Demand for Murtha Apology

IREY RENEWS CALL FOR MURTHA APOLOGY U.S. Army Major General Bargewell's report "suggests there was no deliberate cover-up by senior Marine officers"

(MONONGAHELA, June 22) Washington County Commissioner and Pennsylvania 12th district Republican Congressional nominee Diana Irey reacting to a Los Angeles Times article indicating that a soon-to-be-released report by Army Major General Eldon Bargewell indicates that NO COVER-UP took place regarding Marine actions last November 19 in Haditha, Iraq today released the following statement: "Jack Murtha owes Marine officers an apology, and I'm here to demand it on their behalf." "On May 28, appearing on the ABC News show This Week with George Stephanopoulos,' Jack Murtha was asked about the actions of Marine commanders after Haditha, So you believe there was a cover-up?' Here's what he said: "No question about it There's no question about what happened. And the problem is, who covered it up? And why did they cover it up? Why did they wait so long? We don't know how far it goes. I mean, it goes right up the chain of command. Right up to General Pace. When did he know about it? Did he order the cover-up? Who ordered the cover-up?' "Yesterday's Los Angeles Times reported that Army Major General Eldon Bargewell's report into whether or not there was a cover-up which has yet to be released publicly suggests there was no deliberate cover-up by senior Marine officers.' "The Los Angeles Times report regarding Gen. Bargewell's report indicates that some Marine officers in the chain of command may have failed properly to follow up with an investigation. But failing to follow up, and missing red flags,' as the report supposedly says, is not at all the same thing as investigating, finding something terrible happened, and then deliberately covering up misdeeds. The difference goes to the question of motivation and intent. "To suggest otherwise, is to suggest that the off duty cop who pulls a gun on a robber in a 711 is no better than the robber that pulls a gun on the store clerk, because both of them like to pull guns on people. "Jack Murtha was wrong when he said there was no question about it' regarding a cover-up. He was wrong to smear the men and women of our Armed Forces before the first Marine had been charged, before the first court-martial had been convened, before the first soldier had been convicted. He was wrong to act as prosecutor, judge, and jury before all the evidence was in. "The only REAL question remaining is, is Jack Murtha man enough to admit he was wrong and apologize to the Marine officers he smeared?"

I'm hoping no one is holding their breath... they'll turn blue before Murtha apologizes.