Think Progress

Murtha To Cut Funds For Iraq Contractors To Force Pentagon’s Hand

Today, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and other House leaders held a press briefing to announce their Iraq war spending plan, which would redeploy U.S. forces out of Iraq by August 2008 at the latest. More details HERE.

Another provision of the bill was detailed by Rep. John Murtha (D-PA), chairman of the defense spending subcommittee. Murtha explained that the Pentagon has repeatedly stonewalled information about the role of private contractors in Iraq. “I asked the Under Secretary of Defense. He says, ‘I’ll let you know tomorrow.’ We’ve never gotten an answer back,” Murtha said.

Now, Murtha says, both the Government Accountability Office and the Special Inspector General for Iraq have come to him and said, “Help us get a handle on the contractors.” So Murtha is going to play hardball. “[W]e took five percent of their money out, and that’s about $800 million. We also fenced 10 percent of their money. We want answers about whether these contractors — how much it costs us, how many we have, and how the contracts are being, are being given to these various organizations.” Watch it:

[flv http://video.thinkprogress.org/2007/03/mrthcont.320.240.flv]

Also today, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is marking up the Accountability in Contracting Act, which would require federal agencies to limit the use of abuse-prone contracts and increase transparency and accountability in federal contracting.

Transcript:

MURTHA: Contractors. When I was in Iraq with the Speaker, the contractors [were] falling all over themselves. I asked the GAO and the Inspector General, how many contractors we have. I asked the Under Secretary of Defense. He says, ‘I’ll let you know tomorrow.’ We’ve never gotten an answer back. GAO and Inspector General of Iraq said, ‘Help us get a handle on the contractors.’ So we took five percent of their money out, and that’s about $800 million. We also fenced 10 percent of their money. We want answers about whether these contractors — how much it costs us, how many we have, and how the contracts are being, are being given to these various organizations.



84 Responses to “Murtha To Cut Funds For Iraq Contractors To Force Pentagon’s Hand”

  1. RUCerious says:

    We should go back to the “old school” army. You know the one that has clerks, cooks, mechanics all internal.
    The main reason we privatized the military was to fatten Halliburton’s bottom line.
    Oh, and Cheney’s bottom.


  2. kdoug says:

    Carry On Mr. Murtha. You are the only one doing anything. Actions speak louder than words.


  3. R says:

    I like this guy. He doesn’t pussy-foot around, nor does he let anyone else. He’s solid and a good ally for Pelosi.


  4. Patrick1 says:

    Is this payback to his Arab handlers?


  5. VerbalKint says:

    Is this payback to his Arab handlers?

    Comment by Patrick1 — March 8, 2007 @ 12:41 pm

    Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha

    What an idiot. I wonder if Patrick1 is Seixon gone off his rocker.


  6. ImpeachBushNow says:

    They probably had no idea how many contractors they have because Halliburton uses subsidiaries, then they use them, and on and on. Just like no one has any idea how much money they’ve stolen from the American taxpayer or the Iraqis.

    That treason talk, there, Pudrick.


  7. R says:

    Somebody has to put a stop to this ridiculous no-bid BS that this administration enjoys. Chimpy needs to be on an allowance program, since he doesn’t have a clue how to manage it for himself. We’ll throw him a banana, every once in awhile.


  8. Spudge_Boy says:

    Naw, Seixxon could actually string sentences together to form a paragraph. Patrick1, Vince P’s power bottom known as michael, can’t put more than one or two phrses together to form a broken sentence.


  9. R says:

    #4- Like a banana?


  10. TripMaster Monkey says:

    Spudge_Boy sez:

    Patrick1, Vince P’s power bottom known as michael…

    Ack! You did it again! And this time, I’m at work!

    How am I supposed to scour this image from my mind if I can’t drink myself comatose???


  11. Wayne says:

    Comment by Spudge_Boy

    ROFLMAO….


  12. AkaDad says:

    Accountability and oversight only emboldens the enemy at our nations peril.


  13. buzzbomb says:

    Patrick, the only politicians in America that have Arab Handlers are Bush and Cheney, so STFU moron!!


  14. Evil Spaniard says:

    The only objective of private contractors is to avoid accountability, both fiscal and moral. You can do always “creative accounting” putting the money payed to contractors under “other payments” and not directly under “military”, thus obfuscating where the money has gone and how much si being funneled to the war. Morally, it allows having “civilian” (I always considered mercenarians as “military”, and more likely “ruthless military”") soldiers, interrogators, torturers, hitmen, etc…

    And, how many times have you heard of “number of contractors dead”? Not as many as “number of soldiers dead”. In any previous war, these would be considered military deads, also. So, most probably, the number of military machine deaths is far greater.


