http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2005/11/18/publiceye/entry1058531.shtmlMurtha's words were big news, at least from the media's perspective. All three nightly newscasts led with them, as did the New York Times, Washington Post, and other newspapers. Some Republicans and conservative-leaning bloggers, however, felt otherwise. They pointed out that Murtha has been criticizing the administration's war effort for a long time, and many questioned why members of the media felt this latest speech was noteworthy. Here's Glenn Reynolds: "WHY IS MURTHA'S STATEMENT ON THE WAR NEWS today when he said basically the same thing a year and a half ago?"
Reynolds was referring to Murtha's statements on May 6, 2004, in which he said, "
e cannot prevail in this war as it is going today." He also said: "We either have to mobilize or we have to get out," and said the war was "unwinnable" unless changes were made. Murtha added, however, that he was in favor of increasing the number of U.S. troops rather than pulling out, a far different position than he took yesterday. CNN summarized his "overall point" at the time as "more troops and equipment should be sent to Iraq."
It was not the first time Murtha had spoken out about the war. From The New York Times, Sept. 16, 2003:
The Democrat, Representative John P. Murtha of Pennsylvania, a decorated Vietnam veteran, said that he had been misled into voting for the war by incorrect information from top administration officials and that the president had also been misled.
Later that year, he accused the Bush administration of purposly waiting until after the presidential election for a new military call up. And he's right. An immediate pullout is NOT a surrender nor a cut-and-run.
An immediate pullout will give Iraq back to the Iraqis. It's THEIR country! Not OURS!
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