From Vietnam to 9/11: On the Front Lines of National Security [Hardcover]

John P. Murtha (Author), John Plashal (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 31, 2003

In 1974, John P. "Jack" Murtha became the first Vietnam combat veteran to be elected to Congress. Since then, Congressman Murtha has been intimately involved with governmental decisions about America's national security and foreign policy. Avoiding dry, detached analysis, this book presents the revealing story of an insider's involvement with international affairs and the lessons the author learned from those experiences. Jack Murtha offers candid observations of the most important international crises in recent history. From Vietnam and the Lebanon to Bosnia and Afghanistan, the volume details America's failures as well as its successes, pointing out where policy-making was misguided or ill-informed and offering perceptive analyses of resource allocation and policy direction for the coming century.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Best of all, many of his observations are very relevant to what Americans are going through right now ..." --Dan Simpson, Associate Editor, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 17, 2003
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette March 17th, 2003

From the Inside Flap

In 1974, John P. "Jack" Murtha became the first Vietnam combat veteran elected to Congress. In the nearly three decades since then, Congressman Murtha has been intimately involved with governmental decisions about America's national security and foreign policy, adding his unique perspective to international affairs while faithfully representing Pennsylvania's twelfth district. From Vietnam to 9/11 combines personal memoir with thoughtful analysis to provide a behind-the-scenes account of the formation and conduct of U.S. foreign policy in the last quarter-century. At the same time, it tells the story of a man committed to service and community.

In addition to being the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, Jack Murtha has served the President and Congress overseas as chairman of U.S. delegations monitoring elections in the Philippines, Panama, El Salvador, and Bosnia. He has also conducted on-site inspections at numerous crisis spots around the world at the request of the President and the Speaker of the House.

This combination of playing a pivotal role in defense appropriations, participating in hearings on foreign policy, and carrying out important missions overseas has given Congressman Murtha a singular outlook on issues involving national security. In almost every foreign policy crisis in the last two decades, his counsel and recommendations to the President and to Congress have proved both sound and prudent.

Avoiding dry, detached analysis, From Vietnam to 9/11 presents the revealing story of an insider's involvement with international affairs and the lessons he learned from those experiences. Jack Murtha offers refreshingly candid observations of the most important international crises in recent history. From Vietnam and Lebanon to Bosnia and Afghanistan, this book details America's failures as well as its successes, pointing out where policymaking was misguided or ill-informed and offering perceptive analyses of resource allocation and policy direction for the new century.

John P. Murtha attended Washington and Jefferson College, but he left after a year to join the Marine Corps in 1952. After his active duty ended, he took command of a reserve unit in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, where he ran a small business, started a family, and attended the University of Pittsburgh on the GI Bill. He graduated from Pitt with a degree in economics and did graduate work in economics and political science at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. In 1966, Mr. Murtha volunteered to serve in Vietnam, where he was twice wounded; he received the Bronze Star with Combat "V," two Purple Hearts, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. He was elected to Congress in 1974, and he still serves there today. He retired from the Marine Corps Reserves in 1990. Mr. Murtha and his wife, Joyce, reside in Johnstown, where they raised their three children.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 280 pages
• Publisher: Pennsylvania State Univ Pr (January 31, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0271022396
• ISBN-13: 978-0271022390
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,125,623 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Important Lessons on Intelligence from Multiple Perspectives, August 28, 2003

By 

LEON L CZIKOWSKY (Harrisburg, Pa USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: From Vietnam to 9/11: On the Front Lines of National Security (Hardcover)

Rep. John Murtha's autobiography presents stories of his life intertwined with lessons he has learned that should be noted by others. His career in Congress, and before that in the military, allow him to provide much useful guidance.
Among the most valuable lessons this book stresses is the important of obtaining, analyzing, and understanding intelligence. Too many decisions, in defense and politics, result from not comprehending the situation at hand and making poor decisions based on faulty data. He argues, and shows with numerous examples, how faulty intelligence, or ignoring critical facts, often is the difference between success and failure.
The book takes us through his personal experiences as an intelligence officer in Viet Nam and discovering the reason why enemy bases could not be located was because enemy soldiers used underground tunnels; how poor military planning in Viet Nam signficantly reduced the effectiveness of our soldiers; how he warned our troops in Lebanon were vulnerable to terrorist attack; of how he helped monitor elections in the Philippines and in Panama; among other important events. His book deals with the attempts of Ferdinand Marcos and of Manuel Noriega to deny the forces of democracy. Fortunately, their efforts to extend power illegitimately were halted.
This book discusses various foreign policies and military affairs matters that have become the specialization that John Murtha has developed in Congress. His personal insights are enlightening. This book makes a valuable resource to those wishing to learn more about public policies.

