If the stakes weren't so high, the efforts of Democrats to use combat veterans to push a defeatist foreign policy might be amusing. In 2004, the vehicle was John Kerry. Somehow, the Dems convinced themselves that his service in Vietnam would insulate him and the party from effective criticism on defense and security issues. Apparently they forgot that, upon returning from Vietnam, Kerry had viciously slandered the military. The Dems also overlooked several decades worth of Kerry's unstinting opposition to the exercise of American power. Indeed, except for his cynical vote in favor of giving the president authority to take on Saddam Hussein, Kerry's last act in favor of the projection of American power might well have been when he shot that Vietcong guy in the back in, what, 1969.
After the Kerry debacle, the Dems turned to Rep. John Murtha, whose credentials as a combat veteran and involvement in military affairs as a congressman were expected to make him an unassailable spokesman for Democratic positions. And, given the growing unpopularity of the Iraq war, the ethically-challenged Murtha had a fairly good run.
That run now may be over. As the Washington Post reports, Murtha's plan to "slow bleed" the U.S. out of Iraq has stumbled badly, and caused his party more than a little embarrassment. But as much as many Democrats try to distance themselves from Murtha, his oh-so-clever plan has "Democrat" written all over it. Instead of simply stating the Democratic position through a resolution, or straightforwardly imposing the Democratic position by cutting off funds, Murtha hoped to author a U.S. defeat by bleeding the war of troops and funds through the imposition of conditions on the conduct of the war -- conditions he assumed cannot be met. For many Democrats, Murtha's sin resides less in the cynical plan itself than in what the Post calls its launch, which included Murtha's candid (and, he thought, off-the-record) statement about what he really was up to.
There's not much point in having a combat veteran in charge of pushing for America's defeat if he's going to ending exposing himself as a sneakier than average pol. Especially, when those pesky America voters remain so perversely unenthusiastic about defeat.
Reader Comments ( Page 5 of 6)
61. Where did Murtha call anything a "slow bleed". Republicans did. The article you linked to said this...
Murtha plans to stop the Iraq War by placing four conditions on combat funds through Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year. The Pentagon would have to certify that troops being sent to Iraq are "fully combat ready" with training and equipment, troops must have at least one year at home between combat deployments, combat deployments cannot be longer than a year, and extending tours of duty would be prohibited.
Now, I realize Rumsfeld said he had to go with the military he got, not the military he wanted. Perhaps training, body armor, rest and doing away with stop-loss will give us the military we need.
A CIC who cared about his troops would support them. Unfortunately, we have a White House full of chickenhawks who are sending our youth to their deaths in a war for their personal profit.
Iraq is a war crime.
Rob at 12:57PM on Feb 27th 2007
62. Moron!
So now, if someone serves their country,including being wounded and receiving the purple heart, with great valor, and they then denounce the administration that is sending thousands off to die in an illegal and senseless war, they become chicken feathers without one gut! Could you be more shallow, you little twit? I bet YOU nebver served a day in your life, you right wing, heartless little creep.
Undoubtably, you are also for sending as many 20 year old kids to die as possible in this stupid, pointless mess in Iraq that another brain dead President has dreamed up because he thought it was good for his image. Same old story ... conservatives never require a heart transplant ... you can't replace what you never had to begin with.
David Hale at 1:14PM on Feb 27th 2007
63. Murtha is an embarrassment to himself and his country. He is also totally wrong.
David Bergsma at 1:43PM on Feb 27th 2007
64. Our present Republican President
George the second avoided the draft during the Vietnam war and all this garbage I've been reading this morning is really stupid. Portraying Republicans as the wisest, most patriotic party is a travesty.
Ruth Farabaugh at 2:14PM on Feb 27th 2007
65. Reading Scott Manley`s epistol is torture in itself.
Jim Jardine at 2:42PM on Feb 27th 2007
66. A little know fact from the Presidency during the American Civil War, was that the North had many traitorous politicians,who wanted to capiculate to the South,... an end to the war at any price, which eventually led a historically well respected President to put these politicians in Jail by the 100's. I think the time has come for the US ATTY General to review that piece of history and see if it applys to some of our current politicians, some are no longer borderline traitors, they have stepped over to the dark side....are you listening Pelosi? Murtha? Kennedy? Boxer?
david at 11:52AM on Feb 28th 2007
67. One of the aforementioned articles said we should not leave Iraq until we win. Would someone explain just what a win would be. None of the 19 terrorists flying the planes is from Iraq. We went into Iraq as a form of revenge. After we found no WMD's and captured Hussane we should have gotten out. We are doing nothing more than providing target practice for the terrorists. Our presence is providing them a reason to continue killing US personnel and themselves which will go on indefinitely.
