Rep. John Murtha In November: Army Is "Broken, Worn Out"...
Published December 1, 2005:
U.S. Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., says the war in Iraq has left the U.S. Army "broken, worn out" and "living hand-to-mouth."
Speaking in Latrobe, Pa., Wednesday, the ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee and Subcommittee on Defense said troops in Iraq are "barely getting by," and won't be able to meet future military threats to the country, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported.
Murtha said the Pennsylvania National Guard is "stretched so thin" that it won't be able to deploy fully equipped units to Iraq until next year because of equipment shortages and a lack of training for soldiers.
He said it will cost $50 billion to upgrade military equipment because of the war, but the government has begun reducing future equipment purchases to save money.
On Nov. 17, Murtha, a 37-year veteran who fought in Korea and Vietnam, called for an immediate troop withdrawal, touching off a political firestorm in Congress.
United Press International | January 25, 2006 12:21 AM