ABCNews.com: ‘Murtha Ties Foiled JFK Plot to U.S. in Iraq’

ABCNews.com: ‘Murtha Ties Foiled JFK Plot to U.S. in Iraq’

By Noel Sheppard (Bio | Archive)
June 3, 2007 - 12:21 ET

On Saturday, a NewsBusters headline asked the following question: “JFK Terror Plot: How Soon Before Media Blame Bush For Timing of Arrests?”

Well, Sunday morning, ABCNews.com actually went one better by using a statement made by John Murtha (D-Pennsylvania) on “This Week” as the headline for the video of George Stephanopoulos’ interview with the Congressman: “Murtha Ties Foiled JFK Plot to U.S. in Iraq.”

In reality, Murtha was brought on to counter the “things are getting better” in Iraq after the surge viewpoint expressed by the previous guest, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani (video available here).

Yet, about one minute into Stephanopoulos’ interview with Murtha, the Congressman said (video available here):

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You heard earlier where he said this incident in the United States is being driven by al Qaeda, is being inspired by al Qaeda. This is the kind of thing that is happening because of our troops in Iraq.

Amazing. So, the planned attack on New York’s JFK airport is all because America is in Iraq. And, that’s how ABCNews.com chose to advertise this ten-minute video at its website, even though the bulk of the segment was a discussion specifically about what’s going on in Iraq, and what the Democrat plans are to get troops out.

How disgraceful.

Moving forward, Stephanopoulos did ask Murtha to elaborate on his absurd remark:

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS, HOST: I want to get back to my first question, but let me pick up on something you said just there. You believe that these homegrown terrorist plots are being inspired by the U.S. work in Iraq right now?

JOHN MURTHA, CONGRESSMAN: Absolutely. George, they were inspired by them all over the world. Our presence in Iraq, our occupation in Iraq, gives these people the inspiration. Now, we didn’t have this problem before, they came from Afghanistan. But, now we even have it in the United States. So, I’m absolutely convinced that this is the kind of thing that inspires these people.

STEPHANOPOULOS: But we did have 9/11 before we went into Iraq.

MURTHA: Yeah, we had 9/11, but that came from Afghanistan. There was no, there was no al Qaeda in Iraq. We don’t even know how many al Qaeda are in Iraq right now. For instance, we think a couple of thousand. They’ll take care of al Qaeda. They’ll get rid of al Qaeda. Our presence is inspiring them to recruit people all over the world. This is the problem we have.

Sadly, Stephanopoulos didn’t challenge Murtha about al Qaeda having a training facility in Northern Iraq before the March 2003 invasion. Nor did he ask the Congressman about 9/11 attackers hailing from Saudi Arabia. And, there was no mention of the 2000 attack on the U.S.S. Cole, or the attacks on the U.S. embassies in Africa in 1998, or the Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia in 1996, or the first World Trade Center bombing in 1993.

No, George didn’t challenge Murtha at all on any of these past events. Instead, he moved on to what the Democrats were going to do to get troops out of Iraq, and the powers that be used Murtha’s statement about the JFK plot being tied to Iraq as a video headline at the news division’s website.

How disgraceful.

—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.

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I'm starting to wonder if J

June 3, 2007 - 12:26 ET by lnthomp

I'm starting to wonder if John Murtha is on Al Qaeda's payroll.

Lee T.

U.S. Navy (ret.) / Vancouver, Washington

The history of the race, and each individual's experience, are thick with evidence that a truth is not hard to kill and that a lie told well is immortal.-- Mark Twain

Murtha

June 3, 2007 - 12:27 ET by allanf

My impression of Murtha, is that he is out for Murtha. Taking an anti-Iraq war position gives him both attentional and power in Congress. I think he will take that over fellow Marines.

I'm starting to wonder how st

June 3, 2007 - 12:28 ET by

I'm starting to wonder how stupid are the people who elect him?

Supreme Court, National Security, Borders, Fiscal Restraint, my litmus test for President.

