Federal lawmakers, governor express support for troops
U.S. Rep. John Murtha predicted Wednesday night that the first wave of attack on Iraq would happen by 9 p.m., just an hour after President Bush’s ultimatum to Saddam Hussein had expired. He was only 30 minutes too early.
Speaking by conference call Thursday afternoon from his Washington, D.C, office, Murtha said the U.S. and allied troops are well-trained and are using as much firepower in the first days of war
as was used in the first 30 days of the first Persian Gulf War 12 years ago.
While the first conflict was relatively brief, Murtha agreed with the president when he said the effort to disarm Saddam Hussein might take longer than many might expect.
“I think this will be slower because of the possibility of chemical weapons, the possibility of fighting within the cities and whether or not Saddam has been eliminated,” he said. “All of that will play into how brutal this war is going to be.”
Murtha said forces are trying to be careful not to destroy any of the Iraqi stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons that have not yet been located, but he said those sites will be found once the troops start moving in.
He said he is concerned about the length of time troops could be in Iraq once Saddam Hussein and his regime are toppled. He said that after World War II, Harry Truman said troops would be home within two years; however, U.S. soldiers still are stationed throughout Europe and the Middle East.
“It’s not easy to get out under most circumstances, and we are going to have to be in Iraq for a period of time,” he said. “Other countries must participate in rebuilding and rehabilitating Iraq.”
Murtha estimated that at least $100 billion will be spent on the war just in the current fiscal year, even while the United States keeps a close eye on other nations that also could pose a threat, such as North Korea.
While North Korea is not a threat in the short-term, Murtha said officials there are developing nuclear capability that could be sold to other nations.
He said to win the war, a leadership change in Iraq must occur, and other nations must work to allow Iraq to return to some semblance of normalcy.
Additionally, he said, the United Nations should take control of the Iraqi oil reserves once Hussein is out of power.
“Now is not the time to talk. We need to get this conflict over with, but we cannot bear the entire burden ourselves,” Murtha said.
In the wake of the opening barrage on Baghdad and other locations within Iraq, other representatives and senators from Pennsylvania voiced their opinions on the military action under way.
U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum said he supports the president’s action and said war is the last option.
“I am comforted in knowing that this country and her leaders have done everything possible to avoid the actions that have transpired throughout the night,” he said. “As we enter Iraq, we do so with the utmost concern for the Iraqi citizens and seek only to return control back into the hands of the people.”
Santorum commended President Bush for seeking to end the regime of Saddam Hussein and trying to strike members of the Iraqi military leadership. He said every effort is being made to spare innocent lives and to help the people of Iraq have a secure and liberated nation.
“The United States possesses the greatest fighting forces in the world, and I have strong faith in the brave men and women who are placing their lives in harm’s way for the cause of freedom,” he said. “My thoughts and prayers are with our troops, their families and all Americans at this time.”
His Pennsylvania colleague in the Senate, Arlen Specter, said in a statement that now is the time to rally behind the nation’s troops and finish the conflict with as few casualties as possible on all sides.
“Then, we should focus on rebuilding Iraq and mending, as far as possible, our fences with our international allies,” he said.
U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster, whose district includes a portion of Fayette County, concurred with Specter in asking everyone to support the almost 300,000 troops in the Persian Gulf region and to pray for their safe return.
“As President Bush said in his address, any war is a hazardous endeavor,” he said. “There is one certainty, however, and that is our ultimate success in liberating the people of Iraq.”
Gov. Ed Rendell issued a statement Thursday afternoon in support of the troops, and he called for all people to stand united behind the president, despite doubts about whether war was the proper course of action.
“As U.S. military forces begin operations to liberate Iraq from the deadly grip of its ruthless dictator, I join every American in praying for success with as little loss of life as possible,” Rendell said. “May God keep them and protect them in the difficult days to come.”