Wednesday, November 23, 2005

Chickenhawks... the new Turkey

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
I believe this year we are going to be serving Chickenhawk for Thanksgiving Dinner.

Is it just me, or is this entire dog and pony show by the Republicans (with Duncan Hunter's[CA-R] "Cut and Run" bill that they tried to pass off as Congressman Murtha's) was the most disgusting display of blind partisan hackery you have ever seen?

Congressman Murtha responded to the conterfiet Bill proposed by Republican Duncan Hunter by saying:
"Let me say, this resolution [the GOP's counterfeit bill] today is not what I envisioned, not what I introduced, and let me read what I introduced on November 17:

"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."

Now, let me say this. There were two of us who voted for a military draft, so I do not think that is an option. When you go to the high schools, they say, you are for a draft. I said, yes, but there is not too many of us, and I do not think you have to worry about it.

"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 become the target of the insurgency;

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

Whereas polls also indicate that 45 percent," (this is a British poll, but the Defense Department support this British poll or confirm this British poll), "of the Iraqi people feel that the attacks on U.S. forces are justified."

Hear what I am saying. Forty-five percent of the Iraqi people feel it is justified to attack Americans.

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."

I did not say anything about intelligence. I did not say anything about the President. All these statements that have been made vilifying me today did not say anything like that.



To break it down for you this is what Murtha proposed:

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.

You can read the full text of Murtha's Bill here.

Here's what the Republicans put to a vote in place of Murtha's bill:

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

You can read the full text of the counterfiet bill here.

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