  15. Raven says:

    #12… sarcasm, yes?


  16. bluefish says:

    If it is true that given infinite time, 1000 monkeys with typewriters would eventually duplicate the works of Shakespeare, I suspect it would take those same monkeys no more than 15 seconds to duplicate the tripe that Patrick1 subjects this blog to on a daily basis.


  17. Roger_Roger says:

    While I applaud the Dems from growing a back bone, I still fail to understand why they are voting yes to extending this war when they could stop it now. The folks here want to argue that voting no now means Bush would leave are troops their anyways and let them starve to death. What the Dems are doing is voting yes but saying that the money stops in Auguest of 2008. If they believe voting no today could endanger the troops due to Bush keeping them there anyways, what would hold Bush back from doing the same in August of 2008?

    In the end, the Dems must be thinking one of 2 things. Either deep down they believe Bush’s new plan’s have a valid chance at success and want to support that effort OR they calculated the politcal wind and came to the conclusion they can gain more power by supporting the war instead of ending it like they promised. Guess I’ll leave that up to you to decide. The TP crowd certainly doesn’t think Bush’s new plans are sounds so that leaves us with the assumption the Dems are now supporting the war for politcal gain.

    I will give credit to Murtha however. He is right in demanding accountability from the military and how they spend our money. I applaud his effort and I hope he keeps it up. One has to wonder why someone who is so against the war reduces spending by 5%. He is effectively voting yes to money for a war he disagrees with. I would have thought that Murtha of all people would be voting no to a war he finds illegal. Anyone who thinks this war is a crime and then votes to give support for it would have to believe they to are now committing a crime. Very confusing on his part.

    Being someone who thinks we should clean up this mess in Iraq since we are at fault, I like Murtha’s plan however. Contractors have fleeced us for to long. Thank you mister Murtha for demanding accountability and for giving the USA another chance to extend this war and hopefully fix our mess.


  18. Yikes says:

    Partial list of contractor casualties

    Different number.

    One more reason you don’t hear about these is that they are not all Americans.


  19. hellinabucket says:

    It’s about time. The Dick n Bush gang FOOBAR’D this thing up so bad we now have to ask:

    We want answers about whether these contractors — how much it costs us, how many we have, and how the contracts are being, are being given to these various organizations.”

    Keep on punching Senator. You have my support.

    P1 isn’t worthy of holding the jock strap of the lowest assistant to Murtha.


  20. verse18 says:

    Uh-oh. Patrick1 is on another thread. Expect the average IQ to drop significantly.


  21. AkaDad says:

  22. DutchHenry says:

    Carry On Mr. Murtha. You are the only one doing anything. Actions speak louder than words.

    Comment by kdoug

    Well said, seems like only Murtha is putting forward the effort to stop this war the Repukes lied us into.


  23. Some Guy says:

    I have one thing to say: What took them so long?


  24. Shane says:

    #15

    Yes =]

    Comment by AkaDad

    So glad Raven caught that – I was spitting all over myself.


  25. Tuber says:

    #17-R2,

    Please contact your representative and Senators and demand that they put an end to this war immediately by coming up with a better plan than what was just presented.

    Also, I don’t understand your logic when you say:

    Being someone who thinks we should clean up this mess in Iraq since we are at fault…
    Comment by Roger_Roger — March 8, 2007 @ 1:16 pm

    Isn’t that like expecting the rapist to then counsel and heal the wounds of the victims of the rapes? Or, wouldn’t it be the same as putting the Germans in charge of rebuilding Europe after WWII?


  26. Shane says:

    Is this payback to his Arab handlers?

    Comment by Patrick1

    I think he’s off his antipsychotics.

    Murtha for President!


  27. Tobey Tall says:

    Murthas the man


  28. hellinabucket says:

    Roger Roger, I believe a more accurate statement would be “pull the car over, get out and hand over the keys”.


  29. HeartlandLiberal says:

    This man needs to be in the VP slot on the next presidential Democratic ticket.


  30. marcus robinson says:

    heck of a job John.


  31. DM says:

    Some people in power manipulate the system and push things for their personal benefit so that they get rich enough that they never have to worry about paying for dinner again.

