John Murtha's Legacy on the Iraq War

by Michael Jones · 2010-02-08 12:52:00 UTC
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John MurthaRep. John Murtha, the stalwart and hawkish Democrat from Johnstown, Pennsylvania, died today after complications arising from gall bladder surgery. Murtha was the first ever Vietnam combat veteran elected to Congress, and he spent most of his Congressional career focusing on issues of defense and military affairs.

In recent years, perhaps nothing defined Rep. Murtha's career more than his opposition to the Iraq War. After originally voting to authorize the use of force in Iraq in 2002, Rep. Murtha switched gears -- and got heads turning -- when in 2005 he called for an immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq, and sharply criticized the Bush administration's handling of the Iraq War.

Among certain circles, Rep. Murtha's criticism sparked a sea change in dialogue over the Iraq War. At the time Rep. Murtha was roundly praised by more conservative members of both parties as an authority on military affairs, commanding great respect from politicians and military leaders alike. His turn on the Iraq War not only was an about face in terms of his past votes, it also created space within the Democratic (and Republican, to some extent) parties for more fierce criticism of the way the Bush administration handled the Iraq War.

“The U.S. cannot accomplish anything further in Iraq militarily. It is time to bring [U.S. troops] home," Murtha said in 2005.

Talk about becoming a thorn in the side of Bush administration policy. Murtha would later go on to say that the current Iraq War was his biggest regret, and that it ruined his friendship with former Vice President Dick Cheney.

Scandals and a reputation for delivering a lot of pork to his district certainly also shaped Murtha's political reputation. But his last few years in office will definitely be remembered as a time where he gave cover to opponents of war who were up until 2005 so often accused of not supporting the troops. With Murtha, you had someone who was mostly beloved by the military, conservative in his bonafides, but recognized that the Bush administration didn't have the talent or the skill set to deliver the peace in Iraq.

Photo credit: defense.gov

Michael Jones
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