More Murtha Muck

On my quest to understand why a defense hog like John Murtha is speaking up now against war, I can only conclude he's on his way out. After decades of loving war and lucre he can afford to be a "radical" or play one on TV. A lifetime of supporting every atrocity that came down the Reagan, Bush, and Clinton pike. A "leading proponent" of many wars. Supported Vietnam, Central American wars, Genada, Panama, Bush Wars 1 and 2, Kosovo, Serbia, and now he says no. Like a hooker who cries rape – kinda hard to believe, maybe the whore just didn't get paid.

The Republicans point to Murtha being named an unindicted co-conspirator in the FBI's Abscam in the 1980s and the left gloats that Murtha turning down his suitcase full of sting money - conveniently ignoring the fact that as he was telling the sheik he was "not interested" in the cash he invited the sheik to invest a few million in his hometown, where unemployment was at 25 percent.

Some may think Murtha's stinging behavior, turning down the $50K and suggesting he and the sheik do business later, is forgivable. Or as has been suggested Murtha exhibited overwhelming concern for the plight of his constituents and was attempting to get something real accomplished such as an Arab factory. Robin Hood Murtha. Or it could be some old congressional porkers know a sheik in the hand is worth more than $50K in instant cash.

Murtha has brought home pork for academia and defense. The late David Hackworth wrote over a decade ago of Murth's use of defense pork :

"The 1994 kings of congressional pork are Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., and Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, but there are dozens of others who, behind closed doors, add on and earmark their own favorite parochial projects, turning military beef into blubber. The 1994 kings of congressional pork are Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., and Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, but there are dozens of others who, behind closed doors, add on and earmark their own favorite parochial projects, turning military beef into blubber.

Because of such shenanigans, money meant for the Pentagon, not the Department of Health and Human Services, is being spent on such things as breast cancer research ($230,000), AIDS research ($160 million) and bone marrow research ($37 million), according to the GAO report. Billions more are being spent on projects that have nothing to do with war-fighting.

Murtha has scored the biggest hits: $70 million for the University of Pittsburgh, $50 million for a National Drug Intelligence Center in his hometown and $65 million for Centers for Metalworking and Environmental Excellence."

How is it that for decades Murtha, Porkchop King of bringing home billions in defense and porking much of it into other blubber, doesn't think his funneling abetted in sending our troops to Iraq in aging flack jackets, short of bullets, and scavaging landfills for scrap metal?

In May 2004 the National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC) came under investigation because an "anonymous statement released by employees of NDIC accused not only Justice Department officials but Pennsylvania Congressman John Murtha who represents Johnstown and was instrumental in getting the center located there in the early 1990s, of ignoring repeated complaints about a "hostile" environment in the agency. "Employees have been in fear of retribution for speaking out," they said in the statement. "For over two years, employees have communicated their concerns to Congressman Murtha's office."

Today reports are that Murtha claims the Bush Generals are afraid to speak out. As scared as the NDIC employees in Murtha's hometown. Yep, all those chest metal heavy Generals are afraid; little wonder Iraq is a mess, led by brass who let pResident Smirk and Dick the Sneer strike fear in their hearts.

When wandering around the left side of the www there are comments from bloggers praising Murtha's military heroism - along with snide remarks that anyone who joins the military today is out of their mind. But how can that be, when Murtha signed up, and even argued to be sent to Vietnam in 1967; wouldn't that make him out of his mind too?