John Murtha responds to Bush

REP JOHN MURTHA (D-PA) who is one of the most knowledgeable congressmen on military affairs has been catching a lot of heat after calling for a controlled redeployment of the military out of Iraq. Besides pointing out that Bush is overstating that the "terrorists" will take over Iraq, only 7% of the attacks come from what could be classified as terrorists. The majority of attacks are from the Iraqi people that want the U.S. out. The cost of this fiasco has no end, Murtha said, “We have spent $277 billion. That's what's been appropriated for this operation. We have $50 billion sitting on the table right now in our supplemental, or bridge fund we call it, in the Appropriations Committee. They're going to ask for another $100 billion next year.” That’s $427 billion……for what? The Washington Post has the transcript: Rep. Murtha Holds a News Conference to Respond to President Bush's Speech Courtesy FDCH eMedia Wednesday, December 7, 2005; 2:46 PM DECEMBER 7, 2005 SPEAKER: U.S. REPRESENTATIVE JOHN MURTHA (D-PA) Excerpt... QUESTION: Mr. Murtha, you had a chance this morning to outline your plan for the Democratic Caucus. Can you tell us how the plan was received, how much support you think you have within the caucus for it? MURTHA: Well, I don't have any idea yet. I proposed this as not a Democratic plan necessarily. I just proposed this as my plan -- my long experience -- as an American plan. And the response I've been getting has been overwhelming. I got 16,000 letters, faxes and e-mails overwhelmingly supporting. I'll tell you this, my staff heard some vitriolic opposition in the 20 percent that called against me. I told them, "Hang up." And, of course, they were trying to convince them that I had a (inaudible). The only thing probably worse is when I was in boot camp in the Marine Corps. I probably heard worse words. But some of those folks working with me had never heard words like they heard before in the 20 percent that called in. But, you know, a lot of people have attacked me. But it's not about Jack Murtha. The American public is thirsting for a plan. They don't see a plan, a way out. I had one of the generals tell us in closed hearing, what was it, 10 years or 25 years, Dave, to settle this thing? STAFF: (OFF-MIKE) going to be several decades, sir. MURTHA: Twenty years it's going to take to settle this thing. The American people is not going to put up with it; can't afford it. We have spent $277 billion. That's what's been appropriated for this operation. We have $50 billion sitting on the table right now in our supplemental, or bridge fund we call it, in the Appropriations Committee. They're going to ask for another $100 billion next year. MURTHA: And yet the National Guard commander called me and said we need a billion dollars in the budget to take care of activities like Katrina. They didn't have radios, today, at four years after the attack of 9/11, didn't have radios to talk to the regular Army in the United States. I visited four bases, or three bases earlier this year -- Fort Bragg, Hood, and Stewart. The commanders told me the troops going to Iraq, because of lack of ground equipment, were the lowest level of readiness. And now when they got over there, they'd get more equipment. We have a $50 billion backlog of equipment that has to be recapitalized and rehabilitated. So you can see, I'm so concerned.