A Two-front War For Murtha

By Tom Infield - August 3rd, 2006 - Philadelphia Inquirer

In May, U.S. Rep. John P. Murtha roused the anger of some in the military and on the political right by saying that American Marines had "killed innocent civilians in cold blood" in Iraq.

Now, the Western Pennsylvania Democrat - who hopes to become majority leader if his party captures the House in the fall election - finds himself under fire on two fronts as a result of his comment, which dealt with a still-unresolved incident in Haditha, Iraq, late last year in which 24 people died.

Politically, Murtha is under attack from a few of the veterans who during the 2004 presidential campaign led an assault on U.S. Sen. John Kerry's record in the Vietnam War. Their campaign - right down to images on their Web site, www.bootmurtha.com - deliberately echoes what Democrats have called the "swiftboating" of Kerry.

Legally, Murtha faces a lawsuit filed yesterday in federal court in Washington in which a 26-year-old Marine sergeant contends that Murtha defamed him and his unit.

Murtha is the example that keeps being given by local people of "patriots" who oppose the war in Iraq. Because Murtha was a Marine in Vietnam, he is given some credibility as a man willing to fight for his country. However there is a lot of evidence that his conversion to war opposition means whatever his past beliefs during a previous war and at a previous time in our history, at this point he is anti-war, and willing to malign anyone who disagrees with him.

It is interesting how willing democrats are to insist that anyone who served in the military and opposes war must have their views accepted as gospel and they are immune from criticism. However serving in the military and believing this war is justified DOES NOT make you immune from criticism. Why the double standard?

Murtha has been guilty of vicious criticism of anyone who disagrees with his views. He is lying now when he says he was told things when it is provably false that he was not told them when he claims. He made the accusations up and is lying to deflect criticism. Why is lying not a criticizable action just because you are anti-war?