CAIRO, Egypt (AP) – Leaders of Iraq’s sharply divided Shiites, Kurds and Sunnis called Monday for a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S.-led forces in the country and said Iraq’s opposition had a “legitimate right” of resistance.

The resolution advanced by the GOP was NOT the Murtha resolution.

Secondly, the 403 – 3 vote against withdrawal made a stunning anti – Murtha statement. Even Murtha voted in the 403.

Anti-war types say: “The war was a mistake. It’s time to bring our people home.”

Response: “You don’t really care anything about the troops. You’re just saying that because you hate Bush and hate the military.”

Allright. So along comes Rep. Murtha. He isn’t a Michael Moore-type Bush-hater. He definitely does not hate the military. Whether Murtha is right or wrong, the response above no longer applies. However, instead of engaging the issue, GOP spokesmen last week decided to question Murtha’s integrity.

This week, they’re backing off.

I’m not sure why Gohmert’s remarks are so bad (haven’t read context – except as you presented them). I think its probably exactly correct. One or two parents become a little unhinged and go off the deep end. Probably has always been that way. Is it possible you are extrapolating that into a blanket condemnation of the anti-war movement or of anti-war veterans/parents? I believe that describes Ms Sheehan fairly well (and thats more generous than the cynical alternative – which is that she would be exploiting her sons death for her own partisan political/ideological purposes). Its quite possible for any one to believe Bush is wrong, the war is wrong and not go off the deep end. Some, however, do go off the deep end.
As for point two. Still think you are wrong. I attribute no extra logic, faith or credibility to Murtha because of his record. I have known plenty of left and right wing soldiers. And I’m not sympathetic to someone saying: “See! Murtha says it so we must be right!” And if your point is “See! Murtha says it so we aren’t long haired, dope smoking leftist hippies who hate soldiers.” I still don’t agree. You are or aren’t dope smoking, etc regardless of what Murtha says thinks or does. Your and my arguments are right or wrong because of the arguments themselves – not the pedigree of other peole agreeing with us. We could cite a thousand veterans disagreeing with Murtha. Proves nothing. Likewise Murtha disagreeing with us proves zilch. It has however confirmed that his postion is distinctly out of the mainstream.

Dugger, I’m a Veteran so I must be Right. Right?

 The fact that he s a veteran means something to liberals, only because in their one – dimensional view of the world, veterans are  supposed to be  pro -war , and a veteran s point of view only becomes significant to them when it fits their agenda.

Bah.

We’re reminded repeatedly that lefty opposition to the war is merely cover for our “anti-military” agenda. It’s all because we hate the military.

That’s why Rep. Murtha’s remarks are especially significant to us. Rep. Murtha has been a reliable voice in Congress as an advocate for the military. When he says its not in our soldiers’ best interests to remain in Iraq, it’s definitely not because he “hates the military.”

Theres some hyperbole there (yes, we routinely call war widows selfish and crazy – bTW regardless of what happened I think Cindy Sheehan is crazy and selfish),

Dugger, it’s not just Cindy Sheehan, and it occurs frequently enough that I think it’s fair to call it “routine.”

Here’s a nice example: (scroll all the way to the bottom)

“You’ll have a parent or two here, as you know, whose tragic grief from the tragic loss of a loved one, of a child, causes their mental thinking to be a little destabilized. That’s understandable.”

– Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Tex.) at a news conference Thursday, discussing parents of slain soldiers who turned antiwar.

Translation: If you gave up your kid for this war and start to think maybe Bush was wrong, you might be cra…er, “destabilized.”

“The fact that he s a veteran means something to liberals, only because in their one – dimensional view of the world, veterans are  supposed to be  pro -war , and a veteran s point of view only becomes significant to them when it fits their agenda.’

Well put.

Dugger

By Ellen Knickmeyer
Washington Post Foreign Service
Thursday, November 17, 2005; Page A26

BAGHDAD, Nov. 16 — A top American commander in Iraq on Wednesday denounced calls by some U.S. senators and others to set a deadline for a troop withdrawal, calling it “a recipe for disaster” for the 2 1/2 -year-old war.

