Ten minutes to write. Less time to read.

I had not heard of Pennsylvania’s Representative John Murtha until he openly criticized the Bush Administration’s current handling of the war in Iraq this week. Murtha, who was first elected to Congress in 1974, is the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations defense subcommittee.

Murtha’s background also includes 37 years as a Marine. He’s seen war up close. And, in 2002, it didn’t dissuade him from being hawkish about committing troops to Iraq. The Republicans appreciated that point of view. But now he’s changed his mind and has publicly stated so.

Naturally, this is causing a stir on Capitol Hill. In fact, according to the local newspaper, White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan is comparing Murtha to filmmaker Michael Moore.

I see it this way: Congressman Murtha has changed his mind, based on what he sees today. He felt differently in 2002; he’s reevaluated his position and come to a new conclusion. I’d like our President to consider the same approach. Changing one’s mind is not necessarily the same as turning and running away.

I am tired of the entire debate about whether Bush massaged information regarding weapons of mass destruction to advance his own agenda. I am tired of the catcalling and the potboiling from both political parties; and I am really, really tired of listening to the President give the same old rationale for staying the course.

One fact we all seem to agree on is that no WMDs have been found to date in Iraq. Another fact is that violence there is a regular occurrence. And another is that over 2000 American military have died. Something doesn’t seem to be going right.

If I went for a hike in an unfamiliar wood and, after an hour or so, began to sense that I was lost, I would not keep going forward and merely wish I were on the correct trail. I would stop, take a breath, evaluate where I was, and possibly retrace some steps. If other hikers were with me, I would ask their opinions and take their experience with such situations into consideration. And maybe I’d even salvage the day.