group in his hometown of Johnstown, about 60 miles east of Pittsburgh
He said he has gotten e-mails from World War II veterans and parents of American soldiers in Iraq.
Murtha, first elected to Congress in 1974, said his great-grandfather served in the Civil War, his father and three uncles in World War II, and that he and his brothers were Marines. Murtha said western Pennsylvania, where his district is located, is a âÂÂhotbed of patriotism and theyâÂÂve lost confidence in this effort.âÂÂ
He said Iraqis must take control of their own destiny.
âÂÂWe cannot win this militarily. Our tactics themselves keep us from winning,â Murtha said.
House Republicans on Friday pushed for a vote on a nonbinding resolution to pull out the troops after MurthaâÂÂs comments. It was rejected 403-3, but Democrats said the quick call for the vote was a political stunt designed to undermine MurthaâÂÂs comments.
âÂÂThe guys in Congress are scared to death to say anything because they might be vilified,â Murtha said. âÂÂThe soldiers canâÂÂt speak for themselves. We sent them to war and, by God, weâÂÂre the ones that have to speak out.âÂÂ
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