Rep. Murtha: To end the war, September will be key

[Coexist]

at the Huffington Post

Today, I voted for both the $22 billion supplemental funding for domestic programs and the $98 billion supplemental funding for our troops in Iraq.

The Democrats in Congress have already sent a supplemental to the president that would have set benchmarks and timelines for the responsible redeployment of U.S. forces from Iraq.

Instead of demonstrating to the American people and the Iraqi Government that our commitment is not open-ended, the president vetoed our bill and refuses to recognize that this war cannot be won militarily.


Some have suggested that since the president refuses to compromise, Democrats should refuse to send him anything. I disagree. There is a point when the money for our troops in Iraq will run out, and when it does, our men and women serving courageously in Iraq will be the ones who will suffer, not this president.

Patience has run out and I feel a change in direction happening within the chambers of Congress. While we don't have the votes right now to change the president's policy, I believe that come September we will have the votes from both Democrats and Republicans to change policy and direction. In September, General Petraeus will report back on the progress of the surge, and Congress will take up both the $460 billion base defense appropriations bill and the $141 billion Iraq supplemental. The surge is not producing the results that were promised. And, based on my discussions with Iraqi Government officials, I don't believe they have the motivation to bring about the political and economic benchmarks agreed to. This is why September will be key.

We have lost 418 of our fellow Americans since the president announced his surge, and come September, with your help, we can convince my colleagues from across the aisle that enough is enough. For almost two years, I have tried diligently to redeploy our forces from Iraq, and I will not stop now.

What do you think?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. What do I think?

I wish I had 98 billion dollars to flush down the toilet.

[AnOhioan]

2. I think the "leadership" told Murtha to play ball

I think he listened.

[Blue_Roses]

3. Wise man.

Very wise man. :thumbsup:

[Pale Blue Dot]

4. Yeah, right.

I'm sure in September it will all be different. :eyes:

[Solly Mack]

5. 98 billion now, and 460 billion /141 billion more in 4 months

golly

[LSK]

6. Murtha is extremely passionate about the troops

Remember he was out there by himself in late 2005. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_nB3Ta3N-s

Also a report I read said that the timetables would not withdraw any troops till Oct 1 anyways, so whats all the fuss about? This bill funds until September.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

7. Well, he says he is.

He doesn't strike me as terribly honest.

[LSK]

8. then hes been a pretty good actor for almost 2 years now

See the youtube vid I posted above in my edit.

[grytpype]

9. He agrees with me, so I think he's right.

1. We don't have enough votes in Congress to stop the war now.
2. We should not just cut off the funds.
3. This fall, we will have the votes we need to stop the war.

I agree with all of that.

[k8conant]

11. If we don't have the votes now to stop the war, where will they be in the fall?

[bluestateguy]

10. Looks like our party has its own Friedman Units

I'll believe it when I see it, but right now I don't expect any resistance from the Democrat leadership (Yes, that was intentional disrespect).

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

12. Did he put it to the tune of "There'll be Pie in the Sky When you Die"?

What a pathetic crock of crap he's trying to sell.

[rocktivity]

13. By September, the permanent military bases and US embassy in Iraq will be complete

and the Iraqi oil privatization bill should be passed, which is why Cheney told the Iraqi Parliament not to go on vacation in person. They didn't pick September out of a hat.

:headbang:
rocknation

[mmonk]

14. I think more deaths until more grow a soul.

[Eagle_Eye]

15. I hope Murtha is pulling the old Bugs Bunny routine

Bugs Bunny says "I dare you to step over this line!"
Yosemite Sam steps over the line
Murtha says "I dare you to step over this line!"
Bush 43 steps over the line
Murtha says "This line!"
Bush 43 steps over the line
Murtha says "This line!"
Bush 43 steps over the line
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"THIS LINE!"

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