Federal judge orders Murtha to testify in Haditha defamation case

OK, I buy into this guy's argument so long as Jack Murtha didn't name names. Should he have singled out Frank, then there's a case. If he only talked about the incident and didn't name anyone, it isn't an issue. Frank Wuterich is accused and his involvement isn't yet established except for...the idiot admitted he was one of the accused! Duh.

Addendum below.

A federal judge has ordered Rep. Jack Murtha (D-Pa.) to testify in a defamation case related to the deaths of Iraqi civilians in the town of Haditha in 2005, according to the Associated Press.

Murtha, a former Marine. accused Marines involved in the "cold-blooded murder and war crimes'' during the Haditha incident. Frank Wuterich, a Marine sergeant involved in the incident, has sued Murtha for defamation over his comments.

...

Frankly, I don't understand this ruling at all, and I wouldn't be surprised if it is appealed by the Justice Dept. and/or House general counsel's office on behalf of Murtha. Murtha, who can say some inappropriate things once in a while, was clearly acting in his capacity as a lawmaker when he made the comments and is thus protected by the Speech or Debate Clause from any type of prosecution for official acts.

Addendum: First off, Frank, should you decide to sue me for defamation you'll end up with a couple empty Diet Pepsi cans and navel lint. Second, when you have a traffic accident the first rule is SHUT THE FUCK UP! You don't admit to anything. Capiche?

What a maroon.

Via Politico.

Pelosi: Bush lacks power to invade Iran

Finally! Pelosi and Murtha are asserting themselves.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that
President Bush lacks the authority to invade Iran without specific approval from Congress, a fresh challenge to the commander in chief on the eve of a symbolic vote critical of his troop buildup in Iraq.

Pelosi, D-Calif., noted that Bush consistently said he supports a diplomatic resolution to differences with Iran "and I take him at his word."

At the same time, she said, "I do believe that Congress should assert itself, though, and make it very clear that there is no previous authority for the president, any president, to go into Iran."

Pelosi spoke in an interview in the Capitol as lawmakers plowed through a third day of marathon debate in the House on a nonbinding measure opposing the administration's plan to increase troop strength in Iraq — and as Democrats readied a more provocative challenge to the president.

That included drafting legislation to require the Pentagon to meet certain standards for training and equipping the troops, as well fixing the time that military units must be given at home between deployments. "That stops the surge (in troops) for all intents and purposes, because ......they cannot sustain the deployment," said Rep. John Murtha of Pennsylvania, who said he would attach the conditions to legislation providing nearly $100 billion for the military.

BTW, I hate that headline. That's a challenge to Bush to go ahead. I hope this is an anomaly and other news outlets won't use such phrasing.

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