Redeploy Ploy

John Murtha: Today marks the two year anniversary of my public call for the redeployment of U.S. forces from Iraq.

This week the House of Representatives passed legislation that provides the President, our troops, and our nation with a responsible plan for bringing our troops home.

It requires the redeployment of U.S. troops from Iraq to begin within 30 days, with a target for completion of December 15, 2008. It ensures that our troops are fully trained and equipped before they are sent to Iraq. It extends the Army Field Manual to all personnel, making torture not only unacceptable but also unlawful. And it transitions our forces from a combat roll to specifically supporting and training Iraqi Security Forces and counter-terrorism operations.

Unfortunately Senate Republicans today chose to stand by the President instead of the American people's call for a new direction.

-----Re-de-ployed to where John?

Kuwait, Saudi, Turkey, Bahrain, Libya, Israel, Kazakastan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Sudan, Egypt, Somalia, all of the above? You did say 2 years ago troops should be re-deployed in the region to "create a quick reaction force in the region, to create an over-the-horizon presence of Marines," while we pursue diplomacy of course, somewhere over the horizon.

The people's call for a "new direction" - is that the name of a campaign bus tour or some sort of 12 step program? "Over-the-horizon", did you mean rainbow?

I'm just unclear on the details, the specifics of "redeployment." And, could you explain to my simple mind how a smaller presence, only for supporting and training the ISF will make US troops less of a target? Also tell me exactly what is included in "counter-terrorism operations." Is that where the troops are hunting down and smoking out al-queda in Iraq?

You know John, training ISF and a counter-terrorism role sounds pretty much to me like what US troops have been doing and are doing now. And ya think it can be done more safely with fewer boots on the ground in Iraq?

One last question John, if BushCo "ends the war" or re-deploys the troops before election 2008 – do ya think a republican will take the White House?