The Nation
When Dick Cheney, a Wyoming congressman who had never served in the military and who had failed during his political career to gain much respect from those who wore the uniform he had worked so hard to avoid putting on during the Vietnam War, was selected in 1989 by former President George Herbert Walker Bush to serve as Secretary of Defense, he had a credibility problem. Lacking in the experience and the connections required to effectively take charge of the Pentagon in turbulent times, he turned to a House colleague, Pennsylvania Democrat John Murtha, a decorated combat veteran whose hawkish stances on military matters had made him a favorite of the armed services. “I’m going to need a lot of help,” Cheney told Murtha. “I don’t know a blankety-blank thing about defense.”
Murtha, a retired Marine colonel who earned a chest full of medals during the Vietnam fight and who has often broken with fellow Democrats to back U.S. military interventions abroad — most notably in Latin America, where Murtha often supported former President Ronald Reagan’s controversial policies regarding El Salvador and Nicaragua in the 1980s — gave that assistance.
During both the first and second Bush administrations he emerged as a key ally — often, the most important Democratic ally — of the Republican presidents. Cheney frequently acknowledged their long working relationship, describing Murtha in public statements as a Democrat he could “work with.”
In the 2004 vice presidential debate, Cheney noted that, “One of my strongest allies in Congress when I was Secretary of Defense was Jack Murtha, a Democrat who is chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.” The vice president was particularly complimentary over the years of the Pennsylvania representatives decision to provide high-profile backing of the administration’s 2002 request for authorization to use force against Iraq.
But the cross-party relationship has soured as Murtha, whose concern has always been first and foremost for the men and women who serve in the military, has reached the conclusion that the Iraq intervention has steered U.S. troops into a quagmire from which they must be extracted. Typically blunt, Murtha said this week: “The U.S. cannot accomplish anything further in Iraq militarily. It is time to bring (the troops) home.”
Cheney’s response to the man he begged to help him understand military affairs during the first Bush administration was to rip into Murtha and other Democrats who had tried to work with the administration. “Some of the most irresponsible comments have, of course, come from politicians who actually voted in favor of authorising force against Saddam Hussein,” the vice president growled in a speech to the conservative Frontiers of Freedom Institute. In another clear reference to Murtha, Cheney said, “The president and I cannot prevent certain politicians from losing their memory, or their backbone — but we’re not going to sit by and let them rewrite history.”
Of course, it is not Murtha but Cheney who is rewriting history — or, at least, attempting to obscure it.
As Murtha noted, he’s the one who put on a Marine uniform, took his shots in Vietnam and went on to a long career of working with and defending the military, while Cheney is the one who did everything in his power to avoid serving in southeast Asia and has never been seen as a friend of the men and women who actually fight the wars the vice president so shamelessly — and disingenuously — promotes. “I like guys who got five deferments and (have) never been there and send people to war, and then don’t like to hear suggestions about what needs to be done,” said Murtha, referencing the vice president’s long record of draft avoidance in the 1960s.
The clearest evidence that Cheney still does not “get it” when it comes to defense policy is his decision to take on Jack Murtha. The draft dodger who not all that many years ago admitted that he “(didn’t) know a blankety-blank thing about defense” will come to regret picking a fight with the Marine he called in to help him understand military matters.
An expanded paperback edition of John Nichols’ biography of Vice President Dick Cheney, The Rise and Rise of Richard B. Cheney: Unlocking the Mysteries of the Most Powerful Vice President in American History (The New Press: 2005), is available nationwide at independent bookstores and at www.amazon.com. The book features an exclusive interview with Joe Wilson and a chapter on the vice president’s use and misuse of intelligence. Publisher’s Weekly describes the book as “a Fahrenheit 9/11 for Cheney” and Esquire magazine says it “reveals the inner Cheney.”
Jarheads, my brother is one. My point of reference is based mostly on the fact that Marines get f*&ked over worse than Army in basic training, but in general they tend to have a distinct edge when it comes to camradere. Hard times will strengthen the bond between any two people fighting side by side (Owens-McNabb a rare exception), but the Marines have it built into them – the concept of ‘brother’. That’s the kind of thing politics can never touch. That’s the kind of thing only a woman can destroy.
Two weeks ago, as I was starting my sixth month of duty in Iraq, I was forced to return to the USA for surgery for an injury I sustained prior to my deployment. With luck, I’ll return to Iraq in January to finish my tour. I left Baghdad and a war that has every indication that we are winning, to return to a demoralized country much like the one I returned to in 1971 after my tour in Vietnam. Maybe it’s because I’ll turn 60 years old in just four months, but I’m tired:
I’m tired of spineless politicians, both Democrat and Republican who lack the courage, fortitude, and character to see these difficult tasks through.
