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Murtha: GOPers to abandon Bush on Iraq after primaries |
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By Mike Soraghan
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Posted: 09/18/07 08:10 PM [ET] |
Republicans will start abandoning President Bush’s Iraq policies early next year, once the GOP has settled on its presidential contender, House Appropriations Defense subcommittee Chairman John Murtha (D-Pa.) said Monday.
“As soon as the primaries are over, you’ll see Republicans start jumping ship,” Murtha said in remarks at the National Press Club. “More Republicans are telling me privately they agree with my position.”
Murtha acknowledged that he was among those who thought Republican support would begin to weaken in September. But he said he was surprised by the vehemence with which Republicans who break with President Bush are “bashed” in their own party.
Murtha predicted that despite the unpopularity of Congress, Democrats will gain 40 to 50 seats in next year’s election because voters are upset with the war.
“People are frustrated, but you’re going to see a big Democratic increase,” he told reporters after his speech. “I think we’ll pick up 40 to 50 seats.”
Republicans rejected that prediction. House Republican Conference spokesman Ed Patru said, “I have yet to meet anyone who turns to Jack Murtha when they need a credible prognosticator — political or legislative.”
Murtha, a key adviser to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on military issues, is not waiting on the presidential calendar to push withdrawal. He said he expects the Iraq war supplemental spending bill, up for debate in October or November, to include a specific date for withdrawal to be completed.
He said that date should be 12 to 15 months after withdrawal is ordered to begin, but added he didn’t know what time should be set for that to occur.
Though he frequently deferred to what he called “leadership decisions,” Murtha’s will be an important voice in the Democratic Caucus’s debate about what course to pursue on Iraq. There is no clear path forward now that commanding Gen. David Petraeus made the case that Bush’s “surge” has been a military success and Republicans decided to stick with Bush on the war.
Murtha’s hour-long speech included numerous historical references to Vietnam, as well as references to his past statements about the errors in the Bush administration’s execution of the war.
Conservative writer Jeff Gannon, who was in the audience, challenged Murtha on another statement he had made, that Marines in Haditha had killed Iraqi civilians “in cold blood.” Charges have been dropped against several Marines, though others remain charged with murder. Gannon asked Murtha if he would apologize, and Murtha refused.
“The trials are not over yet,” Murtha said, reddening slightly in the face.
Also in response to Gannon, Murtha tersely deemed inappropriate the newspaper advertisement taken out by the liberal group MoveOn.org criticizing commanding Gen. David Petraeus as “General Betray Us.” Without elaborating, Murtha said “Yes” when asked if he would distance himself from the ad.
Murtha also took issue with the administration’s reports of military progress in Iraq, though he voiced no criticism of Petraeus.
“The administration now appears content with running out the clock,” Murtha said. “I have seen no progress. No progress.”
Murtha said that the vast amounts being spent on the war are preventing progress on important issues at home, arguing that money spent in Iraq could be funding cancer research, education and new roads and bridges.
“Iraqis consider us as occupiers,” he said. “But also, Iraq is occupying us.”
Murtha also said on Monday that:
• He was not familiar with legislation by Reps. Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii) and John Tanner (D-Tenn.) calling on President Bush to report on his withdrawal planning. Many centrists in both parties see the legislation as a vehicle for bipartisan action on Iraq in Congress.
• The supplemental spending bill will be the next big confrontation in the House on Iraq. But Murtha said he also expects floor debates and votes on closing the Guantánamo Bay prison, banning torture, blocking permanent bases in Iraq and taking up his readiness requirements.
He expects that the supplemental bill will cover war operations for only two or three months to keep tighter reins on the conduct of the war. |