    Some people in power act with such consistent honor and integrity that no matter where they travel people will make sure that they never have to worry about paying for dinner again.

    Just sayin’. It’s usually no more work to do something right than it is to do it wrong (or find a way not to do it at all). Kudos to those who do it right.


  32. big papa says:

    Is this payback to his Arab handlers?

    Comment by Patrick1 #4

    The right wing inbred Bushite solution (to Iraq and all other TREASONOUS criminal Bushite corruption):

    1) The people’s right to know is superceded by the Emperor’s right to secrecy…

    2) So don’t tell us (the people) anything, and that way we won’t know…

    3) We cannot be held responsible for (or take action against) that which we do not know…

    4) So don’t tell us anything because we don’t want the responsibilty of knowing, and no action need be taken…

    …Oh and Patty EVERYONE knows that Bushiva and l’il Dick are OWNED by the House of Saud…


  33. RayFerd says:

    #4

    Is this payback to his Arab handlers?

    Comment by Patrick1 — March 8, 2007 @ 12:41 pm

    Patrick, Patrick,
    Why don’t you and SpongeBob go off and play while the adults talk.


  34. chimpeach says:

    Murtha, you cruel bastard! How could you?!! Don’t you realize that by cutting funding to the contractors, their poor children are going to have to drive into the high school parking lot in last year’s Hummers? It’s disgraceful, I tell you. Won’t someone think of the children?!!!


  35. chimpeach says:

    #13 buzzbomb

    Patrick, the only politicians in America that have Arab Handlers are Bush and Cheney, so STFU moron!!

    In Bush’s case, the ‘handling’ is literal.


  36. Who is John Galt? says:

    This is great news; Rep. Murtha is definitely one of the bright spots in our party.

    On another note, I can’t count how many times John Boehner said “Democrat” instead of Democratic in his response to this on c-span.


  37. big papa says:

    On another note, I can’t count how many times John Boehner said “Democrat” instead of Democratic in his response to this on c-span.

    Comment by Who is John Galt? #36

    GOOD! Maybe NOW the Democrats…

    …will start referring to the TREASONOUS Bushites, their co-conspirators and supporters…

    …as REPULSIVESCUM/TRAITORS…

    …which is EXACTLY what they are…


  38. neildeal says:

    That’s a start. I hope more Dems grow a back bone. Call your representatives people!

    I’m calling mine, but the problem is that my Democratic Congressman (Ellison) and my Democratic Senator (Klobuchar) are both new, junior members with no sway. You people with the congressional veterans need to call and email and shoot flares.

    (I’m probably preaching to the choir here, but I think we need to turn up the heat.)


  39. ggibson says:

    Sooo is the Saudi embassy still the only embassy with an American Secret Service. When are the Saudis and Bin Ladens going to be brought back to talk to the FBI about what they know about 911?


  40. Roger_Roger says:

    #25 Actually, it is like when my son makes a mess with his toys. I expect that since he made the mess, he cleans it up. Also like when someone accidently hits someone elses car. You expect that person to pay for the mess they caused.

    Same thing in Iraq. We invaded Iraq and we should not have. This was something we learned in hindsight when we found no WMD’s. This is clearly an accident and we are clearly at fault. It is our obligation to fix and clean it up. It would be immoral to walk away from this and let others attempt to fix it. It would be beyond rude, it would be heartless as well. Our only goal should be to get Iraq’s government to a point where they can defend itself and defend it’s country against terrorists. Of course some maniac looking to commit suicide with a bomb is not something anyone could stop all the time. We in the USA couldn’t stop that type of behavior all the time either if a group started doing it. We shouldn’t expect anything better out of them.

    Either way, I truly hope for nothing but the best for the Iraqi people and thier government. I hope we can support them in their efforts towards freedom and security. We all understand it could fail but I hope we are all still pushing hard for that not to happen. Everyone understands that if we walk away from our mistake right now, we turn the country into a safe haven for terrorists and we instantly make the entire free world a much more unsafe place. We have done more then enough damage through our mistaken war. We not only severely damaged Iraq, but we have undoubtily made ourselves less popular meaning less safe. Why would we compound this mistake by leaving and making it even worse?

    Side Note: THIS IS MY OPINION and I could be wrong, hence “Opinion”. The view that leaving Iraq right now may actually reduce violence and somehow promote freedom and democracy quicker could be true. I am making a judgement call.


