I live in a neighborhood that’s often described as “terminally cute.” But the discussion was dead serious last night during a town hall meeting at a local church, where it was SRO.
The guest speaker was Congressman John "Jack" Murtha whom Congressman Anthony Weiner called “a true American hero” who’s the “true voice of the Democratic Party.” Indeed, Murtha’s decision to finally speak out against the Iraq war gave Congressional Democrats the courage of their convictions.
Murtha dismissed President Bush’s repeated claim that there is “progress” in Iraq. “We’re not only not making progress. It’s getting worse every day.” Consider:
- The incidents of sectarian violence have increased from 49 per day to 125.
- Three thousand civilians were killed last month alone – the highest monthly total since the war began.
- Sixty percent of Iraqis are unemployed.
- Oil production and electricity are below pre-war levels.
- Eighty percent of Iraqis want American troops to leave.
- Forty-percent of Iraqis believe it’s alright to kill Americans.
- Iraqis support Hezbollah.
The cost of Bush’s folly: $11 million an hour or $8 billion a month.
Don’t get Murtha started on Karl Rove, a chickenhawk-cum-military expert “sitting on his fat backside in his air-conditioned White House office” -- or Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. Rumsfeld recently accused war critics of “moral and intellectual confusion.”
Murtha questioned why anyone would listen to Rumsfeld since Rummy doesn’t know jack (and here). He reminded us that Rumsfeld said that Americans would be treated as “liberators” in a war that would last "five days or five weeks or five months, but it certainly isn't going to last any longer than that."
In this endless war, for which too few troops were sent to make the peace, Rumsfeld's “few dead-enders” have our troops bogged down in the middle of a civil war.
Murtha’s solution: “responsible withdrawal. Tell the Iraqis you have a democratically elected government and you have to take over responsibility.” There should be a “staged withdrawal.” Troops should withdraw as quickly as possible and as soon as possible.
Murtha added:
We need to elect a Democratic Congress. We need accountability. Accountability comes from hearings. You swear them in and then they have to tell the truth. Ask the tough questions and put the pressure on them. We honor our troops by standing up to these bullies.
To help change the course in Iraq, click here.
