Rep. John Murtha (D-PA), the ranking Democrat on the military subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, and one of the Democrats leading hawks in Congress, today called for the
immediate withdrawal of US forces from Iraq.
"The U.S. cannot accomplish anything further in Iraq militarily. It is time to bring them home," said Rep. John Murtha of Pennsylvania, a senior Democrat on the subcommittee that oversees military spending.
This is a huge development, coming on the heels of the VP's attack speech last night and the White House's efforts to portray anyone questioning the war in Iraq as a cowardly traitor. Murtha is not someone who fits the bill of being a "coward", and his statement today may be his own personal reaction to the efforts of the White House in the last week to paint 55%+ of the American public as traitors.
"We cannot 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," said Murtha, a leading Democratic spokesman on defense issues.
This is not Dennis Kucinich calling for an immediate withdrawal. This is one of the war's strongest supporters, one of the military's strongest supporters, calling for an immediate withdrawal.
Murtha's words, that "the military action in Iraq is not in the best interest of the United States of America, the Iraqi people or the Persian Gulf region" is the sentiment of a majority of Americans. And it sounds responsible, clear-headed, and adult...in stark contrast from the bombast coming from the VP last night.
Murtha's comments will not be easily dismissed by the White House.