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Friday, March 21, 2003

By Karen MacPherson, Post-Gazette National Bureau

WASHINGTON -- Pennsylvania Rep. John Murtha, one of Congress' top defense experts, yesterday predicted that it would take a mere 10 days to a month for the United States to win the war against Iraq.

Murtha, D-Johnstown, told reporters, nevertheless, that this war involved a "very complicated battle plan" and would be the most difficult war the United States has fought since Vietnam.

Among challenges U.S. troops must face in Iraq are the hot, dusty climate, the possible release of biological and chemical weapons and the fact that Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein is fighting on his home turf this time, unlike during the 1991 Persian Gulf War, said Murtha, a former Marine.

"We'll prevail; it's just a matter of how long," he said. "But I am more worried about this operation than any other in a while. This is a major, complicated operation in a very austere environment."

Murtha, senior Democrat on the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, said he expects that Congress will soon pass legislation to cover the initial costs of the Iraq war. He added that the measure should provide $60 billion to $100 billion for the war effort this year, but that the Bush administration would be required to give specifics about how that money will be used. "Getting the money will be no problem at all, as long as they define what they want to spend the money on," he said.

The congressman also said President Bush would need to expend some time and energy to persuade such allies as France and Germany to participate -- especially in a financial way -- in rebuilding Iraq.

Murtha recently spent three days in Kuwait, Qatar and Turkey to assess, among other things, the readiness of U.S. troops. While in the region, he visited his nephew, Brian Murtha, a Marine lieutenant colonel based in Kuwait.

While Murtha believes that U.S. troops are prepared for battle, he expressed concern about how they would be affected by the dust and increasing temperatures. As the weather grows hotter, he said, it will become "very uncomfortable" for American service personnel, especially those who must wear special hoods and other equipment as protection against potential biochemical attacks.

Asked about the terrorist threat to Americans at home, Murtha responded that the likelihood of such an attack in most parts of the United States was "like the possibility of being struck by lightning."

U.S. efforts in Afghanistan to dismantle the al-Qaida infrastructure have paid off, Murtha said, adding that he thought "there is less and less chance" of a massive, Sept. 11-type of attack anywhere other than New York or Washington. "But I predict that we could have car bombings," he said.

Karen MacPherson can be reached at kmacpherson@nationalpress.com or 1-202-662-7075.