7 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A true American hero and a clear headed realist, November 19, 2005

By 

John Foster (Weston, Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: From Vietnam to 9/11: On the Front Lines of National Security (Hardcover)

Others talk about bravery---John Murtha demonstrates it. Others sought deferments or used family connections to secure cushy, non-combat positions when they were called to serve this country's military. John Murtha had already fought in Korea. He then volunteered years later, leaving his family, to fight in Vietnam. This man is the definition of bravery.

This book will tell you his story and how he came to hold his views of the world. It's a story as genuine as the man himself.

And now this man demonstrates his bravery again by speaking truth to power. John Murtha---the first Vietnam combat veteran elected to Congress---has stood in front of the world and confronted the lies, the madness and the absolute futility of Bush's war and occupation of Iraq.

It takes guts to do what this man has done. And he's afraid of no one.

He's being slandered now. And attacked for expressing his views. Ironically, most of these hateful and mendacious attacks are coming from little pipsqueaks and cowards who are happy to sit on the couch with the remote while others do the fighting.

John Murtha is a conservative; a proud, decent and principled conservative who understands that our country comes first and the truth must be spoken. He's not a phony ultra right-winger who uses "conservative" to hide his true motives. John Murtha's book shows wisdom and realism, honed by his years actually doing what others just talk about.

A fool will "stick to his guns" even when presented with new and clear evidence. A truly wise man will see the light and change his mind. It takes great courage to admit you were wrong and mistaken. But John Murtha understands that to remain silent when you know your mistake has proven so costly is cowardly. And ultimately, treasonous.

John Murtha---a strong and consistent supporter of the military in Congress---has fired the shot heard 'round the world. His words last Thursday have terrified the dwindling numbers who still support Bush's war on Iraq. They can vilify this good and decent man forever. But it won't change the facts. And no one can erase his courageous words.

There's nothing to "win" in Iraq. Our continued occupation is the fuel for terrorism. Let's concentrate on defending our country instead of creating violence and terror in another's country. It's time to end this horror and come home.

This is a great book. God bless you, John Murtha.

4 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cowards don't get Combat V's, December 16, 2005

By 

Steven Cain (Temporal Quantum Pocket) - See all my reviews

This review is from: From Vietnam to 9/11: On the Front Lines of National Security with a New Epilogue on the Iraq War (Paperback)

...they get five deferments when their Country asks them to serve. Like Dick Cheney.

I only read this rather average autobiography after I read a snarky letter from the father of an Iraq Marine in which he called Murtha a coward, and claimed that he was not a Marine, that he was 'nothing' - because of Murtha's call for a specific withdrawal calendar for Iraq.

I don't care if people criticize his wording or even his intelligence, but to call a man a coward because you disagree with his stance is beyond pathetic.

We know that the VC/NVA leaders were encouraged by the actions of the Peace Movement back in Nam days, and I understand people bristling over the modern equivalent regarding Iraq, but to ignore the fact that this Administration has been sending under-protected, inadequately trained and supported units out to Iraq while simultaneously cutting key military funding and reducing Veterans' benefits is a scandal in itself.

Bush and Cheney rely on Knee Jerk Patriotism and pitting Vet against Vet, while the most famous chickenhawk duo in history continue to work with smoke and mirrors.

No, I am not a Democrat. Reagan and Thatcher were the best thing to ever happen to the Free World.

I'm giving this five stars, because his voluntary Nam service is worth ten stars alone. The rest didn't exactly hold my attention quite frankly, but few things do.

Welcome home, Marine.