  41. Karim says:

    Murtha keeps on doing right by the military. Let us do the same.


  42. Deniz Yeter says:

    Wouldn’t be surprised if Defense Contractors have their mercenaries of the CIA kill John Murtha

    US soldiers won’t cross the Rubicon, but the mercenaries will!


  43. ggibson says:

    Same thing in Iraq. We invaded Iraq and we should not have. This was something we learned in hindsight when we found no WMD’s.
    Comment by Roger_Roger

    People were warning before the invasion. So this isnt just an accident. This is involuntary homicide at best or first degree murder. IF a person recklessly kills someone you dont let them keep going on trying to fix what they did… you make them go away and pay for what they did and then other more responsible people clean up the mess as best as possible.


  44. Roger_Roger says:

    #43 Again, someone provide this evidence that proves the 100’s of pages and hours of CIA meetings provided to Bush and Cheney were all “made up”. Did the CIA warm Congress and Bush the evidence they provided Bush and Congress was wrong? That doesn’t even kinda make sense. Please don’t go with the Hans warmed them crap again. Hans warned everyone. I would hope congress and Bush took that into account and decided the man was not informed or simply wrong. So when you say “people”, do you mean 1 weapons inspector that Saddam wouldn’t allow access to much of Iraq and also preplanned where he could go? Did you expect this man to find weapons? I am sure Hans would tell you he didn’t expect to find weapons.

    Anyways, show this huge vault of evidence you have showing the hours and hours of evidence was all made up by Cheney/Bush personally.


  45. ggibson says:

    Comment by Roger_Roger

    We have shown you over and over. Just read. You pretending like we didnt provide link after link and qoute after qoute doesnt make it go away.


  46. ggibson says:

    THINK PROGRESS… Maybe what needs to be done is someone with a full time job concerning these matters can do what the jurors did for libby…. create a timeline and event model (look them up there are applications that help you make these such as Microsoft Visio) and chart out exactly who said what when in graphical form so that people like Roger_Roger can be shown with their own eyes how it all played out. Them playing dumb is getting really really old.


  47. Roger_Roger says:

    #45 So far this is what your shown me as your evidence:

    1) Cheney said there is “No Doubt” Iraq has WMD

    This just shows Cheney believed the evidence him and congress reveiwed. Wow really mind blowing stuff!!

    2) It was Proven Iraq wasn’t looking for yellowcake in Africa before we started this war.

    This evidence again doesn’t show Iraq didn’t have WMD’s like the evidence Congress and Bush reveiwed stated. This fails to disprove anyone was lying about Iraq having WMD’s.

    3) The Congress received all this evidence but in a different format that provided them with footnotes they failed to read.

    This just proves congress is retarded.

    4) 1 Weapons inspector said Iraq probably didn’t have WMD’s (which doesn’t prove anyone lied about anything).

    This proves nothing. This is also “evidence” that congress as well as Bush must have considered. The obviously felt the intel provided to them by the CIA and other world governments was stronger then the word of one weapons inspector.

    5) The Crowd at TP knows they lied because they can “feel” it.

    This is a pipe dream that anyone would believe you simply because you say its true. Again, please show me evidence that Cheney/Bush knew the 100’s of pages and hours of testimony they and congress received was all faulty before the war started. This is intel again, so of course alot of it is opinion and “best guess’” as that is what the CIA does so make sure and show me that Bush/Cheney knew for a fact that every single shred of WMD evidence they received was all a lie BEFORE they started the war.

    ggibson, no matter how many times you say you provided me with evidence, it isn’t anymore true unless you actually provide this mystical evidence. NO SHOW IT TO ME!!!


  48. ggibson says:

    Powell and Rice before 911 “Iraq is not a threat”

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1X-I-38lrU

    Cheney right after 911 “Iraq is a threat”

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvJYezckT6g

    What changed? Not the intelligence. Maybe it was the “Office of Special Plans” that was making up intelligence? Downing Street Memo?

    Before 911 NOT a threat.

    After 911 IS a threat.

    They made this shit up. There was no intelligence to have changed their minds. They made up their minds based on what THEY wanted… NOT what America needed.

    Look up Kwiatkowski and “The Lie Factory” and “Office of Special Plans”


  49. Roger_Roger says:

    ggison,

    So the fact that 2 officials said Iraq wasn’t a threat and 1 said Iraq was a threat AFTER 9/11, which changed everything, is evidence of what exactly?

