WASHINGTON (AP) - The first Vietnam veteran elected to Congress, Rep. John Murtha
took pride in politicking quietly, behind the scenes, with Republicans and fellow
Democrats alike. Washington has become more deeply partisan since Murtha was swept
into office more than 30 years ago, and so has Murtha - in a very public way.
On Monday, Murtha is to be awarded the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award in Boston
for his bold pronouncement that U.S. troops should be pulled out of Iraq - a statement
many say helped change the public debate over the war, because of Murtha's past
as a Democratic hawk and retired Marines Reserves colonel who enjoyed easy access
to presidents.
"There aren't many around like him any more," said Jack Johannes, a political science
professor at Villanova University. ``As a result, when the generations change, the
environments change, even someone like John Murtha has to change."
Being honored along with Murtha on Monday is Alberto Mora, a former Navy general counsel
who warned Pentagon officials that U.S. policies dealing with terror detainees could invite
abuse.
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