IREY: CONFUSED? MURTHA SHOULD LOOK IN A MIRROR

Diana Irey For Congress
(Diana Irey's website has been hacked but should be up and running shortly.)

(MONONGAHELA, August 31) -- Washington County Commissioner and Pennsylvania 12th district Republican Congressional nominee Diana Irey -- reacting to Jack Murtha's statement yesterday regarding "moral and intellectual confusion" in Iraq -- today released the following statement:

"Yesterday, responding to remarks by the Secretary of Defense, Jack Murtha said, 'If there is a moral and intellectual confusion about this war, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld is the one that is confused.'

"This, from a man who proved his own moral confusion when he declared that U.S. Marines at Haditha had 'killed innocent civilians in cold blood' -- before a single Marine had been charged, before a single court martial had been convened, before a single soldier had been convicted.

"This, from a man who proved his own intellectual confusion when he said we could redeploy U.S. forces in Iraq 'over the horizon' -- to OKINAWA.

"This, from a man who proved his own intellectual confusion when he said 'We can't win this militarily' -- implying, necessarily, that we can only win in Iraq by negotiating, and raising, therefore, the obvious question: with whom, exactly, shall we negotiate?

"This, from a man who proved his own intellectual confusion when he said the Army is 'worn out and broken' -- even though the Army is meeting its recruiting goals.

"This, from a man who proved his own intellectual AND moral confusion when he said he wanted Israel immediately to lay down its arms and stop defending itself against attacks by Hezbollah -- a terrorist organization responsible for the murders of more Americans than any terrorist organization other than al Qaeda.

"For the record: it is MORAL to live up to one's commitments; it is IMMORAL to abandon them just because living up to them proves more difficult than originally envisioned.

"It is MORAL to strive to help others live in freedom; it is IMMORAL to turn your back on those in need.

"It is MORAL to recognize a difference between those who use force to defend themselves, and those who use force for conquest; it is IMMORAL not to recognize that difference.

"It is MORAL to recognize that when our side kills an innocent civilian, it is an accident and a tragedy, but when terrorists in Iraq or Lebanon kill an innocent civilian, it is a mission accomplished; it is IMMORAL not to recognize that difference.

"Perhaps the next time Jack Murtha wishes to comment on 'moral and intellectual confusion,' he could save everyone some time and trouble … and just look in a mirror."