Calling Iraq a "Republican" war, an angry Rep. John Murtha today joined several top Democrats in threatening to withhold the nearly $200 billion in emergency military spending that President Bush has requested.
"It is the Republicans in Congress who continue to hand this president a blank check with no policy restrictions for the war in Iraq," said Mr. Murtha, D-Johnstown, who chairs the powerful House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. "This is their war."
Rep. David Obey, D-Wisc., chairman of the full House Appropriations Committee, said he and Mr. Murtha would try to use their power of the purse to force President Bush to change course.
"I have no intention of reporting out $200 billion," Mr. Obey said.
The chairman also said he will soon introduce legislation for a war tax surcharge for all Americans -- except members of the military and their families -- to cover the conflict's huge costs. The tax, he said, could add as much as 15 percent to the federal income tax bills of the wealthiest Americans, while low- and middle-income Americans would pay about 2 percent.
Mr. Obey predicted that such a tax would collect as much as $145 to $150 billion each year, near the annual price tag of the Iraq war.
"If you don't like the cost," he said, "then shut down this war."
Mr. Murtha angrily denied that their approach would imperil soldiers already on the battlefield, saying Congress could provide enough funds for basic needs through the annual defense appropriations bill currently under consideration.
"We're going to take care of the troops. Period," he said.
Yes, because cutting off the funding to our troops is how they need to be taken care of.
They're really grasping at straws, aren't they? Anything to cut and run, and if they can't get their way, they'll slap a war tax surcharge on us -- that way, they can force us to surrender. Obey said it himself -- if you don't like the cost, shut down the war. The consequences of doing so on our national security and on the people of Iraq are inconsequential to him and the rest of the surrendercrats.
And didn't Murtha just put it perfectly? This really is the Republican war. The vast majority of Republicans are for keeping the United States safe and not plunging Iraq into turmoil, most likely causing civil war and genocide, and giving Iran and Al Qaeda a new safe haven from which they can more easily attack the United States.
The Democrats' war, however, is on the United States itself. They'd much rather we plunged the United States into dhimmitude and all live under Sharia law, as is rapidly happening in Europe. Defend the United States? Please. What could a liberal possibly find that would be worth saving here? They want to ruin everything about this country that is great to turn it into their own elitist and socialist paradise, and have no qualms about letting Al Qaeda and the terrorists win.
He really couldn't have put it any better. Republicans = winning in Iraq. Democrats = surrender.
Hat Tip: Moonbattery
