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John Murtha, RIP: The squandered legacy of a corrupt man

Rep. Murtha, RIP,  represented everything wrong with the federal government.
Rep. Murtha, RIP, represented everything wrong with the federal government.
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Photo credit: News with Views

News of the death of 77-year old Congressman John Murtha, of Pennsylvania, on Monday garnered the usual coverage afforded a high-profile political leader by the news media and the Beltway elites.

Even Republicans fawned over his long record in the House of Representatives. For example, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) said, "Every person who serves in the military has lost an advocate and a good friend. The House of Representatives has lost one of its own."
 
One can only wonder if Rep. Boehner recalls that Murtha publicly called U.S. Marines "cold-blooded murders" during the height of warfare in Iraq.  
 
It should be remembered that John Murtha never apologized for his allegation that U.S. Marines were guilty of killing Iraqi civilians in cold blood. 

Murtha made the comments in question during a press conference he held, and during his frequent appearances on TV news shows, claiming "Our troops overreacted because of the pressure on them and they killed innocent civilians in cold blood."  Murtha made his remarks regarding an incident that happened in Haditha, Iraq.  

 
During a news conference, Rep. Murtha  discussed the incident with reporters as he continued "the Murtha anti-war diatribe," and said that the U.S. should pull the troops out of Iraq.

He said a Pentagon investigation would ultimately show that the troops in Haditha "overreacted because of the pressure on them and killed innocent civilians in cold blood." The Marines involved had not been tried yet but were either in a brig at Camp Pendleton Marine Base or resticted to the base pending legal proceedings.

Murtha, who claims close ties to top defense officials as a retired Marine colonel and the top-ranking Democrat, said he had not read the Pentagon report because was basing his information on frequent discussions with "the commanders," he said, "People that know what they're talking about." Murtha did not disclose the names of these commanders or their connection to the incident and subsequent investigation.

 
Eventually all of the Marines involved were found not guilty, yet Murtha refused to apologize.
 
Murtha's position on the Iraq war and his biting comments did much to erase the memories of his ties to the Abscam corruption investigation and the susbsequent allegations of his shenanigans with his brother's consulting firm. The anti-war leftists -- including members of the news media -- appear to overlook corruption on the part of their heroes, said one political observer.
 
Murtha was a holier-than-thou Democrat with ethics concerns. The House Ethics committee was considering investigating Rep. John Murtha for multiple ethics violations. The investigation would have centered on Rep. Murtha’s involvement with his brother’s firm KSA Consulting. The story, which originally ran in the Los Angeles Times on 13 June, surrounds the 2005 appropriations bill that funded $20M to companies for which KSA Consulting lobbied.

Murtha was a leader on the House Defense Appropriations Committee. An aide to Murtha, Carmen Scialabba, also worked for KSA. Also reported by the L.A. Times is that KSA directly lobbied Murtha’s office for funding on behalf of 7 of its clients and that a Murtha aide advised a defense contractor that it needed to retain the services of KSA Consulting.

While his passing is indeed sad, the United States is better off without having John Murtha in the U.S. Congress. God rest his soul.

 
Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police and he's a columnist for The Examiner (examiner.com) and New Media Alliance (thenma.org).  In addition, he's a blogger for the Cheyenne, Wyoming Fox News Radio affiliate KGAB (www.kgab.com). Kouri also serves as political advisor for Emmy and Golden Globe winning actor Michael Moriarty. 

He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations.  He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country.   Kouri writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others. He's a news writer and columnist for AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com.   Kouri appears regularly as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Fox News Channel, Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, etc. 

To subscribe to Kouri's newsletter write to COPmagazine@aol.com and write "Subscription" on the subject line.

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Jim Kouri, CPP, the fifth Vice President and Public Information Officer of the National Association of Chiefs of Police, has served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. Contact Jim. What others are saying about Jim Kouri: Semana.com...

Comments

  • So sad 2 years ago

    Murtha was a man of principle and just because those Marines weren't found guilty doesn't mean Murtha was wrong.

    Murtha is dead and you're still kicking him.

    Like no soldier has ever killed an innocent civilian in cold blood. It happens. It's sad. The soldiers should be prosecuted, but more often than not they aren't.

    The massacre in Haditha was clearly an example of unnecessary deadly force despite what you are the military courts say.

    But since Murtha is dead, can you give him a break? I guess not.

  • COPguy 2 years ago

    Murtha was a corrupt and meanspirited politician who should have been prosecuted during the Abscam scandal. He wasn't because he snitched out other politicians. While it's a shame he died, it would have been better if he passed away in prison where he belonged.

  • Karma 2 years ago

    Everyone remember that how you act and treat other people in this world will reflect how you are remembered in death. This man was dishonest and corrupt, and now his name will forever be remembered this way. I wish there were more honorable people in this world, but there are too few.

  • Latrobe Pa. 2 years ago

    As our Representative here in Western Pa. , Murtha stood up for the Little Man and the Vets. In a post Republican led America with the likes of morons like Reagan , Bushes 1 and 2, it was great to have a member of Congress who stood up for the Blue Collar working family such as Murtha did. I only hope our next Representative will be able to fill his shoes. As for the previous posts here as well as the writer of this artical who put him down , they probably would vote for Palin.

  • Karateka 2 years ago

    Murtha was corrupt in other ways. Take the "Airport to Nowhere" that is named after him. Take the Penn State Electro-Optics Center, in which millions were spent to fund a R&D center in the middle of nowhere. The money would have been much better spent on further developing projects that were already on the table, and has resulted in significant duplication of effort.

    Murtha was corrupt. His name remains on the airport, so it is totally fair to bring up what he has cost the US taxpayer.

  • Dianne E. Lau 2 years ago

    "AMEN".

  • Dan C 2 years ago

    That's just great. Murtha makes wild claims that US Marines murdered innocents. There's a trial. Not guilty on all counts. Yet here's "So sad" telling us it doesn't matter - trial or no trial - guilty or innocent - US Marines killed innocents and that's all there is to it.

    Jack Murtha was a bum who should have had his ass handed to him on a plate for making those malicious statements. He deserve no break.

  • TheObserver 2 years ago

    I like to think of what was said about former Detroit Tiger Ty Cobb can also be said about John Murtha.

    "The only difference now is that he's a dead prick."

    I guess what Karma posted above is indeed true; Everyone remember that how you act and treat other people in this world will reflect how you are remembered in death. This man was dishonest and corrupt, and now his name will forever be remembered this way.

  • sean harmon 2 years ago

    Pick on the dead.

  • Ha! 2 years ago

    Show me a member of congress or a senator and I will show you a corrupt politician. See all you creeps at the next tea party convention.

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