Washington County, Pennsylvania Commissioner, Diana Irey is challenging long-time Congressman John Murtha for the 12th Pennsylvania District Congressional Seat.
She released the following statement in response to the Murtha press conference.
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 18, 2006
Irey Responds to Murtha’s Comments that
U.S. Troops Killed Iraqi Civilians in Cold BloodMonongahela, PA – Today, Washington County Commissioner and Republican Congressional nominee Diana Irey responded to her opponent’s recent comments claiming that U.S. Troops were responsible for the death of innocent Iraqi civilians.
“I was shocked and dismayed by my opponent’s charge that U.S. Marines are responsible for murdering Iraqi civilians in cold blood. Why John Murtha would say such a thing in the wake of an ongoing investigation and accuse our troops of such horrific actions is beyond comprehension,†Irey said.
Murtha made these comments at a press conference yesterday. “Our troops overreacted because of the pressure on them and they killed innocent civilians in cold blood,†Murtha said. He made these comments to reporters regarding an incident that occurred November 19th in Haditha, Iraq.
“There is no doubt that my opponent’s disregard for the presumption of innocence and Due Process will have an adverse effect on troop morale. Unfortunately, instead of showing support for our military personnel, his partisan rhetoric will only harm our country at this fragile time. His continued comments are a devastating blow to millions of men, women and children in the Middle East who are just getting their first taste of Democracy.†Irey said.
Diana Irey has spent the last decade in public service as a Washington County Commissioner, and she is now running to bring her vision of government responsibility, lower taxes, and family values to the United States Congress as the Representative of Pennsylvania’s 12th District.
Get more information about Diana Irey’s run for Congress here.
More say Send Murtha Packing! My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy and The Cotillion.
Previous Posts: Stop Murtha from Killing our Troops, Diana Irey for Congress
I offered her a sidebar link if that’s allowed under FEC rules (I have no idea if it is or not).
She sounds a lot more level headed then Murtha.
Yes, she does. I’ve been reading a lot of her stuff since yesterday. She will have an uphill battle. He has a lot of big money behind his campaign.
No More lies! The truth must be told. Demand Congressional hearings at once!
http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/05/18/putting-down-some-gravel/
Oh, Gaius! That’s awful! You shouldn’t post things like that! I’m so ashamed…..
Folks, this IS an ongoing NCIS investigation and Murtha was WAY outta line for speaking up like he did, but, my really BIG hope is that he’s WRONG…
Be careful of jumping to conclusions, there IS a chance the old fool is right… No matter, NOTHING excuses him for running his mouth tho…
I agree completely Texas Fred. I really hope the soldiers didn’t do what they are being investigated for. But they are being tried in the media now and that’s not right.
Murtha’s actions are inexcusable. He should hold his tongue till the investigation is completed.
Did you go to the link?
Yeah, and my fear is that IF it comes out that the Corps messed up, Murtha will look like some kind of vindicated EXPERT on war and Corps, which he is NOT…
He’s shooting in the dark and at the worst, if he’s wrong, and I pray he is, he looks like a fool, someplace he’s already familiar with…
My Beloved Curmudgeon looked up his war record today Texas Fred. He is no ‘expert’ …… not that he didn’t do his part - but he ASKED the Navy for the 2 Purple Hearts he received. He has held those Purple Hearts up as his proof of bravery for his career.
There’s no record of him having to receive medical treatment for either injury… no stitches, no nothing. They may have had to give him a bandaid, but they didn’t document it.
I really hope those guys didn’t do what he’s accused of. If they did anything near it - you are right, he’ll be held up as a martyr for all the flake he’s gotten for betraying the trust of the nation and the Marines….
My fear is that Murtha’s been made into a recognizable “somebody” to the masses. He enjoys name recognition, thanks to the media. In contrast, most Americans have not heard of Diana Irey. One can only hope that this works against him, rather than for.
