Murtha Finds Himself in Hole, Keeps Digging

Jack Murtha knows now that he really stepped in it when he called for the immediate withdrawal of U.S. forces in Iraq. His tantrum probably sparked the speech the president made yesterday, and has forced his Dem colleagues in Congress to take sides on the issue.

Since admitting bad judgment is not in the character of congressmen, Murtha has decided to take another way out of the hole he has dug - he's going to keep digging:

Most U.S. troops will leave Iraq within a year because the Army is "broken, worn out" and "living hand to mouth," Rep. John Murtha told a civic group. Two weeks ago, Murtha created a storm of comment when he called for U.S. troops to leave Iraq now. The Democratic congressman spoke to a group of community and business leaders in Latrobe on Wednesday, the same day President Bush said troops would be withdrawn when they've achieved victory, not under an artificial deadline set by politicians.

Murtha predicted most troops will be out of Iraq within a year.

"I predict he'll make it look like we're staying the course," Murtha said, referring to Bush. "Staying the course is not a policy."

Murtha, 73, the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations defense subcommittee, expressed pessimism about Iraq's stability and said the Iraqis know who the insurgents are, but don't always share that information with U.S. troops. He said a civil war is likely because of ongoing factionalism among Sunni Arabs, and Kurds and Shiites.

He also said he was wrong to vote to support the war.

"I admit I made a mistake when I voted for war," Murtha said. "I'm looking at the future of the United States military."

The Dems can't be happy with Murtha's continued rants. He's really put them in a box.