Word: murtha
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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...troops and Iraqis die and Congressional elections loom. Nowhere was that more clear than in a Washington, D.C., courthouse this week. That's where lawyers for Marine Staff Sergeant Frank Wuterich, the 26-year-old who was the unit leader that day in Haditha, called U.S. Congressman John Murtha a liar. Murtha, a Pennsylvania Democrat who served as a Marine in Vietnam and who in recent months has become increasingly outspoken in his opposition to the Iraq war, said in May 2006 that based on briefings from the military that Marines in Haditha "overreacted because of the pressure on them...
Almost nine months since 24 Iraqis, including women and children, were killed in the Iraqi town of Haditha and three months since Congressman John Murtha claimed they had been murdered "in cold blood" by U.S. Marines, what really happened on that fateful morning is still unclear. In fact, as the two separate investigations into the events on November 19, 2005, near completion, the only thing certain about Haditha, which was first brought to light by TIME in March, is that the military at the highest levels is bracing for the findings...
...Wuterich, in a 23-page complaint, says Murtha "spread false and malicious lies about SSgt Wuterich and his squad..." and "sought to destroy the reputations of young Marines." The complaint, which asks for a public apology and at least $75,000, also says, "any accusation that the Marines 'executed' civilians or deliberately targeted noncombatants is either a horrendous misunderstanding or intentional lie." The lawyers point out that several members of Congress, from both parties, received briefings on Haditha and in stark contrast to Murtha, all of them refused to speak about the investigation or any of their own conclusions...
...complaint also provides some detail into Wuterich's explanation of the events in Haditha. It says, contrary to Murtha, that the Marines on the ground did follow the rules of engagement, that there was a firefight that day, that the Marines were shot at, and that at least two of the Iraqis had weapons. In response, Congressman Murtha did not back off of his earlier comments and instead said Wuterich was "lashing...
...Indeed, ramping up U.S. support for a major counterinsurgency program in Baghdad is a short-term strategy that all Democrats-from supporters of the war like Clinton to immediate-withdrawal advocates like Congressman John Murtha-might be able to agree on, a positive program to support between now and the congressional elections in November. "I'd be open to that," Murtha told me, "especially if it's a way to help the Iraqis stand up for themselves that enables us to start bringing our troops out of there." If Forward Together works, it surely will...