Next!

June 3, 2007 - 13:14 ET by acumen

Stupid or satiated with pork? Either way it does not speak well for Murtha's self-serving voters, many of which are ironically employed by firms propped up by military (read tax) dollars. I note Murtha's penchant for bringing home the bacon wasn't a concern for Stephy.

Sidebar - Although so far ignored by both the demedia and their politican handlers (and these people want to dictate our foreign policy?) Iraq is soon to be the least of the demfeatists worries. The next government of the axis of evil is about to experience first-hand the unyielding commitment of Bush in winning the war on terror.

acumen: patdollard.com grea

June 3, 2007 - 18:03 ET by ThreePuttinDude

acumen:

patdollard.com great articles thanks for the link.

You can ask that about 75% of

June 3, 2007 - 14:49 ET by Prester John

You can ask that about 75% of our Congressmen and Senators.

Let me ask the people of

June 3, 2007 - 17:41 ET by BobAnthony

Let me ask the people of Indiana, PA, one of the town's where Murtha’s district is—WWJSD—What Would
Jimmy Stewart Do? And it's too bad he's dead because he'd probably whoop Murtha F-er upside his rear!

I agree with what Brit Hume

June 3, 2007 - 14:27 ET by motherbelt

I agree with what Brit Hume said about Murtha in February, I believe it was on "Fox News Sunday":

“It’s time a few things be said about him. This guy is
long past the day when he had anything but the foggiest awareness of
what the heck is going on in the world.”

I think it was in reference to Murtha's suggestion that we redeploy our troops to Okinawa, but it can be applied to just about anything that comes out of Murtha's mouth. Every time he speaks, he gives the impression that his meds need adjustment.

Murtha is totally invested in defeat in Iraq.

June 3, 2007 - 12:36 ET by acaiguana

Murtha is totally invested in defeat in Iraq.

Hence he must continue to say stupid things. Um...

Or he learned one thing to say and because he is stupid -

he says it.

ACA

...

Quoted from: 'Acaiguana Notes from the Bomb Shelter' (soon to be a movie at theaters near you)

A night at the museum, Murtha

June 3, 2007 - 12:50 ET by bassndude

A night at the museum, Murtha. Who lives there? You or the Iraqi President? Kinda reminds me of "whos evolved?" question from Robin Williams. I wonder who would be better informed, you or the Iraqi President? After all, he only lives there..

Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!

While it disturbs me that the

June 3, 2007 - 13:17 ET by JannyMae

While it disturbs me that there are citizens that are as clueless as this guy who are living in this country, it disturbs me even more that he has been elected as a leader.

This reminds me a bit of when SENATE MAJORITY LEADER Harry Reid said he wasn't going to listen to the General in charge of Iraq, because Petraeus' facts might not match his own.

Oh, yes, Murtha is out only for Murtha. You betcha!

"Our presence is inspi

June 3, 2007 - 13:28 ET by ckc1227

"Our presence is inspiring them to recruit people all over the world. This is the problem we have."

Correction: What he should have said is "Our EXISTENCE is inspiring them to recruit people all over the world". I'm sure he's working on the solution to that problem as quickly as he can though.

Seriously, is there a dumber member of the Democrat party than this guy? If there is, God help us.

Our EXISTENCE is inspiring th

June 3, 2007 - 15:03 ET by dahliatravers

Our EXISTENCE is inspiring them to recruit

Correct. What is alarming about Congressman Murtha's comments is that he may genuinely not remember the prior attacks on the United States, including one of the worst of all. Attacks that pre-dated our deposing of Saddam Hussein.

Whatever congressional committees he's serving on, he shouldn't.

He comes across like he is

June 3, 2007 - 13:35 ET by DaMav

He comes across like he is just <i>desperate</i> for an American defeat, spouting bad news like a high pressure water sprinkler. Too bad Steph. didn't ask him about Okinawa when he launched into his proximity schtick.

