Special to BRAD BLOG by BTC News White House Correspondent Eric Brewer
Hundreds of people who came out on a cold January evening to hear Congressman and Marine Corps veteran Jack Murtha speak on the war in Iraq were turned away last night from an overflowing town hall meeting in Arlington, Virginia, that was organized by my congressman, Jim Moran, who supports Murtha’s position that it’s time to pull the plug on Bush’s excellent adventure. But among the 600 or so who did get in were several Iraq War veterans, all of whom criticized the war. One young man, who had served a year in Iraq as a sniper, finished up his statement with the following question:
That got applause from the crowd, although little in the way of an answer from the two congressmen. C-SPAN has video of all two-and-a-half hours of it here.
Murtha defended himself from recent criticism he’s received, from Joint Chiefs chairman Peter Pace, among others, over a statement Murtha made in an ABC interview this week that he would not enlist in the military if he had to make the choice today. Last night Murtha said:
I asked Murtha and Moran whether we are currently engaged in building permanent military bases in Iraq. Murtha said, “No,” while Moran expanded a bit, saying that the fact that we’ve constructed the largest embassy in the world there has led some people to “conclude that we’re there for a long-term occupation, but Jack has been very clear in his leadership that we should not be establishing permanent military bases in Iraq.”
{ed note: Comment deleted. Completely off topic and moreover, pure disinformation.}
f) uck the truth
What have we learned in this thread so far?
1. Follow the leader
2. Republicans won’t hold anyone accountable for shit. Except baseball players.
3. Bill Clinton is responsible for misleading America in the run up to the Iraq war.
4. Impeachable offenses are distractions from the real issues facing us: permanent tax cuts for the wealthy.
5. The Clintons are habitual recounters.
off-topic: Jack Murtha is swell. Pit him against any neocon in a televised debate and people might come to their senses.
wonders where the hell "Rita" figures that everyone here belongs to the Democrat party.
And to give credit where credit is due:
Do you know who that "young man" is who spoke up so well, after his year of service in Iraq?
He’s one of the two American soldiers featured in the Italian RAI-TV documentary about White Phosphorus…
Here’s the link to the blog he and two friends set up:
http://ftssoldier.blogspot.com/
P.S. From the answer to your question, Eric, it sounds like we might have Jack Murtha to thank for the lack of money for permanent military bases, and thus the presumed absence of said bases in Iraq…
Now do something about Iraq and get everyone out of there, Murtha….then I’ll be fully interested. Good speech.
Doug
Not too bright to be an apologist for this administration. But, as I’ve often said, if everyone had their eyes open, there wouldn’t be so many rich televangelists. Or rich Limbaughs.
P.S.- Not that it matters to anyone with half-a-brain, but I’m not a democrat. I supported John McCain in 2000, and this administration’s campaign hitmen played very dirty pool with him, and got far worse after that.
I wonder how much bigger a venue he would have filled. I know I’d drive for hours to be in the same room with him. When he spoke up, I thought I was going to faint from relief.
Eric, you say "I asked Murtha and Moran whether we are currently engaged in building permanent military bases in Iraq. Murtha said, ‘No,’ while Moran expanded a bit, saying that the fact that we’ve constructed the largest embassy in the world there has led some people to ‘conclude that we’re there for a long-term occupation, but Jack has been very clear in his leadership that we should not be establishing permanent military bases in Iraq." (emphasis mine)
While I am somewhat hesitant to think he will mislead, I am not certain that he has not been lied to in this matter.
The basic reason is that this administration or regime, as some like to say, has not informed congress of everything that is going on. And publicly displays contempt for congress (link here).
Furthermore, so much money has been "lost" (link here) and the Pentagon can’t account accurately for trillions (link here), that it is not gospel anytime the military industrial complex speaks.
So, I am waiting and doing more research to find out the "secret national security based classified" (as Snottie would say) information about this matter.
Looks like Independents ( as many of us here at BB are) will be deciding the election in 06. I used to be a swing vote. I voted for whoever I thought would do the best job. Neither party is doing a great job now. In 06 I plan to vote 100% Democrat, just to restore some balance to the country. From the looks of things, I may not be alone. Here are some snips from the following article.
