Absolutely Remarkable.
“The war in Iraq is not going as advertised. It is a flawed policy wrapped in illusion. The American public is way ahead of us. The United States and coalition troops have done all they can in Iraq, but it is time for a change in direction. Our military is suffering. The future of our country is at risk. We can not continue on the present course. It is evident that continued military action in Iraq is not in the best interest of the United States of America, the Iraqi people or the Persian Gulf Region … Our military has done everything that has been asked of them, the US can not accomplish anything further in Iraq militarily”
“Congressman Murtha is a respected veteran and politician who has a record of supporting a strong America. So it is baffling that he is endorsing the policy positions of Michael Moore and the extreme liberal wing of the Democratic party. The eve of an historic democratic election in Iraq is not the time to surrender to the terrorists. After seeing his statement, we remain baffled — nowhere does he explain how retreating from Iraq makes America safer.”
“The saddest part is that our people in uniform have been subjected to these cynical and pernicious falsehoods day in and day out.”
“I like guys who’ve never been there that criticize us who’ve been there. I like that. I like guys who got five deferments and never been there and send people to war, and then don’t like to hear suggestions about what needs to be done.”
………………..
Just shifting for the quotes, as the Republican leadership tosses up their “bafflement” that John “Hawk” Murtha has “endorsed the policy positions of Michael Moore and the extreme liberal wing”, I notice this bit of comedy from David Horowitz’s web version of his magazine: Rep. John Murtha pushed the national argument on the Iraq War further towards the International ANSWER/MoveOn agenda.
And here’s a prescient remark about the current Bush line of attack: If Bush castigates Democrats for changing their minds on the war, he might wind up alienating Republicans who have done so, too.
There’s something happening here. What it is ain’t exactly clear.
“The President is merely the most important among a large number of public servants. He should be supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or inefficiency in rendering loyal, able, and disinterested service to the Nation as a whole. Therefore it is absolutely necessary that there should be full liberty to tell the truth about his acts, and this means that it is exactly necessary to blame him when he does wrong as to praise him when he does right. Any other attitude in an American citizen is both base and servile. To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about any one else.”