CBA - Crystal Ball Award for Noel

June 3, 2007 - 13:44 ET by Gary Hall

CBA - Crystal Ball Award for Noel.

Of course actually Noel, it was a no-brainer, wasn't it? But it does take courage to go to print with the prediction - and you nailed it. NB should prepare a plaque, noting the predictability of Stephanapolous's bias and sniveling softball lobs, and present it to him.

I haven't read the transcript yet, so I don't know - but you put up another big news story on Murtha on Friday. Could I be bold enough to predict that Stephanopolous neglected his duty in not introducing Murtha as a crook who is ripping off the US taxpayers, in what should have been the lead story on the news for the past few days - up until the terrorist bust at JFK?

(;~> gh

Gary

June 3, 2007 - 14:03 ET by Noel Sheppard

Gary,

<Elvis voice> Thank you. Thank you very much. </EV>

Yes, this was a no-brainer, especially since this is just the beginning. I think we can expect much more tomorrow. ns

Will you join with me today...

June 3, 2007 - 14:24 ET by Gary Hall

Stephanopoulos: Rep. Murtha. Will you join with me today, and with our broad base in the MSM, it in declaring that the timing of the government's capture of the terrorist suspects and the foiling of the plot to bomb JFK, was only ...

Come on guys. Murtha is righ

June 3, 2007 - 13:45 ET by Sonny Lykos

Come on guys. Murtha is right. al Qaeda also has the ability to time travel. Because we're in Iraq, they went back in time to hit the WTC in 1993, bomb the USS Cole, and attack several of our embassies while GW was still in Texas as it's govenor.

WOW! Time travel has arrived!

Yes, al Qaeda does time trave

June 3, 2007 - 13:58 ET by FaulknerFan

Yes, al Qaeda does time travel and it was because Bush was Governer of Texas and would eventually be president that they decided to hit us then.

Fox News is reporting the guy

June 3, 2007 - 14:46 ET by Prester John

Fox News is reporting the guy who worked at JFK came up with the idea 10 years ago. Let's see, who was president back in 1997?

Hmmmm.

That's not relevant, because

June 3, 2007 - 18:09 ET by Del Dolemonte

That's not relevant, because recorded history didn't begin until January of 2001 when Bush seized power.

I heard this interview this m

June 3, 2007 - 15:21 ET by bigtimer

I heard this interview this morning with the piece of pathetic leftist work Murtha.

As usual he was despicable and that is putting it politely here.

Murtha makes me ill...he gets away with everything including his earmarks....I was hoping Georgie would ask him about that 36 million dollar one that has had little accountability for where the money went.

What he did to congressman Rodgers was a disgrace too...he should be ostracized...but noooo...he is the leftists favorite.

He knows and George knows danged good and well Al Qaeda was in Iraq before 9/11....

By the way....CNN and msnbc both started downplaying the break-up of this plot yesterday within an hour of the breaking news...I was wondering the same thing as Noel was saying.... so in and out of working outside yesterday...I would check the latest spin intentionally, because I knew they would do their usual down-play of this horrendous plot...

Unfortunately in my opinion what it is going to take is more disaster and death before their is a real wake up call, I see absolutely zilch thankfulness coming for this administration and the numerous plots they have stopped in the last two years or more.

The absolute hatred for President Bush plus we dare have any VICTORY and their agenda for power is going to end up eating them alive...and their own defeat.

BT I know it's old, but--

June 3, 2007 - 15:31 ET by misterbill

BT I know it's old, but-- "Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely."

Given the large percentage

June 3, 2007 - 15:35 ET by lnthomp

Given the large percentage of Democrats who already believe G.W.B. either allowed, caused, or planned the 9/11/01 attacks, there will be no flash of the reality bulb going off in any heads if there is another attack.

Lee T.

