A nation's divisions over Iraq war come into sharper focus [View All]

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05233/557583.stm

Home for their August recess, members of Congress are meeting voters anxious and polarized over the war in Iraq.

As polls reflect as drop in overall approval of President Bush's handling of the war, lawmakers' constituents are expressing views that range from a determination to nurture democracy in Iraq to outraged demands for the speedy withdrawal of American troops.

"I'm not hearing from people that we need to get out; what I am hearing is that we should give our soldiers everything they need to protect them while they're doing the job there,'' said Rep. Melissa Hart, R-Bradford Woods, who supports Bush administration policies.

"Get out; get out of Iraq; that's the overwhelming reaction,'' said Rep. John P. Murtha, D-Johnstown, who supported invading Iraq to get rid of Saddam Hussein but has been sharply critical of the administration's post-invasion performance. "People understand the danger there," said Murtha, a Vietnam veteran. "They see the carnage and they feel they were misled.''

These disparate views are coming into sharper focus as key thresholds are crossed in the continuing conflict in Iraq.


Carole Wiedmann of Sewickley is taken into custody by Pittsburgh police, one of three people arrested yesterday morning during an anti-war protest outside an Army recruiting station in Oakland.

Missy Woods district while having some blue collar is more affluent Repuke. The "our kind of people" don't serve in the military but gee we support you poor kids fighting the war with our big ass SUV's with yellow ribbons and W'04 stickers. Murtha's district used to be strong Democratic, but being more rural has seen a shift to the Repukes. Murtha's district is an area that used to be strong industrial/rural. Steelmaking, railroading, coal mining that has seen a tremendous loss of jobs and of some population. Many of the citizens up there have bought in to the NRA and anti-abortion rhetoric.