Boston Globe
September 18, 2007
Primaries Stall Action On Iraq, Murtha Says
Predicts a shift from Republicans
By Kimberly Hefling, Associated Press
WASHINGTON - US Representative John Murtha predicted yesterday that Democrats will not be able to pass any meaningful legislation to end the Iraq war until presidential primary elections are over next year.
Murtha, a Vietnam veteran and war critic who chairs the appropriations subcommittee overseeing defense spending, conceded that not as many Republicans had broken with President Bush as many Democrats had predicted.
"As soon as the primaries are over, you're going to see Republicans jumping ship," the Pennsylvania Democrat said in a speech at the National Press Club.
Murtha also signaled that Congress won't even begin dealing with Bush's latest supplemental funding request for the war until after Congress has passed the annual defense spending bill, which doesn't include money for the war. He predicted the defense spending bill would pass in early October.
Bush has requested $147 billion to pay for the wars for Iraq and Afghanistan in budget year 2008, which begins Oct. 1, but Murtha said he expects the president could end up requesting about $200 billion.
Murtha said it will be difficult to get the 60 votes needed in the Senate to push a withdrawal measure through Congress. Primaries are scheduled into next June.
"I see what happens to a Republican when they say we ought to start to get out," Murtha said. "They bash them. I mean they attack them viscerally, and of course they're the ones that nominate them. Until that plays out we're going to have a problem."
After the speech, Murtha said he's been told privately by some Republicans who publicly support the war that they are opposed to it. He said he expects 40 to 50 House Republicans to lose their seats.
Senate Democrats have expressed confidence that they can pass legislation to give troops more rest between Iraq deployments, a measure aimed at pressing the Bush administration to change its war policy.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates called the proposal by Senator Jim Webb, Democrat of Virginia, a dangerous "back-door way" to draw down additional forces. Gates said he would recommend a veto.
"If we get this next phase wrong - no matter how you feel about how we got to where we are - the consequences of getting this wrong for Iraq, for the region, for us, are enormous," he said Sunday.
President Bush announced plans last week for a limited drawdown, but indicated combat forces would stay in Iraq well past 2008.
The Senate was scheduled to resume debate this week on antiwar legislation, including Webb's proposal that troops have as much time at their home station as they do deployed to Iraq.
Supporters of Webb's measure say it has at least 57 of the 60 votes needed. They would need 67 votes to override a veto.
A separate proposal by Senator Carl Levin, Democrat of Michigan, seeks to restrict troops' mission to fighting terrorists and training the Iraqi security force.
If Webb's amendment were enacted, Gates said, it would force him to consider extending tours in Iraq. Military commanders would be constrained in the use of available forces, creating gaps and forcing greater use of the National Guard and Reserve, he said.
"It would be extremely difficult for us to manage that. It really is a back-door way to try and force the president to accelerate the drawdown," Gates said.
September 18, 2007
Primaries Stall Action On Iraq, Murtha Says
Predicts a shift from Republicans
By Kimberly Hefling, Associated Press
WASHINGTON - US Representative John Murtha predicted yesterday that Democrats will not be able to pass any meaningful legislation to end the Iraq war until presidential primary elections are over next year.
Murtha, a Vietnam veteran and war critic who chairs the appropriations subcommittee overseeing defense spending, conceded that not as many Republicans had broken with President Bush as many Democrats had predicted.
"As soon as the primaries are over, you're going to see Republicans jumping ship," the Pennsylvania Democrat said in a speech at the National Press Club.
Murtha also signaled that Congress won't even begin dealing with Bush's latest supplemental funding request for the war until after Congress has passed the annual defense spending bill, which doesn't include money for the war. He predicted the defense spending bill would pass in early October.
Bush has requested $147 billion to pay for the wars for Iraq and Afghanistan in budget year 2008, which begins Oct. 1, but Murtha said he expects the president could end up requesting about $200 billion.
Murtha said it will be difficult to get the 60 votes needed in the Senate to push a withdrawal measure through Congress. Primaries are scheduled into next June.
"I see what happens to a Republican when they say we ought to start to get out," Murtha said. "They bash them. I mean they attack them viscerally, and of course they're the ones that nominate them. Until that plays out we're going to have a problem."
After the speech, Murtha said he's been told privately by some Republicans who publicly support the war that they are opposed to it. He said he expects 40 to 50 House Republicans to lose their seats.
Senate Democrats have expressed confidence that they can pass legislation to give troops more rest between Iraq deployments, a measure aimed at pressing the Bush administration to change its war policy.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates called the proposal by Senator Jim Webb, Democrat of Virginia, a dangerous "back-door way" to draw down additional forces. Gates said he would recommend a veto.
"If we get this next phase wrong - no matter how you feel about how we got to where we are - the consequences of getting this wrong for Iraq, for the region, for us, are enormous," he said Sunday.
President Bush announced plans last week for a limited drawdown, but indicated combat forces would stay in Iraq well past 2008.
The Senate was scheduled to resume debate this week on antiwar legislation, including Webb's proposal that troops have as much time at their home station as they do deployed to Iraq.
Supporters of Webb's measure say it has at least 57 of the 60 votes needed. They would need 67 votes to override a veto.
A separate proposal by Senator Carl Levin, Democrat of Michigan, seeks to restrict troops' mission to fighting terrorists and training the Iraqi security force.
If Webb's amendment were enacted, Gates said, it would force him to consider extending tours in Iraq. Military commanders would be constrained in the use of available forces, creating gaps and forcing greater use of the National Guard and Reserve, he said.
"It would be extremely difficult for us to manage that. It really is a back-door way to try and force the president to accelerate the drawdown," Gates said.


