Murtha Has Spoken
PA Rep. John Murtha's press conference 11/17 calling for troop withdrawal is getting props from unusual sources. Murtha is the ranking Dem on the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee and represents a veteran-heavy district in the heart of Western PA's Steel Country (think The Deer Hunter for a mental profile of his district). He's a culturally conservative Dem with a hawkish record on foreign policy, supporting the Iraq war in '02 and the first Persian Gulf War. [JOSH KRAUSHAAR]
In the past year, he's done a u-turn on the war and given cover for more centrist Dems to express their own doubts. His rhetoric today was sharp and highly critical of President Bush: "It is time for a change in direction. Our military is suffering, the future of our country is at risk. We cannot continue on the present course. It is evident that continued military action in Iraq is not in the best interests of the United States of America, the Iraqi people or
the Persian Gulf region... The war in Iraq is not going as advertised. It is a flawed policy wrapped in illusion"
We'll wait to see how/if the WH answers, but National Review Online's Rod Dreher already posted a surprising response: "If tough, non-effete guys like Murtha are willing to go this far, and can make the case in ways that Red America can relate to... then the president is in big trouble. I'm sure there's going to be an anti-Murtha pile-on in the conservative blogosphere, but from
where I sit, conservatives would be fools not to take this man seriously."
He's right, it's time. Let the Iraqi's know that we'll provide logistical support but it's time for them to stand up for their own country.