From the article:
Murtha, 73, the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations defense
subcommittee, expressed pessimism about Iraq's stability and said the Iraqis
know who the insurgents are, but don't always share that information with
U.S. troops. He said a civil war is likely because of ongoing factionalism
among Sunni Arabs, and Kurds and Shiites.
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Murtha Says Army Is 'Broken, Worn Out'
Thu Dec 1, 2005
LATROBE, Pa. - Most U.S. troops will leave
Iraq within a year because the Army is "broken, worn out" and "living hand
to mouth," Rep. John Murtha told a civic group.
Two weeks ago, Murtha created a storm of comment when he called for U.S.
troops to leave Iraq now. The Democratic congressman spoke to a group of
community and business leaders in Latrobe on Wednesday, the same day
President Bush said troops would be withdrawn when they've achieved victory,
not under an artificial deadline set by politicians.
Murtha predicted most troops will be out of Iraq within a year.
"I predict he'll make it look like we're staying the course," Murtha said,
referring to Bush. "Staying the course is not a policy."
Murtha, 73, the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations defense
subcommittee, expressed pessimism about Iraq's stability and said the Iraqis
know who the insurgents are, but don't always share that information with
U.S. troops. He said a civil war is likely because of ongoing factionalism
among Sunni Arabs, and Kurds and Shiites.
He also said he was wrong to vote to support the war.
"I admit I made a mistake when I voted for war," Murtha said. "I'm looking
at the future of the United States military."
Murtha, a decorated Vietnam war veteran, said the Pennsylvania National
Guard is "stretched so thin" that it won't be able to send fully equipped
units to Iraq next year. Murtha predicted it will cost $50 billion to
upgrade military equipment nationwide, but says the federal government is
already reducing future purchases to save money.
Murtha, who represents a western Pennsylvania district that includes
Latrobe, was first elected to Congress in 1974.
Lt. Col. Chris Cleaver, spokesman for the Pennsylvania National Guard at
Fort Indiantown Gap, said "there are some deployment concerns."
Cleaver said some guard units had to leave equipment in Iraq when they
returned to the United States, which could cause training problems here.
But Cleaver also said most of the 2,100 Guard troops now deployed with the
2nd Brigade Combat Team can't be sent back to Iraq for a second tour of duty
anyway, because of regulations that limit redeployment.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051201/ap_on_go_co/congress_iraq_murtha;_ylt=AmeJmhWxW.hkVDoraaoWMiys0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3b2NibDltBHNlYwM3MTY-
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"Of course the people don't want war. But after all, it's the leaders of the
country who determine the policy, and it's always a simple matter to drag
the people along whether it's a democracy, a fascist dictatorship, or a
parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can
always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have
to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for
lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to greater danger."
-- Herman Goering at the Nuremberg trials
http://www.snopes.com/quotes/goering.htm
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