    So you take 2 youtbue videos that show 3 officials that don’t agree and use that to make an assumption that evidence was “made up”. Get ahold of yourself man. That doesn’t even sound sane. That would be the world’s largest leap to assume that from 2 videos saying Iraq is or isn’t a threat. HAHA


  50. ValiantVenusGrewFromUranus says:

    ggison, So the fact that 2 officials said Iraq wasn’t a threat and 1 said Iraq was a threat AFTER 9/11, which changed everything, is evidence of what exactly? Comment by Roger_Roger — March 8, 2007 @ 4:27 pm

    So dum bass, you still avoided the question. What changed before and after 911 that suddenly caused Iraq to be a threat? They were under the same sanctions, and had the same limited military.

    You’re really a fcuking moron aren’t you?


  51. ggibson says:

    AFTER 9/11, which changed everything

    911 didnt change everything… That is just a slogan. After 911… the truth is the same truth as before 911… before 911 the law is the same law as after 911… before 911 the U.S. Constitution is the same as after 911… video before 911 works just like video after 911… before 911 facts work the same way facts work after 911…

    FACT is that before 911 and after 911 no new intelligence gave America ANY reason to believe that Iraq was a threat to our nation or even had the capacity to be a threat to us.

    FACT is that before 911 Osama and his supporters were SAUDIS.

    FACT is that before 911 Bush and his supporters were SAUDIS or SAUDI business partners.

    FACT is that after 911 Osama was STILL a Saudi and so were his supporters.

    FACT is that after 911 Bush and his supporters were SAUDIS or SAUDI business partners.

    FACT is that Bush and his traitor followers steered America away from Saudi Arabia to Iraq.

    TRAITORS. Clear as day.


  52. ggibson says:

    Comment by Roger_Roger

    Do you have any clue how long it would take me to list ALL of the evidence? I would clog this whole thread up with long long lists of evidence… read “The Lie Factory” there are many many many articles out there… books worth of information… why would you expect me to list it all here? It has taken me years to read just SOME of it. I pointed you towards the door… it is YOUR responsiblity to walk through.


  53. Roger_Roger says:

    Forgot to add this.

    You asked what changed? OMG, 9/11 is what changed is dumbass. After that day America realized we cannot stand alone the side lines. Our enemies have to be watched and dealt with. Iraq changed in importance big time after 9/11 as we realized we cannot allow countries that are our enemies to freely build forces and weapons. We also realized that Iraq, while not being about to fire a missle across the sea with WMD in it, still had WMD (which we later learned was false). Certainly Rice and Powell would assume Iraq’s WMD’s were not a threat since Iraq had no delivery system capable of hitting the USA. After 9/11, Iraq’s WMD’s were evaluated in a different light and become a much bigger threat. This is obvious stuff sir.


  54. Roger_Roger says:

    #52 I want to hear this evidence. Just don’t include anything that is opinion, assumption, or irrelevant. Things like Cheney saying Iraq “definetly has WMD’s” isn’t relevant and actually supports that he believed the evidence the CIA showed him. Things like Hans saying Iraq didn’t have WMD’s again isn’t evidence. What I am looking for is clear evidence that shows Bush/Cheney Clearly knew all the evidence the CIA, England, and Isreal presented them and congress with was faulty before the invasion. I have never seen this evidence but having it and showing it would certainly change many of my views. I would have thought some news cast would have shown this evidence. Hell, why isn’t he impeached if such evidence exists? Anyways, please clog this thread up with this mystical evidence I have been begging for weeks for.


  55. Tuber says:

    #53-R2,

    Yes, 9/11 changed everything.

    You see, in 1941 when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, the US responded by engaging Japan.

    But 60 years later in 2001 when Saudi Arabia attacked New York and Washington, the US responded by murdering Afghanis and Iraqis while removing their teeth so that the BJ that they’ve been giving the Saudis would be less abrasive.

    Yup, everything changed on 9/11. The US turned into cowards and murderers to the delight of the unintelligent and willfully ignorant.

    Thems the facts.


  56. jeff says:

  57. TerrytheTurtle says:

    “9-11….” blah blah blah.

