In Washington, the House of Representatives has voted to reject setting a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. The vote was 256 to 153. The Republican leadership accused dissenting Democrats of failing to support the troops. But Congressman John Murtha, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, slammed the Republican tactics.

• Rep. John Murtha: “The only way we can change things in Iraq is to change direction. It has to be changed on the ground. What we say here today–as President Lincoln said in the Gettysburg Address–is going to mean very little. It will get lost in the rhetoric. What means something is what happens on the ground. All of us support the troops. If you vote for the appropriations bill, the defense appropriations bill, you voted to support the troops. If you voted for the armed services bill, you voted to support the troops. I believe this resolution, if you vote for it, you’re voting to support a failed policy wrapped in illusion, and I would recommend to the members they vote against this resolution.”