Iraq Toll Hits a Nerve With (Rep John) Murtha (D-PA Hawk)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7368-2003Sep26.html

John P. Murtha, who came to the House of Representatives in a 1974 special election, was the first Vietnam War veteran to enter Congress. A Bronze Star holder, the old Marine has been one of the Pentagon's best friends, looking out for the military budget as ranking Democrat on the Appropriations subcommittee on defense.

It was, therefore, anything but a routine moment when the normally publicity-shy Pennsylvanian joined dovish House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) at a Sept. 16 news conference criticizing the administration's handling of the war in Iraq and its aftermath.

When Murtha called for the scalp of the military planners, saying, "Somebody has to go. Somebody has to be held responsible," it had the impact of the best man telling the bridegroom to clean up his act.

What brought the crusty 71-year-old carwash owner to this unexpected point was a series of hearings and briefings, two personal inspections of the front, and his five visits with Iraq war veterans being treated in military hospitals for their wounds.

Read later in article how Murtha brought up the body armor shortage to the Pentagon 2 years ago and how he says every wounded soldier he met said they lacked that body armor.

[TacticalPeek]

1. Bravo for Rep. Murtha!

The video of the press conference referenced in the article was at c-span last I looked, and it is very, very compelling.

This link is to Murtha's site with similar comments.

"In a recent trip to Iraq, I learned of severe shortages in critical equipment. These included a shortage of over 44,000 body armor with life-saving Kevlar inserts, radio frequency jammers that prevent the remote detonation of bombs and Kevlar blankets for HMMWVs that provide additional protection against injury by mine fragments. Our troops reported that they were also in desperate need of armored HMMWVs. One third of our Bradley armored personnel carriers were deadlined because there were no spare tracks."

http://www.house.gov/murtha/iraqstmt.htm

:kick:

[RamboLiberal]

2. Thanks for the link - I've been looking for info on the vests

Since Mark Shields on Capitol Gang mentioned 40,000 vests short.