Murthalive

[Algorem]

http://www.cityclub.org

[Faygo Kid]

1. Thanks. Enjoying it. Looking forward to the questions.

Can't wait for Murtha to take on the Bushbots who are present.

[OzarkDem]

2. Q & A beginning

I decided not to attend today because it was originally going to be a webcast from DC, but Murtha came to town at the last minute.

[amitten]

3. He won't admit we went in for oil. I can't believe he's that blind

about this.

I like Murtha. But he seems to be choosing his words carefully these days. I don't think he's 100% sincere with some of his stated beliefs about the war.

[cliss]

4. I wonder what Murtha

claims is the real reason we went to war? I'm not criticising him; it's just that there have been a lot of theories as to why we went to war in Iraq.

Paul Wolfowitz, in statements after we marched in, that it was an array of reasons for invading. He said the WMD's "were the only thing we could agree on".

Here are the reasons I've found:

a) We invaded Iraq to open up a police station in the Middle East. To establish our presence there, to keep the other countries "in line". Iraq was always seen as the weakest country, so it would theoretically be the easiest to conquer. We would set up military bases, and set up listening equipment; huge satellite dishes (those are there now).

b) We had to get our troops out of Saudi Arabia. The leaders had been begging us for years to get our troops out, because it caused enormous anger (a huge Al Qaida recruiting tool).

c) Oil.....and water. Iraq has the world's #2 supply of oil. It's the 'Good Stuff', the light, sweet crude that the world runs on. That's more precious than gold. I don't believe the administration wanted to start pumping it; they would much rather sit on it as the world starts to run out. = we rule the world. Also, the Euphrates river is enormously important. The ME is dry, and the Iraqis are rich....


Surely Mr. Murtha must know this. What does he claim?

[blm]

5. Murtha won't say anything to undermine the overall integrity of the

military - he's careful in that way. Thankfully, he's past being too careful about Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld.

[Algorem]

6. "...nearly shouted, "we will not" be entering Iran. "

couldn't see it yet,aren't they already building bases in Iraq?


http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1144485089256210.xml&coll=2

Murtha tells City Club the war is lost
Pa. congressman outlines failures

Saturday, April 08, 2006
Donna J. Miller
Plain Dealer Reporter


...Murtha took questions from several luncheon attendees who worried that Bush may be planning to invade Iran. The ranking and longtime member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee nearly shouted, "we will not" be entering Iran.

He also said that the subcommittee would not approve funding the construction of permanent military bases in Iraq. The audience broke into applause.

Murtha criticized Bush for using fear of terrorism to maintain public support for the war, when real dangers exist here.

U.S. ports are not secure, but they could be in one month, if the money that has been spent on the civil war in Iraq was spent on ports, he said...