He supported the Iraq war (and from what I’ve seen, I don’t see any evidence that his support was insincere), and now, like many pro-war Democrats and pro-war Republicans, he is having second thoughts. Barry Campbell’s comment post is appropriate.

However, regarding the issue of our current policy in Iraq, the arguments that people are making, in favor of the liberal internationalism that our government is engaged in, in Iraq, Bosnia, Kosovo, etc… – those are statist arguments… the same kind that liberals made against the 1996 welfare reform bill, and the same kind that Al Gore and the liberal Democrats made against George W. Bush in 2000, regarding now-President Bush’s desire to withdraw troops from foreign operations, and end nation-building. The liberal internationalist foreign policy agenda in Iraq needs to end, and we need to pursue the more conservative foreign policy that George W. Bush initially got elected upon.

Talking about leaving before they’ve even got a permenant government in place is insane. The job isn’t done, it’s that simple.

What more can be accomplished with the continued presence in Iraq at the current troop levels?

Also, what’s your view of when the Iraqis will be able to handle things on their own?

Note: To left & right extremists – I would like some civilized discussion on this, not the same old rhetoric from either side ;-)

Thanks in advance to all who respond!

The Washington Post has picked up Congressman John Murtha’s remarks and reports that he is backed by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelsoi.

I couldn’t agree more wholeheartedly with you that Murtha isn’t “just some generic liberal hippie douche bag speaking of what he doesn’t know.” Still, that doesn’t qualify him as a military expert, either.

He hasn’t been charged with developing a war plan for even a minor skirmish in Iraq. He didn’t offer a single instance to point to why we need to get out of Iraq. He couldn’t say this to the military now serving in Iraq without getting booed off the stage.

In short, his views don’t represent those of the vast majority of the military serving in Iraq & I hope (and I know) they never will.