U.S. Navy (ret.) / Vancouver, Washington

The history of the race, and each individual's experience, are thick with evidence that a truth is not hard to kill and that a lie told well is immortal.-- Mark Twain

Those same morons will prob

June 3, 2007 - 19:17 ET by motherbelt

Those same morons will probably say he "allowed" another attack too, just to prove he was right about saying we were still under threat.....

But wait! He had his chance with the JFK plot!! Why did he let them stop that one????

It's so confusing ...

June 3, 2007 - 19:26 ET by dahliatravers

It's so confusing ...

John Murtha: You are a disgrace.

June 3, 2007 - 19:57 ET by Dave R

First of all, most of the accounts I have read about this have indicated that the planner of this little party (I shant mention that b*stards name, so I'll just refer to him as that Retired Islamic Barbarian, or, RIB for short) began dreaming it up about ten years ago. We were not in Iraq at that time.

John Murtha: (I refuse to address you as either Congressman, Rep. or Mr., as you are not worthy of any such respect.)

You are a disgrace;

You are a disgrace in the eyes of God;

You are a disgrace to all freedom-loving people on this planet;

You are a disgrace to your country;

You are a disgrace to the United States Marine Corps;

You are a disgrace to your state;

You are a disgrace to the people you represent;

You are a disgrace to your family;

And you are a disgrace as a man.

I pray that you live just long enough to see your name stricken forever from the rolls of the honorable men and women who have served this great country in the capacity of a United States Marine.

A title you are not worthy to even gaze upon, much less hold.

This republic will not survive the continued neglect of its people.-Neal Boortz

Exactly, sir. Disgusting pi

June 4, 2007 - 08:51 ET by kathleenirish

Exactly, sir. Disgusting piece of excrement, Murtha is. Traitor!

Anyone who says they support the troops but not the mission is a liar.

I saw some of that mess this

June 3, 2007 - 21:38 ET by PK

I saw some of that mess this morning and it is becomming more and more obvious that Congressman Murtha is in desperate need of someone qualified counting the number of bricks in his load.

as i understand his office is keeping the list of volunteers for the application of a straight jacket if necessary .

Ladies and Gentleman The bigg

June 3, 2007 - 22:17 ET by Airforce_5_O

Ladies and Gentleman The biggest traitor to the American Solider and this country...John Murtha

I said it and I take full responsibility for the statement. War veteran of not, he is a disgrace to those who have ever served.

I am done with this blow hard. Next subject.

If, may God forbid it, Hillar

June 3, 2007 - 22:48 ET by DBW

If, may God forbid it, Hillary or any other democrat actually wins the Presidency in 2008, what in the heck they will say or who they will blame if/when another large terrorist attack succeeds?

They will blame America.The

June 3, 2007 - 22:54 ET by Free Stinker

They will blame America.

They will say we brought it on ourselves by being too rich, too smart, too happy, too whatever they think the Islam-o-fascists don't like.

Oh I realize that.

June 3, 2007 - 23:13 ET by DBW

Oh I realize that.

They will blame Bush for ye

June 4, 2007 - 08:53 ET by MightyMouth

They will blame Bush for years to come, and about everthing they can. God forbid that Jimmy Carter or Bill Clinton get the same treatment. No, can't have that... After all, terrorism didn't exists in the world until GWB stole the election of 2000!

"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...

Murtha=Galloway?

June 4, 2007 - 08:48 ET by kathleenirish

I've said it before, and others here have as well: Is Murtha an American Galloway? Perhaps the money he hoped to get back in the Abscam days has finally come through. Traitor. Why isn't "unindicted co-conspirator" written under his floppy mug when he's on the t.v., which is nearly every freakin' day?

Media whore.

Anyone who says they support the troops but not the mission is a liar.

I think The Corps should exco

June 4, 2007 - 12:39 ET by drillanwr

I think The Corps should excommunicate him ... Sounds as if Murtha is supporting Ron Paul for president: "Have you ever read about the reasons they attacked us? They attack us because we've been over there. We've been bombing Iraq for 10 years," Ron Paul during republican debate.