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 6 of 6)
76. I'm not the only member of my family to serve in the military, but I am the only marine. I'm not very old, but I've learned in my few short years that politics get you nowhere, and actions speak louder than words, but words can and do hurt. To lambast the war and the Bush Administration is like stabbing all my brothers still serving in the back. Washington sounds more like an adult day care nowadays with everyone bickering back and forth pointing fingers.
My high school catcher was killed in Iraq. He wanted to be a teacher, and was trying to get donations to distribute school supplies to the children there. We all knew the consequences when we signed the dotted line, as did he. His family has suffered a great deal in the last year or so with deaths in the family. If they would allow me, I'd pick up his rifle, put on my BDU's, and hand out those school supplies in his honor. So when you talk about cutting supplies, funds, troops, and support you're making it that much harder for my brothers in arms, friends, and family to do their jobs and come home. That way they can be teachers, nurses, mechanics, and little league coaches. You may want to send a message to our president, but the one you're sending is ringing louder in the minds of those trying to get the job done on the ground. Those who aren't sitting in their livingrooms like me, and wondering if the weather is still going to be nice tomorrow. Insted, they are sitting at their posts wondering why you want to pull the funding that helps keep them alive to serve their country and maybe give out few school supplies to what could possibly be a future Nobel Peace Prize Winner, or just another guy like me who loves his family, is a patriot of his country, and is thankful for the generosity he received to get him where he is today. It's guys like my high school catcher that give me hope. Hope that this world might not go to hell, because there are still just enough good people in it. Most of our politicians don't understand this. How can they sitting in their lofty homes making six figures. If the money and power makes you act worse than children in detention, then I'm just fine shopping at the dollar store.
jarhead at 9:19AM on Feb 28th 2007
77. We have to recheck Murtha's combat background. What kind of Marine has he been? Man has no pride in America and acts and talks like a coward. I can see another John Kerry style "hero" here.
JOSH DUYAL at 7:36AM on Feb 28th 2007
78. Murtha is regarded as highly as another "ex" Marine . . .Jim Webb. In both cases they are regarded as people who forgot where they came from. In both cases betrayal is the word that best represents what their actions and words seem to represent to most Marines (and other service members.
Don at 7:45AM on Feb 28th 2007
79. David,
Take you desire for dictatorship and leave America.
Steve J. at 4:30PM on Feb 28th 2007
80. Steve J. writes: David, Take you desire for dictatorship and leave America.>>
Steve, I couldn't agree more. David, we have three co-equal branches of government: Congress makes the laws, the executive branch enforces them, and the judicial branch interprets the laws. We all also have a First Amendment right to state our opinion on the war, and Congress has the inherent power to stop this war under Constitutional law, but its going to require Republicans to stop rubber stamping everything Bush wants (they're still at it, even after the last election).
Plus, what is your definition of "traitor." Is it the 65% of the American people who want to exit the war, or the Democratic Congress who is listening to their wish and trying to make it a reality by perfectly legal means.
Blindly following one man's decision to wage a disastrous war and calling any dissent "traitorist" is un-American. It scoffs at our Constitution, and it scoffs at the desire of the American People. If you don't believe in the Constitution or the duty of members of Congress to honor their constituents long standing, and long ignored, wishes, you really do not believe in America and should leave.
Phil at 1:53PM on Mar 2nd 2007