I’m tired of the hypocrisy of politicians who want to rewrite history when the going gets tough.
I’m tired of the disingenuous clamor from those that claim they “Support the Troops” by wanting them to “Cut and Run” before victory is achieved.
I’m tired of a mainstream media that can only focus on car bombs and casualty reports because they are too afraid to leave the safety of their hotels to report on the courage and success our brave men and women are having on the battlefield.
I’m tired that so many American’s think you can rebuild a dictatorship into a democracy over night.
I’m tired that so many ignore the bravery of the Iraqi people to go to the voting booth and freely elect a Constitution and soon a permanent Parliament.
I’m tired of the so called “Elite Left” that prolongs this war by giving aid and comfort to our enemy, just as they did during the Vietnam War.
I’m tired of anti-war protesters showing up at the funerals of our fallen soldiers. A family who’s loved ones gave their life in a just and noble cause, only to be cruelly tormented on the funeral day by cowardly protesters is beyond shameful.
I’m tired that my generation, the Baby Boom – Vietnam generation, who have such a weak backbone that they can’t stomach seeing the difficult tasks through to victory.
I’m tired that some are more concerned about the treatment of captives then they are the slaughter and beheading of our citizens and allies.
I’m tired that when we find mass graves it is seldom reported by the press, but mistreat a prisoner and it is front page news.
Mostly, I’m tired that the people of this great nation didn’t learn from history that there is no substitute for Victory.
Sincerely,
Joe Repya
Lieutenant Colonel
U. S. Army
101st Airborne Division
Is anybody listening?
59 year old returns to Iraq voluntarily. Joe get’s it.
Powerline Blog
The draft dodger who not all that many years ago admitted that he “(didn’t) know a blankety-blank thing about defense” will come to regret picking a fight with the Marine he called in to help him understand military matters.
Aw, come on, Clinton was a real draft dodger in the trues sense of the word so you can’t blame Cheney for using LEGAL deferments available to everyone back then. That would be hypocrisy of the highest order, did someone say Democrat???
Murtha has sold his self-respect and his credibility to the liberal establishment and in doing so has sold out the military he so often claims to be a part. It’s sad really.
Why is it the Republicans like pretend heros, but bash real heroes like Murtha and Mccaine? That is a real question, Repubs seem to like their heroes to be like Rambo, tough and imaginary.
Murtha and Cheney were in Congress together and they both know the political ropes and each other well. Murthat knew that he would take heat for his remarks. If the Democrats can play hard ball then the Republicans can too. When you take the gloves off all is fair !
Yaeh it is all politics, who cares about the guys in Iraq.
Yaeh it is all politics, who cares about the guys in Iraq.
Apparantly, Murtha doesn’t.
Democrats elected draft dodger Bill Clinton and have 80 years experience failing in combat. One guy doesn’t turn liberals into captain america. Murtha spends 6 years in the military and suddenly he is the be all, end all of military expertise.
Democrats have ZERO to talk about when it comes to the military. The whole support the troops mantra from Kerry and the group is just lip service. The difference between Dean and Bush is Dean only cares about the politics and Bush cares about America. Why do you think Dean always takes the easy, low road to everything in life?
RT:
Murtha is trying to get the country out of a quagmire. The repubs are trying to score political points. At this point everyone knows we need to get out but the repubs are trying to hide the fact with political tricks.
Hopefully all of this hubub will result in a thoughtful discussion of how to end the occupation of Iraq.
“Quagmire” Karl? We used the same term in the 60s when I was a Leftie. Old tricks never die especially with the Left/Liberal coterie ! Fortunately the former Lefties (like me) who are now to the roght see through it !
I meant “right” of course. 🙂
36 YEARS!!! Plus another 30 as a US Representative working closely with the military.
Right, the troops aren’t these mindless drones who automatically agree with one particular point of view. Do you understand what a single rotation in a warzone does to you? Let alone 3 or 4?
Paul – the reality on the ground, the number of attacks per week, the amount of energy being produced and used up in the country, the amount of oil that’s being pumped…everything points towards things getting worse by the day.
There are trackable measures that cannot go ignored. Murtha listed several of them. I’m going to transcribe his entire speech into this space so we can deal directly with the facts.
Murtha is trying to get the country out of a quagmire.
Murtha is trying to get re-elected and his liberal base is a frothing-at-the-mouth swarm of “anything to hurt Bush” fringe group. That was a mouthfull. Anyway, he’s positioning himself, maybe for a presidential run.