    September 10th, 2001: Saddam supposedly has WMD but no delivery system. I guess he could give them to a terror group to use against the US – but he hasn’t in all of the preceding 3 years since the UN inspectors leave….why not?
    a. He doesn’t have any
    b. He is constrained by the Us/Uk blockade
    c. Doing so doesn’t help him in any way at all and will likely bring catastrophe down on him
    d. All of the above

    September 12th 2001: Saddam watches as 19 mostly Saudis kill 3000 people in a single day without using WMD at all. He:
    a. Thanks Allah he had nothing to do with it because if he did – wow would he get his ass invaded
    b. Sends memo to internal security to redouble efforts to apprehend Al Zarqawi pronto
    c. Calls his generals in and says: “F***ing great let’s send some shit to Bin Laden so he can let off a dirty nuke in Washington” – “But we don’t have any Excellency and besides you told us to stay away from BinLaden because he was daft enough to get us all killed”

    9-11 changed nothing in Iraq, nothing at all – Saddak was no madman, he was no fool. 9-11 was Bush’s excuse to ‘be a war president’ and PNAC’s “new Pearl Harbor”.

    c.


  58. rachel kinnardi says:

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    At Peace Action we believe…

    …that war is not a suitable response to conflict.

    For nearly 50 years Peace Action has worked for an environment where all are free from violence and war. We understand that long standing global conflicts require long-term solutions, and that US foreign policy has a lasting effect on the world. We are working to promote a new US foreign policy that is based on peaceful support for human rights and democracy, reducing the threat from weapons of mass destruction, and cooperation with the world community. We are against pre-emptive war, and call for a full withdrawal of American troops from Iraq.

    …that every person has the right to live without the threat from nuclear weapons.

    There are still over 30,000 nuclear weapons in the world. The US and Russia still have thousands of nuclear weapons, on hair trigger alert—ready to launch in minutes. While the Cold War may have ended, the nuclear threat has not. The only way to ensure that nuclear weapons will never be used – whether purposefully, or accidentally – is global abolition. The U.S. must lead the way to a safer world by taking our weapons off hair trigger alert, halting our research and development of new nuclear weapons and disarming and demilitarizing our warhead stockpile of over 10,000 nuclear warheads. We can reduce the threat to the world posed by nuclear weapons, but we must start by getting serious about getting rid of our own weapons of mass destruction.

    …that America has the resources to both protect and provide for its citizens.

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  59. Roger_Roger says:

    #55 Honestly, you don’t believe Saudi Arabia attacked us no more then you believe Iraq attacked us and you can’t believe the Afgan war was wrong. Even the Dems are for the afgan war and it was just. Saudi Arabia isn’t even a factor. Nice try to divert the subject, but I don’t get into discussions with loony’s. Next thing your going to say the USA was in on the attack. Those people are really creepy.


  60. ggibson says:

    Comment by Roger_Roger

    Osama == Saudi

    Al Qeads funders == Saudi

    911 “hyjackers” == Saudi

    Muslim clerics preaching to kill Americans and kill Israeli men and take their women as slaves? == Saudi

    Who kicked Osama out of their country but didnt sieze his 100s of millions? == Saudis…

    Who has made untold EXTRA billions off oil since 911? == Saudis …

    Who summons OUR VP and puts him on notice? == Saudis…

    No I am NOT kidding.

    If I had been president on 9/12 I would have given Saudi Arabia ONE chance (because Jesus would have) and then if they didnt take it I would pump their oil for them and let them see what the germans felt during WWII as we flew over their skys droping death.

    No I am NOT kidding.


  61. Tuber says:

    #59-R2,

    Actually, you’re the one diverting. Show me one factual connection between Afghanistan and 9/11.

    The facts that I base my claim on are these:

    - 15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudi Arabian citizens
    - The vast majority of the financial backing for the Taliban and “Al Qaeda” is Saudi Arabian “charities”
    - Osama Bin Laden is a Saudi Arabian PRINCE

    Okay, what are your FACTS that you base your claim on. No opinions. No speculations. No forged documents. Just facts.

    Go for it cowboy.


  62. valiant venus says:

    John “Benedict” Murtha could single handedly contribute to the mistrial of Marines charged with killing a civilian in Haditha. “Big-mouth” Murtha convicted these guys in the media and he should be ashamed of himself. He had know way of knowing what evidence wasbeing presented before he stupidly weighed in. Such an idiot – it’s not surprising he’s loved by “progressives”.


  63. valiant venus says:

    “Show me one factual connection between Afghanistan and 9/11.”

