Representative Murtha spoke to reporters about the decision to engage in military operations in Iraq and called for a plan to withdraw troops from Iraq, despite his initial vote to authorize military force. Following a brief, and at times emotional, statement he answered questions from the reporters. As a Vietnam veteran and House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense Ranking Member he criticized the Bush administration's war policy as well as its partisan attacks on Democratic members adverse to current war policy. He was particularly critical of Vice President Cheney for calling critics unpatriotic and past lack of military service, saying "I like guys who got five deferments and never been there, and send people to war, and then don't like to hear suggestions about what needs to be done."