|
Gen. Pace Criticizes Sen. Murtha Remark (Updated & bumped)
(See also: John Murtha: Not the man he used to be.)
Gen. Pace Criticizes Sen. Murtha Remark
Robert Burns, AP Military Writer
A Democratic congressman's remarks about the military are damaging to troop morale and to the Army's efforts to rebound from a recruiting slump, the nation's top general said Thursday.
Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was asked at a Pentagon news conference to comment on remarks by Rep. John Murtha, D- Pa., a Marine Corps veteran who has become a leading voice in Congress advocating an early withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq. Pace was asked specifically about an ABC News interview this week in which Murtha, 73, said if he were eligible to join the military today he would not, nor would he expect others to join.
"That's damaging to recruiting," Pace said. "It's damaging to morale of the troops who are deployed, and it's damaging to the morale of their families who believe in what they are doing to serve this country."
[Read on here.]
General, you just have to understand that hurting morale and recruiting is fine as long as it's done with good intentions like, oh, I don't know, embarrassing the President or costing the Republicans some votes. Ain't that right, Senator? Sure it is.
*** 2006.01.06 Update:
Read Uncle Jimbo's comments here and Greyhawk's here.
Hat tip: Greyhawk, for the link to this:
Murtha Fears a Withdrawal that “Makes It Look Like There’s a Victory”
The antiwar congressman speaks out — again.
Byron York
Representative John Murtha, the Pennsylvania Democrat who has come to national prominence since his call for a quick withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq, said Thursday night that he worries about "a slow withdrawal which makes it look like there's a victory."
Appearing at a town meeting in Arlington, Virginia, with fellow Democratic Rep. James Moran, Murtha said, "A year ago, I said we can't win this militarily, and I got all kinds of criticism." Now, Murtha told the strongly antiwar audience, "I worry about a slow withdrawal which makes it look like there's a victory when I think it should be a redeployment as quickly as possible and let the Iraqis handle the whole thing."
The meeting, which attracted an overflow crowd, was promoted by the Internet activist group MoveOn.org, which said that "Congressman Moran has extended a special invitation to MoveOn members in his district and nearby." It was also promoted on some antiwar websites like afterdowningstreet.org. War supporters organized by the conservative freerepublic.com demonstrated outside.
[Read on here.]
What is it with this joker? Delayed-onset PTSD? Senile Dementia? Did he blow his life savings on a mistress and have to borrow from the Saudis to maintain his lifestyle? It's bad enough to have to put up with people like Kerry, Boxer, et al who were just born stupid, but John Murtha used to be a real man. What happened?
***
Michelle has more here.
|