    Tubey – The only connection between Afghanistan and 9/11 is the FACT that the Taliban, which had taken over operational aspects of the Afghan government, welcomed Osama and gave him plenty of room for his jihad training camps.

    Check….Mate.


  64. valiant venus says:

    ggibson – I don’t disagree with you. Be glad I’m not running the “show”. The Saudis are NOT our friends, have never been our friends and will NEVER be our friends.

    But for the time being, we need their oil. I LONG for the day we can flip them the bird and sell them shovels to scoop their camel dung. But until then, “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.”


  65. Raymond Funamoto says:

    TIME FOR SOME SERIOUS ASS-KICKING OF CONTRACTORS’ BUTTS BY Nancy and John!!!!!


  66. Gerald Gibson Jr says:

    Comment by valiant venus

    Murtha just like any American can talk about whatever he wants on TV. TV is not a court of law.


  67. Arn Gunnutes says:

    MURTHA is a PATRIOT who cares about the TROOPS, their well-being, and NOT being used as PAWNS and CANNON-FODDER

    by WAR CRIMINAL TRAITORS like George W. Bush the fag.


  68. Gary says:

    To those that claim that withdrawal is a plan for failure, these are the real failures:
    The war failed before it was begun by use of lies and distortions.
    It failed when it was prosecuted using torture and violations of human and constitutional rights.
    It failed when we took our eye off of the ball in Afghanistan.
    George Bush failed to support his military by misusing then mismanaging them.
    He failed to support his country by taking us into this war in the first place.
    It will be an even more grievous failure for us to allow this disastrous course to continue.
    He failed as a president and he failed as a commander in chief.
    It will be a failure to allow this disastrous course to continue.


  69. ValiantVenusGrewFromUranus says:

    Tubey – The only connection between Afghanistan and 9/11 is the FACT that the Taliban, which had taken over operational aspects of the Afghan government, welcomed Osama and gave him plenty of room for his jihad training camps. Check….Mate. Comment by valiant venus — March 8, 2007 @ 9:38 pm

    Yet Osama and his fellow Saudis were receiving money and support as Saudis. Check….Mate. you st*pid c*nt.


  70. ValiantVenusGrewFromUranus says:

    ggibson – I don’t disagree with you. Be glad I’m not running the “show”. The Saudis are NOT our friends, have never been our friends and will NEVER be our friends. Comment by valiant venus — March 8, 2007 @ 9:43 pm

    Of course not you st*pid c*nt.

    But for the time being, we need their oil. I LONG for the day we can flip them the bird and sell them shovels to scoop their camel dung. But until then, “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.”
    Comment by valiant venus — March 8, 2007 @ 9:43 pm

    So you’ll negotiate with *terrorists* as long as you have economic interests? While we’re on the point of camel dung, why don’t you move your Toranimal *ss back to the sand pits where you belong, you miserable st*pid c*nt?


  71. valiant venus says:

    “Murtha just like any American can talk about whatever he wants on TV. TV is not a court of law.” Comment by Gerald Gibson Jr

    Benedict Murtha, like all irresponsible Leftists, could care less about the troops, or justice. Funny, most of the troops despise him.


  72. ValiantVenusGrewFromUranus says:

    Benedict Murtha, like all irresponsible Leftists, could care less about the troops, or justice. Funny, most of the troops despise him.
    Comment by valiant venus — March 9, 2007 @ 12:12 am

    Benedict Aphrodite/Venus, like all irresponsible Rightists, could care less about the troops, or justice. Funny, most of the troops now disagree with you, and despise Chickenhawk fcukhead c*nts like you and Coulter. Get a clue – you’re hated you fcuking c*nt!


  73. hacker bob says:

    Comment by ValiantVenusGrewFromUranus — March 9, 2007 @ 12:45 am

    Sorry Jason, not completely true. Below is from the Military Times poll Dec. 2006 that everyone likes to quote:

    Should the US have gone to war with Iraq?

    Yes 41% No 37%

    Regardless of whether or not you think the US should have gone to war, how likely is the US to succeed?

    50% think it is likely/somewhat likely to succeed
    41% not likely to succeed

    Do you approve if the way George W. Bush is handeling his job as persident?

    Approve 52% Disapprove 31%

    We currently have 145,000 troops in Iraq and Kuwait. How many do you think we should have there?

    26% want fewer 51% want the same number or more

    We currently have 18,000 troops in Afghanistan. How many do you think we should have?

