Murtha: military situation improved "substantially"!!!!

oldreliable67 · 11-30-07, 10:03 AM

According to this report, John Murtha, who was quite critical of the surge and everything associated with Iraq, has now said:

Quote:

Murtha, who returned Nov. 27 from a trip to Iraq, said the military situation there has improved ``substantially'' with the deployment of more troops, yet the Iraqi government has failed to capitalize on the reduced violence in Baghdad.

``The central government is pretty close to dysfunctional,'' Murtha said. ``They need to do something for heaven's sake, and that has not happened.''

For once, I find myself in complete agreement with Murtha. However, Murtha's comments, which also included "the surge is working," could cause problems with other Dems. According to Politico,

Quote:

This could be a huge problem for Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and other Democratic leaders, who are blocking approval of the full $200 billion being sought by President Bush for combat operations in Iraq in 2008.

Murtha's latest comments are also a stark reversal from what he said earlier in the year. The Pennsylvania Democrat, who chairs the powerful Defense subcommittee on the House Appropriations Committee, has previously stated that the surge "is not working" and the United States faced a military disaster in Iraq.

Murtha told CNN on July 12, following a Bush speech, that the president's views on the success of surge in Iraq were "delusional."

"Well it's delusional to say the least," Murtha told CNN's Wolf Blitzer. "As I said earlier, and you heard me say it, it's a failed policy wrapped in illusion. Nothing's gotten better. Incidents have increased. We have had more Americans killed in the last four months than any other period during the war."
...
Back on June 3, during an appearance on ABC's "This Week," Murtha bashed the White House for "making excuses" on Iraq.

"They [the White House] keep saying the news media is being negative," Murtha said. "They keep making excuses for the lack of progress. I've been hearing this month after month and I'm absolutely convinced right now the surge isn't working and I'm convinced that if they don't pay attention to what I'm saying and a lot of other members of Congress are saying they're going to have a disaster on their hands because the American public want the troops out of Iraq."
...
And here's Murtha from an interview on CBS' "Face the Nation" on April 29: "The progress that they talk about is not there. Any of the economic things that I've seen doesn't show any progress. We've had 330 people killed since the surge began. More people killed in the last four months that were killed at any other time during the war. Fifty-three percent increase in American deaths. And this White House keeps saying we're making progress."
...
But Pelosi, who is scheduled to speak to a Democratic National Committee event in Virginia on Friday, will surely face tough questions from reporters regarding Murtha's statement on the surge.

"This could be a real headache for us," said one top House Democratic aide, speaking on the condition of anonymity. "Pelosi is going to be furious."

To be fair, Murtha's comments on the lack of progress from the Iraqi government seem quite correct and are echoed by vocal war supporters like Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.), who, according to the Politico article, "is just back from a trip from Iraq himself, has complained about that situation as well, and Graham warned this week that unless there is tangible political progress within Iraq within the next two months, the United States may be forced to withdraw its support for Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki."

WI Crippler · 11-30-07, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldreliable67

To be fair, Murtha's comments on the lack of progress from the Iraqi government seem quite correct and are echoed by vocal war supporters like Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.), who, according to the Politico article, "is just back from a trip from Iraq himself, has complained about that situation as well, and Graham warned this week that unless there is tangible political progress within Iraq within the next two months, the United States may be forced to withdraw its support for Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki."

I too wonder what the reasons are for the Iraqi governments apprehension in taking a stronger role, particularly in Baghdad, now that almost everybody is acknowledging the success of the surge. But unlike others I would like to know the real answer instead of some regurgitated spout from a partisan think tank looking to either support the war or advocate against it.

DarkWizard12 · 11-30-07, 12:04 PM

Here is an answer: surge. If it works do it, and the surge, according to both Graham AND Murtha, works!

BWG · 11-30-07, 06:54 PM