Russell Comes Out Swinging Against Murtha

By Jon Delano

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― Lt. Col. Bill Russell was in the Pentagon when it was attacked on September 11th.

"The office I was in was actually one floor up and about 150 feet from where the cockpit ended," says Russell.

That experience and his military service in Iraq shaped Russell's strong support for the Iraq war and his political challenge to long-time Democratic Congressman John Murtha.

"People can disagree about whether we should be there, but the fact of the matter is that we are there -- and we have no choice but to win and achieve victory," says the Republican candidate.

Facing off against Murtha -- the leading critic of the war -- in a congressional district that stretches across this region, Russell's television ads use Murtha's own words against certain American troops.

Russell's ads quote Murtha, saying of American troops, "They went into houses and killed children, women and children."

"He has definitely lost his way," says Russell, "and he has certainly made some statements that have played directly into the hands of the enemy and as a savvy politician, he should understand propaganda and as a former intelligence officer he should understand enemy propaganda."

Russell stops short of calling Murtha a traitor -- but says the congressman aided and abetted the enemy.

"Sounds like you're accusing him though of treasonous activity?" Political Editor Jon Delano asked Russell.

"Well, the definition of treason is aiding and abetting the enemy, and i've got to leave that up to the voters to decide that particular issue."

"But you think he did aid and abet?"

"I believe he aided and abetted the enemy," says Russell.

Russell says Murtha's accusations against the Haditha Marines -- found untrue in all but one still unresolved case -- led to American deaths in Iraq.

"If you consider that the enemy used his words as propaganda on the Arab street to incite those who were intent on murdering, killing, injuring, maiming, or mutilating our soldiers, that's certainly -- everyone is welcome to read their definition of that."

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