Murtha Cheered At Welcome Home Ceremony For Troops

Troops echo frustration over war in Iraq

By KIMBERLY HEFLING, Associated Press Writer
Wed Jun 21, 7:58 AM ET

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - While Staff Sgt. Randy Myers was dodging roadside bombs in Iraq, his congressman was calling the war a lost cause.

Sixteen-term Rep. John Murtha (news, bio, voting record), a decorated Vietnam veteran and military hawk, has become the face of the Democrats' anti-war movement since he called for the withdrawal of U.S. troops last fall. His oft-repeated criticism of the Bush administration's war policies also has earned him the wrath of Republicans.

In Murtha's southwest Pennsylvania district, however, many share the war critic's views.

At a welcome home ceremony this week for Myers and other troops from the Johnstown, Pa.-based 876th Engineer Battalion, the crowd cheered when a Murtha aide welcomed the troops on the congressman's behalf.

Myers said he backs Murtha, an opinion echoed by a number of other troops and their families. Several share his frustration with the conflict.

"I'm not sure we're doing a whole lot of good," Myers, 46, said of the U.S. presence in Iraq. "Everybody thinks we are. We're trying to, but we're not going to change what they want to do, and if they don't want to change, they're not gonna."

Said Sgt. 1st Class George Wozniak, 36, of Murtha: "He's definitely for a strong military and he definitely supports the troops."

Patriotism runs deep in Murtha's district in the Allegheny Mountains, where joining the military is a family tradition and often an economic necessity. Many served in Vietnam and that war exacted a heavy toll, with Allegheny County losing 421 men and Washington County, part of Murtha's district, losing 67. Memorials to those killed are scattered throughout the towns and cities of western Pennsylvania. >>>cont

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Rep. John Murtha: “Our Troops Have Become The Target” In Iraq…

Knowing Your Enemy

I am appalled that while manning a traffic checkpoint near Baghdad, three of our valiant soldiers were ambushed, one killed on the spot and two kidnapped, tortured and brutally killed. It is essential that we find the circumstances of their deaths. Why were they in such an isolated situation without additional back-up and who is responsible for these heinous acts?

Despite our most strenuous security efforts in the Baghdad area over the past several days, this area continues to be rocked by violent attacks, kidnapping and murderous acts, frequently aimed at our troops.

I continue to be concerned with the fact that our military men and women fighting in Iraq often tell me that they do not know who the enemy is. They do not know who they can trust; they are concerned that their camps have been infiltrated by Iraqis who are plotting to kill them; one day the Iraqis are smiling and waving at them on the streets, the next day the same people are throwing grenades at them.

I read today that Army investigators discovered that two California soldiers had been shot to death by Iraqi Defense officers who were patrolling with them.

We have all read countless stories of Iraqis being kidnapped and killed by Iraqis bearing the identification or uniforms of the official Iraqi Security force.

As I have said before, Iraq is not overrun by foreign terrorists. It is Iraqis fighting Iraqis and Iraqis fighting U.S. and coalition forces. Our troops have become the target.

As General Barry McCaffrey, who at the time of his retirement from the U.S. Army, was the most highly decorated and youngest four star general, recently stated, "the foreign fighters remain a tactical menace, however they are a minor threat to the heavily armed and wary U.S. forces. The al-Qaeda in Iraq is now largely Sunni Iraqi- not foreign fighters."

Consider these facts:

Very little of the insurgency in Iraq is made up of foreign fighters. Less than 7 percent, and even less are Al Qaeda, maybe 750 to 1,000.

47 percent of Iraqis feel they are justified to kill Americans.

Just a few days ago an aide to Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki was quoted as saying: "There's some sort of preliminary understanding between us and the MNF-I," the U.S.-led Multi-National Force-Iraq, "that there is a patriotic feeling among the Iraqi youth and the belief that those attacks are legitimate acts of resistance and defending their homeland. These people will be pardoned definitely, I believe."

When I retired from the Marine Corp, I was given a plaque that said, "Complete Victory is knowing your enemy."

Iraq's Vice President and President have asked for a scheduled withdrawal of foreign forces from Iraq. It's time for the Iraqis to be responsible for their own destiny.