Poll: Public Uneasy With GOP Leadership
By WILL LESTER, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON – Dissatisfied with the nation’s direction, Americans are leaning toward wanting a change in which political party leads Congress _ preferring that Democrats take control, an AP-Ipsos poll found. Democrats are favored over Republicans 49 percent to 36 percent.
President Bush’s job approval remains low _ 40 percent in the AP-Ipsos poll, with only one-third saying the country is headed in the right direction. Bush also remains low on his handling of Iraq, where violence against Iraqis and U.S. troops has been surging.
"I just don’t like the direction our country is going in," said Steve Brown, a political independent from Olympia, Wash. "I think a balance of power would be beneficial right now."
Republicans are watching the situation unfold with some nervousness.
"Neither one of the parties has done a very good job so far," said Cristal Mills, a political independent from Los Angeles. "They get away with murder, they get paid to pass certain things. It’s the good ol’ boy syndrome."
In the Senate, 33 seats will be on the ballot in November, 17 of them currently in Democratic hands, 15 controlled by Republicans, and one held by Sen. James Jeffords, a Vermont independent. Democrats now have 44 Senate seats, and need to pick up seven to gain a majority, six if Vermont independent Bernie Sanders replaces Jeffords.
All 435 House seats are on the ballot this fall, and Democrats need to gain at least 15 to become the majority party and take control of the House.
Some say they want new leadership in Congress because of strong dissatisfaction with current policies.
"I get the strange feeling that we’re being sold down the river," said Paul Oulton, an independent from San Ramon, Calif. "We may be in line for some very severe financial problems.
"Give me somebody conservative with common sense. There’s too much left and too much right. Give me somebody in the middle of the road."
Jo #13
The scenario your post portrays is going to be supercharged by the Abramoff follow thru.
Right now, as we speak, the greatest arm twisting in history is going on behind closed doors.
The neoCons are in a last ditch, desperate, and criminal mode to stave off the coming disaster.
They are trying to convince the Abramoff prosecutor, who has close DeLay ties, Feeney ties, Frist ties, Cheney ties, and Bush ties, to lean on democrats and let up on the republicans … to save themselves from big time disaster.
The lobbyist army, the Rove army, and the RNC army is out in full force trying to keep the dam from breaking.
If only they had put this much effort into the dams around the American City New Orleans.
Perhaps we can name the disaster they are working to avoid Katrina Two … the day the levees broke and neoCon city got flooded … with the winds and waters of American Justice … the first hurricane of ’06 …
The biggest clue was "Hammer … you are doing a heck of a job" …
Its a good thing for this country that people dont actually believe your BS.
Meduim Right #15
It is not that way in this country, the USA. Here we know Murtha has seen the light and the dark.
We are with him on the road out of the dark and into the light.
What fascist country do you happen to be in?
Medium Wrong
Actually they all agree with us, the independents. That this country is fucked until a full house-cleaning from both sides.
Who they don’t agree with is you, and they think you’re an idiot along with the right. They also don’t agree with 90% of the DLC democrats, the stooges like Barak Obama, and want a mighty change in leadership. That’s what they’re going to get.
Nobody who doesn’t want Bush & Cheney gone will survive in Congress. Nobody.
Doug
Thank you for sparing me Comment #1. Those kinds of comments make the already insufferable offenses to our foundations so much harder to bear. We need our vitality, energy and spirit more than ever now, and getting to watch and hear Congressman Murtha has bolstered me some. Beside the overwhelming constructiveness of that Town Hall Meeting, there were three or four belligerent citizens who came to the mic to vent. When the truth is so egregious, it is difficult to understand these people’s hostility toward such attempts to shape reasonable, rational, truly American policy and make plans for better approaches to dealing with the antipathy for our nation in the world. I’m so grateful to have had the chance to see that video.
excuse #2 needed #1
I keep hoping right wingers and left wingers will realize that they might have more in common with each other than they have with the big money stooges (as they appear to me) in Washington.
Jo:
"Public Uneasy With GOP Leadership"
There’s an understatement for ya.
I wouldn’t wish for an impeachment if there’s still a Republican controlled Senate. But, if Dems can take both houses of the Congress in the ’06 elections, then impeachment and conviction should be a snap.
Good Point, Epppie. The polarization this administration works so hard to maintain is essential for the Corporatists to gain, and hold, their power.
It is, simply, the old "divide and conquer" principle. It works, if people refuse to open their eyes to what is right there for them to see.