Iraq has made our president a dictater who refuses to listen to reason. Lets admit we made a terrible mistake and get out before it is too late.
TED at 5:30PM on Feb 27th 2007
68. Service in the military even under the most honorable conditions do not always identify a hero as is evidenced by the actions of Murtha and Kerry. Their overt actions and attempts to put politics over country continue to provide aid and comfort to the terrorist enemies America is fighting both in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the globe. These men are an insult to the young men and women of our military putting therselves in harms way on a daily basis. Murtha, Kerry and the rest of the Democrats and Republicans alike who want to cut and run, throw in the towel and wimper like a kicked dog need to be recognized for what they really are, traitors to their country.
Patrick Rodgers at 5:32PM on Feb 27th 2007
69. Obviously the writer of this blog is Republican and knows nothing about serving his country or about being patriotic. The truth is that John Kerry and John Murtha served our country honorably, in spite of the fact that the swiftboaters, the people at Fox, and bloggers like Paul Mirengoff make up derrogatory lies about true heroes. John Kerry and John Murtha both care about the fact that AMERICANS HAVE NO MORE LIVES TO SPARE FOR THE IRAQIS. MANY REPBLICANS, HOWEVER, ARE AFRAID TO PROTECT OUR SOLDIERS, CHOOSING INSTEAD TO PROTECT THE WISHES OF GEORGE BUSH, NO MATTER WHO DIES.
Diana Denisac at 6:45PM on Feb 27th 2007
70. Why is it that those who know the least, write the most?
Bill Register at 6:41PM on Feb 27th 2007
71. In an attempt to control about two thirds of the worlds oil we lied our way into a war with Iraq. In doing so we have created a training ground for terrorists. Heck, Sadam was our man in that part of the world. As a veteran and the father of a son who flies for the Navy --I am concerned deeply about the direction in which this decision by the current adminstration has taken Our Nation. Now we are refereeing a civil war Enough said!
Pete Hunter at 6:35AM on Feb 28th 2007
72. Patrick Rogers writes: "Murtha, Kerry and the rest of the Democrats and Republicans alike who want to cut and run, throw in the towel and wimper like a kicked dog need to be recognized for what they really are, traitors to their country."
I could not disagree more, but thank you for our conclusion. The only other group of people I know of who reached the same conclusion and wrote it into law were the Nazis in WW II. It was called "defeatism" and was punishable by hanging. In other words, any German who happened to wonder why their city was now a pile of rubble or why the Allies were approaching Berlin would be killed if she or he stated Germany was losing a war and going in the wrong direction.
I certainly hope Congress doesn't pass a law that codifies your and the Nazis' conclusion - because we would then have to kill off almost 70% of Americans. Wouldn't that be treason?
Phil at 8:27PM on Feb 27th 2007
73. To: Scott Manley
Posting a link to your favorite pseudo-science transcript would be preferable than running on and on an on.
Or, you could just summarize and not waste our time:
" BLAH BLAH BLAH ... BLAH BLAH "
Harold Bosnia at 9:09PM on Feb 27th 2007
74. Democrats,Republicans or Independents the situation in Iraq remains the same old situation. The terms victory or defeat should be removed for a war that will last another 10 to 25 years.
Congress, the Presidential administration,Americans and the rest of the world should stop whining and support the next generation of soldiers to the middle east region.
Dean Krause at 11:34PM on Feb 27th 2007
75. This war must end. I find it funny that this administration was not providing bulletproof jackets to our troops, their family were sending them. But God forbid cut off the funding of the war. It appears to me that the Republicans do not care about the troops. Wake up fellow Vets...... The Republicans do not care about us.
Air Force Veteran at 12:33AM on Feb 28th 2007