36 YEARS!!! Plus another 30 as a US Representative working closely with the military.
6 years active duty and the rest was the weekend-a-month gig. Else, he would be 104 years old right now.
Right, the troops aren’t these mindless drones who automatically agree with one particular point of view. Do you understand what a single rotation in a warzone does to you? Let alone 3 or 4?
You make it sound like these guys are forced to do 3 or 4 rotations. These guys are volunteering for the extra rotations. There are guys now volunteering for their first rotation. I don’t know what it does to you but maybe some people want more than a leather chair in an officers club for 6 years.
Remember the volunteer part of our volunteer army? You join the military for great career experience and know that there is a possibility of combat. It is the military, afterall.
Anyone who joins the infantry, armor or airborne and is surprised that they actually have to do the job they were hired for is a moron. That’s like getting a job at McDonalds and being surprised you have to flip burgers.
Murtha listed several of them.
But not all of them, just the ones that prove his point and not the ones that debunk his opinion. This is Murtha’s opinion after all, not the fact of the matter.
Right, let’s deal with the facts on the possible reasons ‘why’ he spoke out. First of all, 30 straight years in the House indicates two things – his reelection is not an issue, neither is there any indication that he’s got higher aspirations. 30 YEARS! There’s absolutely nothing that indicates he’s speaking out now for any other reason than he feels that he’s right about Iraq.
You don’t think he would have been tempted to run for Senator in the state that elected Rick Santorum (of all people) before now? Let’s deal in the facts here. This is a man who obviously loves his job.
So his military record doesn’t contain enough for you to respect this man and his point of view? What would he have had to do in the military for you to consider his opinion qualified? Again, the Swift Boating…the medals and service stripes on his uniform are meaningless because he’s a Democrat.
That’s a load of crap Right. The military is imposing a stop loss on these soldiers. One I spoke of in a previous piece had finished his 6 years and was sent to Iraq for 9 months past his contract date. Your understanding of how the American military is being stocked currently is misinformed. Whoever is saying such things is a liar. Stop Loss…that’s what keeps these soldiers on for extra rotations. It has NOTHING to do with choice.
Again, you’re completely ignoring the stop loss policy. A young man volunteers to serve four years in the infantry, and is in Iraq today in spite of the fact that four years are already up. He didn’t reinlist, nor was he asked whether he’d be willing to deploy again. The word ‘volunteer’ becomes irrelevant once the Army renigs on a soldiers’ end date.
Who is complaining about the mission? Where are the soldiers who refuse to follow orders in Iraq and carry out missions? Even the soldier who was extended against their will follows orders.
The issue has nothing to do with these people being crybabies or unwilling to do the job. This characterization of legitimate gripes our soldiers have is wrong in essence.
Right, here’s your cue. Let’s hear the evidence that progress is being made. I transcribed Murtha’s entire speech, have at it.
Right, let’s deal with the facts on the possible reasons ‘why’ he spoke out.
Yes, but it is equally as likely that he is speaking to his base of supporters. Can you guarantee that he is not turning his back on the military after all these years for political gain?
So his military record doesn’t contain enough for you to respect this man and his point of view?
Respecting his view has nothing to do with it. All great people make mistakes just like regular people do and you don’t have to look too far to see this is one of his. Cut and run is a huge mistake and he should know better, I know I do.
It has NOTHING to do with choice.
I read all the time about people volunteering to go to Iraq. What is causing a few to be stop lossed is the media and anti-soldier groups harassing military recruiters. The media can’t publish roadside bomb attacks quick enough, I wonder if some of those are being set by the reporters themselves…
Who is complaining about the mission? Where are the soldiers who refuse to follow orders in Iraq and carry out missions? Even the soldier who was extended against their will follows orders.
Democrats, they act like they are working for the soldiers best interests when a mojority of the soldiers see through this crap.
Right, here’s your cue. Let’s hear the evidence that progress is being made.
It will be tough since the media has clamped down on the real situation in Iraq but I’ll give it a shot.
Paul:
You are a recovering hippie? Congradulations stay away from petruli oil and you may make it.
Viet Nam was a quagmire, and now Iraq is one as well, that is just the fact, it is not about politics anymore it is about doing what is best for the country, and withdrawing from Iraq is best for both countries at this point.
BTW I am really not a leftist, I agree with true conservatives on many issues but the social conservatives seem more like christian socialists, and idiocy bothers me regardless of which party it comes from. For example the Gores stance on Elian Gonzales would have made me not vote for him had I been old enough to vote in 2000. Joanne Conti who was the democratic candidate in Tom Tancredos district is anti-gun so I left that choice blank. In other words I am pretty moderate.