    19% want fewer 54% want the same number or more

    So, I ask you; Who is not listening to the troops?


  74. valiant venus says:

    Al Queda sends Nan and Harry a big SWAK!! They really appreciate the opportunity to take a break this planned timetable will afford them. They will plan their lnext spring offensive after a well deserved rest.


  75. mike says:

    I was a contractor in Iraq from the beginning of 2005 until the end of 2006. While I know for a fact there have been contractors that did not live up to their contracts, there are many more that went above and beyond.

    Let’s remember the reason for private contractors. It is cheaper for the government to pay for services when they are needed and to get rid of the contractors when they are no longer useful. The contracts the government hands out provide for the agreements to be canceled at anytime. This is not the case for soldiers. If the DoD decides to have their soldiers do the cooking, handle transport of material or provide force protection, they make a commitment to support those soldiers to one degree or another, for the rest of their lives. Congressman Murtha should keep this in mind when he proposes slashing funding for private contracts. If he wants to go after contractors, go after the ones who have not been doing the job they were tasked with. That list of companies is very short and should not be a huge task.


  76. jayel says:

    contractors my ass call them what they are, mercenaries


  77. M.Prater says:

    Murtha is an absolute scumbag.A stain on society and disgrace to the military.As a former marine and current contractor he disgusts me.
    How does a traitor hold office?
    As for those who degrade contractors and sit at home bitching about how much they support the troops.
    Contractors are actually doing somthing to support the troops.YOu liberal/cowards just sit on your fat asses raking in your upper middle class salaries and forming opinions about people,places,and events you know nothing about.
    Traitorous cowards.


  78. USpace says:

    Murtha is a dirtball who wants the USA to guit Iraq just like the IslamoNazis do.

    absurd thought -
    God of the Universe says
    never win a war…
    .


  79. Arn Gunnutes says:

    Bush is a Saudi OIL WHOREBAG.

    Saudis= FINANCIERS OF TERRORIST GROUPS INCLUDING AL QUEDA
    Saudis=15 f 19 hijackers on 9/11
    Saudi=BANDAR BUSH, so named by the BUSH CRIMINAL FAMILY

    Bush REFUSED to go UNDER OATH to the 9/11 commission about his connection with the Saudis, Bin Ladens, and 9/11.

    Bush REFUSED to SWEAR TO GOD to TELL THE TRUTH.

    Bush is a TRAITOR to the USA. Cheney, too. Rumym, too. Condi too.

    All you that SUPPORT these TRAITORS are ALSO TRAITORS.


  80. Skippyl says:

    Contractors are picking up the slack, and in many cases aiding the military to have a better standard of living than ever before even in FOAs. They do dirty work and menial tasks too what do you want KP duty again? NOT!


  81. in contry says:

    As I set here in Iraq and watch the contractors cook meal, pick up trash, do lundry, build housing, install armor, work on and install ecms, work on weapons, install items on vehicles to give the soldiers a better chance of coming back from a patrol. I wonder how many soldiers it would take to replace the contractors? Maybe some of you will raise your hand to enlist………. not likely. It easier to set behind your keyboard and bit*h about things you have never seen with your own eyes only seen on CNN. Don’t worry if we pull out you in the big cities will get to see your share.


  82. Joe`1 says:

    First could some of you mental genesis’s read and check your spelling and grammar.
    All I can say is I see a lot of talking but way don’t all of you go over there and talk to the poor Arabs that are being abused and tortured by the bad americans. Better yet, invite them here to change this government. I’m sure you would be much happier with them running the place.


  83. jayel says:

    1. First could some of you mental genesis’s read and check your spelling and grammar.
    All I can say is I see a lot of talking but way don’t all of you go over there and talk to the poor Arabs that are being abused and tortured by the bad americans. Better yet, invite them here to change this government. I’m sure you would be much happier with them running the place.
    Comment by Joe`1 — March 13, 2007

    geniuses why Americans

    get your head out of your own ass


  84. Jamie says:

    I just came back from Iraq as a contractor and first hand witnessed the fraud going on. I reported it to the ethics hotline and military and you guessed it …. was fired promptly!!!

    You can’t sue KBR b/c of this clause you sign in your contract, but that won’t stop me from contacting all the Congress and news shows…

    Oh and to add insult to injury…. after five women were accosted and reported it… to include me….. they found reasons to make life even more miserable if we decided to stay.

    Then they fired me.

    Hmmmmm….



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