This is a man who has thrust himself into the limelight and in doing so is now the deer in the headlights. If you take the time to read his statements or read the transcripts from his TV interviews you will see the lack of cogent thought or logic. He has spent 2 years telling the world that General Shinseki was fired or forced to resign, depending who he is talking to, when in fact neither is true. Look at the statement he issued when Zarkawi was killed and you can see 3 sentences that totally refute his own words. I do not live in the district. I live in New Jersey. My son, Specialist Kyle Andrew Griffin was killed along with 2 of his buddies who were from Pennsylvania in Iraq in 2003. To me Congressman Murtha has dishonered himself and all those in the military. He is the posterboy for why the insurgents contine.
Ron Griffin
Thank you Ron - I agree completely. I was listening to him today announcing that he will run for majority leader when the dems take control of the house. It seemed to me that he was completely clueless and I thought perhaps a little senile. He doesn’t seem to be in control of his faculties.
Ron - I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of your son. I can’t imagine how difficult that must be. And to hear someone like Murtha carrying on dishonoring someone like your son who really did fight and sacrifice must just be infuriating.
I just don’t have the words so I’ll leave it there. Please come back and visit.
By his own words he admits that it wasn’t in “Cold Blood”. What is wrong with guy? Massive BUSH hatred or something?
The whole thing sounds like a hoax anyway.
A Few Good Men
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Two groups have convicted the Marines of Haditha without the benefit of a trial. Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., leads one group. His group knows combat, but he wasn’t in Haditha and has attacked the Marines for political reasons. In his hatred for George Bush and his party’s constant search for ammunition against the war in Iraq, he has branded the Marines as cold blooded killers. They deserve their day in court without being attacked by Murtha.
Of the two groups, the first group disturbs me the most. John Murtha knew that the Marine Corps was investigating the incident. We would be better served if it could have been done without the damaging worldwide advertising campaign that Murtha has conducted. He has also damaged the individual Marine’s ability to get a fair trial. He should stop his anti-Bush campaign short of giving aid and comfort to the enemy, but he won’t. He should be more thoughtful, but he can’t. He should be ashamed, but he isn’t.
The second group is made up of pacifists, pundits, activists, and liberal media who have never served in combat. It would be nice to sit in a Starbucks, with a latte and say with certainty and righteous indignation: “If I had been there, I would not have done what they did.†I wish I could know with certainty that I would have done it differently. It would be so wonderful to have the comfort, the peace of mind, and the perspective to judge. I can’t. I know war and what it does to you. I know that anything can happen in the noise, smoke, heat, fear, and confusion of combat. I am grateful that I didn’t have to face a house-to-house situation like the Marines did. I can only imagine what I would have done.
I am amazed by those who don’t know combat, who condemn the Marines from their assumed moral high ground. They have such clarity, such confidence, such purity. Still, I wonder. Late at night, when it’s dark and quiet and they have only their thoughts, do they thank God, or simple good fortune, that others are putting their lives on the line? Are they secretly glad that there are those standing on the wall for them, going through hell, while they curse them for what they do? Do they imagine themselves fighting a better, cleaner, more humane war than our troops? Do they envision themselves following an insurgent or terrorist to a house and, rather than rolling a grenade in the door, ringing the doorbell?
I have been thinking a lot about the words of Colonel Jessep in “A Few Good Men.†I wish he was real and that he could grab some Americans by the shoulders, shake them and tell them:
“You can’t handle the truth! We live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who’s gonna do it? You? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. My existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don’t want the truth because deep down, in places you don’t talk about at parties, you want me on that wall. You need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty… We use these words as the backbone to a life spent defending something. You use them as a punch line. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to someone who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it! I would rather you just said thank you and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand a post. Either way, I don’t give a damn what you think you are entitled to!â€Â
Sleep well tonight. Enjoy your Pinot Noir. Relax in the hot tub. Try not to be too upset that you can’t be over there, doing it right. Don’t let it worry you that you aren’t protecting our country. Others are dying to do it for you.
Terry M. Sater
Eureka, Mo.