Sec. Gates Statement on John Murtha
February 8, 2010 by Michael Leon · 1 Comment
Statement by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates on the Death of Congressman Jack Murtha
I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Jack Murtha. America has lost a true patriot who served his country faithfully first in uniform as a decorated combat Marine, and then as an elected representative.
I’ve known Jack and worked with him for more than two decades, starting back in the Reagan administration when I was at CIA. I will always remember and be grateful for Congressman Murtha’s personal efforts on behalf of the Afghan resistance fighting the Soviets – efforts that helped bring about the end of the Cold War.
In our dealings over the years, Jack and I did not always agree, but I always respected his candor, and knew that he cared deeply about the men and women of America’s military and intelligence community. My condolences to Joyce and the rest of the Murtha family.
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I relate to Rep. Murtha’s protest to the Iraq war and the civilian casualties affair. I too fought “for my country” in Vietnam and received a Purple Heart. I was protesting that war during the spring of the Kent State massacre. The Iraq war is costing our country thousands of lives. I am against it as much as I was against the Vietnam war upon learning the truth or should I say lies? There are those that call such protest “unpatriotic” just as Murtha’s condemnation of civilian deaths by US Marines. It is a shame the nation has forgotten the lesson of the Kent State and Mi Lai massacres.