Coincidences in DC

In the past I have mentioned the Congressman from my home town, Representative John Murtha, from Johnstown, PA (D-12th District).  Saturday The New York Times reported that a relative, Colonel Brian Murtha, a Marine helicopter pilot, has been assigned by Headquarters Marine Corps to its legislative liaison team.

Representative John P. Murtha, chairman of the House military spending subcommittee and a decorated former Marine, has long acted as a protective Uncle Jack to the Marine Corps.

Now the corps has named one of his nephews, Col. Brian Murtha, to the office charged with advocating for its interests on Capitol Hill, where Representative Murtha, Democrat of Pennsylvania, helps write the military budget.  In relocating to be near the Pentagon, Colonel Murtha has even moved into a unit in the same condominium building where his influential uncle lives in Arlington, Va.

Well, recently the Representative has acted as a cranky Uncle Jack and some Marines are not happy about his characterization of some Marine actions in Iraq, but moving right along.

I suspect this was not a plot on the part of the Marine Corps to get special favors.  Each of the Services has a Legislative Liaison Branch on Capitol Hill.  They do things like arrange for trips to military bases and provide information to staffers upon request and help shepherd General or Flag Officers who have to go to Capitol Hill to brief.  However, this may have been a miscalculation on the part of the Marine Corps, but it shouldn't reflect on Colonel Brian Murtha.  I suspect he is a Marine doing his duty, hoping for at least one more shot at commanding Marines in the field before he retires.

I missed this, so a hat tip to my brother John.

Regards  —  Cliff