“Setting a date would mean that the 221 soldiers I’ve lost this year, that their lives will have been lost in vain,” said Army Maj. Gen. William Webster, whose 3rd Infantry Division is responsible for security in three-fourths of Iraq’s capital. Making up the bulk of Task Force Baghdad, the 3rd Infantry patrols some of the most dangerous turf in Iraq, encountering massive bombs and suicide assaults in attacks that Webster said average 35 a day in the city.

Why should I, as a conservative who believes, and has believed that the invasion of Iraq, the toppling of Hussein, and the attempt to bring democracy to that country were good ideas, suddenly change my mind because a Congressman from Pennsylvania has changed his?

The fact that he’s a veteran means something to liberals, only because in their one – dimensional view of the world, veterans are “supposed” to be ‘pro -war’, and a veteran’s point of view only becomes significant to them when it fits their agenda.

Ka-ching. If Jesus Christ came back and served 30 years in the Marines, he’d still be condemned for speaking out. The dwindling wingnut fringe is heading at high speed towards ‘denunciation’ territory. The more isolated it becomes, the more Stalinist its tactics.

Atrios writes:OW has a post about the deliberate pose of stupidity many on the Right take. To prove his point, one of his

I said over a year ago, and now the military and the Administration agrees, Iraq can not be won  militarily. I said two years ago, the key to progress in Iraq is to Iraqitize, Internationalize and Energize. I believe the same today. But I have concluded that the presence of U.S. troops in Iraq is impeding this progress.
Our troops have become the primary target of the insurgency. They are united against U.S. forces and we have become a catalyst for violence. U.S. troops are the common enemy of the Sunnis, Saddamists and foreign jihadists. I believe with a U.S. troop redeployment, the Iraqi security forces will be incentivized to take control. A poll recently conducted shows that over 80% of Iraqis are strongly opposed to the presence of coalition troops, and about 45% of the Iraqi population believe attacks against American troops are justified. I believe we need to turn Iraq over to the Iraqis.
I believe before the Iraqi elections, scheduled for mid December, the Iraqi people and the emerging government must be put on notice that the United States will immediately redeploy. All of Iraq must know that Iraq is free. Free from United States occupation. I believe this will send a signal to the Sunnis to join the political process for the good of a  free Iraq.

My plan calls:
To immediately redeploy U.S. troops consistent with the safety of U.S. forces.
To create a quick reaction force in the region.
To create an over- the- horizon presence of Marines.
To diplomatically pursue security and stability in Iraq
This war needs to be personalized. As I said before I have visited with the severely wounded of this war. They are suffering.

Because we in Congress are charged with sending our sons and daughters into battle, it is our responsibility, our OBLIGATION to speak out for them. That s why I am speaking out.
Our military has done everything that has been asked of them, the U.S. can not accomplish anything further in Iraq militarily. IT IS TIME TO BRING THEM HOME.

And I would try to pretend that the impression that the post made on me had something to do with childbirth and stillbirth, but I’m not on drugs…

Have a good weekend.

By Monday, we’ll both have discovered that “Sgt. Fury” Murtha is just another hack politician, and the war in Iraq is not ending at the whim of the Democrats.

If you’re trying to downplay the quote you posted, then why did you post it in the first place. It must have made an impression on you? Right?

Anyway…it’s Friday night. I’m going to put politics aside and wish you a nice weekend.

JK

The paragraphs are the ending paragraphs of a longish and eloquent post about why it would be foolish and dangerous to pull out of Iraq — for the sake of the Iraqis.

All your parody has accomplished nothing. Pretending that someone has said something they never said, or intended to say, and then mocking it, is also something adolescents do.

I’m not sure if the link is working, so here it is again

http://theanchoressonline.com/2005/11/18/pull-out-the-deaths-will-be-on-your-head/