A turning point in the Iraq war

When historians look back at the Iraq war, they will divide it into the pre- and post-Murtha eras.

Before U.S. Rep. John Murtha called on Nov. 17 for an American troop withdrawal from Iraq within the next six months, the Bush administration turned a deaf ear to all war critics, implying that they were traitors. Since the hawkish Democrat from Pennsylvania spoke out, President Bush is extolling the need for ''honest, open debate about the way forward in Iraq.'' So what happened?

''The Murtha intervention was a critical one (because) he is so respected as a person,'' says retired Gen. Barry McCaffrey. ''I would say it is a turning point.'' The general is right.

Murtha's call released a torrent of pent-up doubts from Americans who were initially willing to support the war but want to know why things have gone sour. The congressman has made it legitimate to voice criticisms that would previously have been denounced as unpatriotic.


http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/opinion/13347043.htm

From "should we be in Iraq" to "how do we get out."

Even though many of us knew from the time the Dixie Chicks spoke out that we didn't belong in Iraq.