Iraq: Abercrombie blasts GOP "crude surgery"
on Murtha resolution

The vote came on a measure originally authored by Representative John Murtha (D-PA), a decorated combat veteran of Korea and Vietnam and widely respected as one of the most knowledgeable and pro-defense Members of Congress.

Murtha’s announcement yesterday that he no longer supports President Bush’s Iraq policies caused shock and panic in the White House and among Congressional Republicans.

He was attacked in personal terms by Vice President Cheney and several Republican Members of Congress.  Some attacks questioned the personal courage and patriotism of the war hero and veteran legislator.

In an attempt to further discredit Murtha, the House Republican leadership re-wrote House Joint Resolution 73, eliminating language outlining the weaknesses of President Bush’s Iraq policy as well as provisions affirming a policy commitment to U.S. security interests.

“What came to the floor today was not Jack Murtha’s resolution,” said Abercrombie. “It is a counterfeit that plays games with the lives of troops in the field.  The measure brought to the floor was a piece of crude surgery designed to avoid Congressional discussion of the Iraq War in the wake the majority opinion of Americans who understand that President Bush’s ill conceived Iraq policy is based on misrepresentations and a profoundly mistaken view of present realities on the ground.

“Jack Murtha is one of America’s great patriots, and I’m proud to support his call to bring our troops home from Iraq They’ve done everything we’ve asked of them.  They’ve earned our thanks for their courage, professionalism and patriotism.  It is time for politicians to display the same qualities.

“Now, more than two and a half years after liberating Iraq, it’s time to make the transition so that Iraqis can assume full responsibility for the security of their own country.  Our troops deserve to come home to the grateful welcome they richly deserve.  Even more than that, they deserve a policy worthy of their sacrifices.

“Jack Murtha is a true American hero.  He knows from personal experience the costs being paid by troops and their families.  The burden is especially heavy on the Reserve and National Guard personnel whose life plans and careers have been upended by two, even three deployments to the war zone. 

“The Murtha resolution- as he wrote it- strikes a common sense balance that protects U.S. security interests at the same time as it brings out our troops.  It affirms the policy goals of stability and security in Iraq, removing U.S. troops as a target and recruiting tool for terrorists, and mandating an-over-the horizon U.S. military force.  This is a sensible approach that will strengthen the fight against terrorists, save lives, ease the strain on our overstretched military, and improve the chances for Iraqis struggling to build a stable democracy.”

The resolution (House Joint Resolution 73), as authored by Representative Murtha and introduced by him yesterday, reads:

To Redeploy U.S. Forces from Iraq.

Whereas Congress and the American People have not been shown clear, measurable progress toward establishment of stable and improving security in Iraq or of a stable and improving economy in Iraq, both of which are essential to "promote the emergence of a democratic government";

Whereas additional stabilization in Iraq by U.S. military forces cannot be achieved without the deployment of hundreds of thousands of additional U.S. troops, which in turn cannot be achieved without a military draft;

Whereas more than $277 billion has been appropriated by the United States Congress to prosecute U.S. military action in Iraq and Afghanistan;

Whereas, as of the drafting of this resolution, 2,079 U.S. troops have been killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom; 

Whereas U.S. forces have become the target of the insurgency;

Whereas, according to recent polls, over 80% of the Iraqi people want the U.S. forces out of Iraq;

Whereas polls also indicate that 45% of the Iraqi people feel that the attacks on U.S. forces are justified;

Whereas, due to the foregoing, Congress finds it evident that continuing U.S. military action in Iraq is not in the best interests of the United States of America, the people of Iraq, or the Persian Gulf Region, which were cited in Public Law 107-243 as justification for undertaking such action;

Therefore be it

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That:

Section 1.  The deployment of United States forces in Iraq, by direction of Congress, is hereby terminated and the forces involved are to be redeployed at the earliest practicable date.

Section 2. A quick-reaction U.S. force and an over-the-horizon presence of U.S. Marines shall be deployed in the region.

Section 3. The United States of America shall pursue security and stability in Iraq through diplomacy.

After the Republican surgery, the resolution (re-designated House Resolution 571) reads, in its entirey:

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the deployment of United States forces

in Iraq be terminated immediately.

Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the deployment of United States forces in Iraq be terminated immediately.

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