This administration isn’t really conservative. The powers behind them would have channeled their influence through the Democratic Party, if it had better suited their agenda. Controlling the money is what they’re about.
Did any of you really think that petrol prices wouldn’t soar, and Halliburton’s stock wouldn’t rise substantially, with this administration in power? It’s been clear, from day one – that is what defines this administration – Corporatism.
Recommended viewing:
Sy Hersch speaking at Princeton, 11-30-05
http://www.princeton.edu/WebMedia/lectures/
Thank you, bvac.
Extra Armor Could Have Saved Many Lives, Study Shows
By Michael Moss
The New York Times
Friday 06 January 2006
"A secret Pentagon study has found that at least 80 percent of the marines who have been killed in Iraq from wounds to their upper body could have survived if they had extra body armor. That armor has been available since 2003 but until recently the Pentagon has largely declined to supply it to troops despite calls from the field for additional protection, according to military officials…."
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/010706C.shtml
"….The Times obtained the 3-page Pentagon report after a military advocacy group, Soldiers for the Truth, learned of its existence. The group posted an article about the report on its website earlier this week. The Times delayed publication of this article for more than a week until the Pentagon confirmed the veracity of its report. Pentagon officials declined to discuss details of the wound data, saying it would aid the enemy…."
You know, if anybody just kinda skimmed over that (#24), just please read that first paragraph again.
Just please read it again. 80%. Pentagon study.
Available since 2003. Declined to supply.
Thank you, Soldiers for the Truth.
Joan #25
That is shocking.
Perhaps they wanted to spend money where they think it will do more good … against "terrorists" … Americans like the Quakers and Catholics watched by the NSA …
Perhaps Rummy really means it when he says you go to war with the army you have. What … and don’t bother to improve or improvise?
One main problem is that after the military accomplished the military victory a couple of years ago, by invading and defeating Sadaam’s army, the real conflict began.
I mean the struggle to win the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people. That is not something that can be done by the military. No, the civilian leadership at the State department must be blamed for failing that matter.
And, like the military, they were given nothing. I mean the neoCons never stop to think that they believe in trigger happiness.
The happiness that triggers bring is illusory. It is the taking the horse to water but not being able to make it drink syndrome.
The neoCons have trigger happiness but not real happiness, so they never considered the matter as a civilian issue.
Tragedy and catastrophic "success" are the obvious fruits of neoCon trigger happiness.
Bob Bilse 🙂
I think any real republican has a brain and is not supporting the fascist regime that has stolen our government.
I would not even insult real, honest and good hearted republicans. I call the current corrupt, crimina party who is in charge fascists.
I have friends that are horrified at the crime family that has taken over their party.
If we are to save America, we need to start calling those people who have stolen the name Republican what they really are.
And all good people stand together. No "party" that preaches and instills hate/division is pro America or the American people. Its ugly and NOT what our country is about NOR the UNITED states.
A Blog from my friend, who says he is Republican but puts his country before "party".
My Friend – The Constitutional Republican
Reference to Poster #1
Off Topic ??? Now I know why your bunch would accuse me of using "other names". Answering a highlighted quotation is "off topic"? I think more aptly you meant "OFF free speech". Geez, how delicate is your editor over here? Group think or your outta bradblog. What a hemisphere.
Rita your comments were designed for disinformation and to lead everybody off on a wild goose chase.
As you can see those are the only comments deleted.
Jpentz Well the senators themselves, at least the biggest ones seem tired of it. I think we’re going to get a real neocon house-cleaning of everybody…
Feingold (And Brownback) discuss accountability and impeachment"
Doug E
jpentz (#27), we’re in agreement. Nearly my whole family is traditionally Republican, and there is not a Bush administration supporter amongst us (the few that voted for him in 2000, voted against him in 2004). My best friend, a 67-year-old lifelong Republican, voted against Bush in both elections, and lambasts anyone who supports him.
This White House is CORPORATIST.
The original Rothschild banker, Mayer Amschel Rothschild (as far back as the 18th century) gave us the driving principle for the corporations that propped this nincompoop up as a presidential candidate:
"Give me control of a nation’s money and I care not who makes her laws".
(#28), didn’t get to see your post. If it was not off-topic, I would imagine you’d have a right to quote disiformation. People do it all the time. That’s where they get many of their arguing points.
Guess I, for one, will never know, since I didn’t get to see it.