But Soon

21 November 2005



House Rejects Immediate Withdrawal from Iraq

The House Republicans held a late night debate on Friday in an attempt to embarrass Congressman John Murtha (D-PA) over a statement he made suggesting that the US military can do no more in Iraq. In a grandstand move, they tabled a motion calling for an immediate withdrawal of US forces from Iraq, against which they intended to vote and which they hoped would force Democrats tacitly to accept Mr. Bush’s mis-leadership on the matter. What they accomplished was a debate that missed the popular media (although giving the Sunday talk shows fodder) and gave the Democrats political cover that they had been losing.

The trouble began when Congressman Murtha, who also happens to have been a US Marine for 37 years, wounded in Vietnam and decorated for his service there, said, “Our troops have become the enemy. We need to change direction in Iraq,” adding “It's time to bring the troops home.” This is not far off what the US Senate voted for a few days earlier, calling for a "significant transition to Full Iraqi Sovereignty in 2006." Logistically, a full withdrawal would take about 6 months according to military experts.

Still, the GOP decided to nail him for what they believe is the capital crime of dissent. They suggest that the US troops won’t fight for their country unless every single American backs not only the troops but also the strategy that put them in harm’s way and the tactics that are proving ineffective and bloody. So the debate was held on a resolution Mr. Murtha said was not his, and the vote went 403-3 against quitting Iraq now.

In other words, there are close to 200 Democrats who are now able to stand in front of the cameras and say, “I voted to support the troops,” and after December’s elections in Iraq can say, “I backed the troops in November, and I back them now by saying Iraq has an elected government, we’ve done our job. Bring them home in triumph.” And the White House will be forced to say, “no, not yet, we haven’t finished.” Secretary of Defense Field Marshall Donald von Rumsfeld was on every show he could book on Sunday saying the military will determine the pace of the withdrawal – so much for civilian control of policy. Thus are the short-term victories of the GOP turned to long-term defeats.

In the debate, though, Congresswoman Jean Schmidt (R-OH) went so far as to call Congressman Murtha a coward. She claimed a Marine called her and she claims, “He asked me to send Congress a message -- stay the course. He also asked me to send Congressman Murtha a message -- that cowards cut and run, Marines never do.” She was worse than those who, thirty years ago called the Marines and the others who served (rather than deferred or avoided service) “baby killers,” worse because she did it on the floor of the House. She, who by virtue of her sex is spared combat, was forced to withdraw her remarks, and so they do not appear in the congressional record, but she showed an extreme lack of patriotism. Apparently, she only supports veterans who agree with her. The GOP should dump her before November, because the Democrats will be out for her blood - -and rightly so.

© Copyright 2005 by The Kensington Review, J. Myhre, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent.
Produced using Fedora Linux.

Home

Google
WWW Kensington Review







Amazon Honor System Click Here to Pay Learn More