Walter B. Jones

Congressman Walter Jones [1961 graduate of HMA] tuned his Greenville office television to CNN Thursday morning.

Jones' stance on U.S. involvement in that country has garnered headlines for the six-term U.S. representative, who recently broke ranks with many Republicans on Capitol Hill by announcing his impatience with the lack of a concrete plan for withdrawing American forces.

The District 3 congressman from Farmville said his outspokenness about how the country was led into the war, and the conduct of the campaign so far, won't hurt his current re-election bid, where he faces Democrat Craig Weber of Atlantic Beach.

That's because people are becoming aware of arguments made by people such as Greg Newbold, an East Carolina University graduate and retired Marine lieutenant general — "one of the bravest men I have ever known," Jones, 63, said. "He gave up a third star because he saw the lies and the distortion that got us into Iraq."

During an interview at his Greenville district office on Thursday, Jones read from Newbold's article in the April edition of Time magazine titled "Why Iraq Was a Mistake:"

"From 2000 until October 2002, I was a Marine Corps lieutenant general and director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. After 9/11, I was a witness and therefore a party to the actions that led us to the invasion of Iraq — an unnecessary war," Jones read.

"Inside the military family, I made no secret of my view that the zealots' rationale for war made no sense. And I think I was outspoken enough to make those senior to me uncomfortable. But I now regret that I did not more openly challenge those who were determined to invade a country whose actions were peripheral to the real threat — al-Qaeda."

Jones criticized the Bush administration for its portrayal of Iraq and its weapons of mass destruction program, which formed the basis upon which Jones voted for military action. No WMDs have been found in Iraq. The congressman said the administration misled he and others were, though he stops short of naming Bush among the culprits.

Jones said District 3 voters will understand his position.

Why?

"Because," he said, "the people know that I have made my decision (based) on the research and the investigation" he has conducted, citing his interviews with CIA operatives, a cabinet member's chief of staff, generals and others.

"(Voters) read the newspapers, they see the TV, they understand when people like this are speaking out," he said, tapping on a copy of Newbold's column. "I can never send a person to die for this country unless I know it is absolutely necessary. And when the questions have been coming out for three years now about the justification, was it justified or was it manipulated, I don't know how anyone can say that they want an elected official that does not want to know the truth."

In June 2005, Jones signed a bipartisan resolution urging President Bush to devise a concrete plan for withdrawing troops from Iraq.

"I think people are beginning to understand that ... I want to do what's right based on the facts, not based on the wishes of somebody," he said.

About 70 Pitt and Beaufort County Republicans gave Jones a warm reception Friday night. He was stumping for N.C. House candidate Hood Richardson at a farm between Grimesland and Chocowinity. Jones limited his references to the war to prayers for U.S. soldiers and their families.

Applause punctuated Jones' comments on issues central to his party: lower taxes, gay marriage and illegal immigration.

"I'm more concerned about terrorists coming from Central and South America than I am about terrorists coming from Iraq," he said Friday night.

During the interview Thursday, Jones also touched on the possible effects his campaign may experience due to fellow Republican Rep. Mark Foley's resignation. Foley, of Florida, is being investigated for allegedly sending inappropriate e-mails to teenage pages working on Capitol Hill.

Jones said that controversy wouldn't affect his campaign.

"I hope I'm known for my integrity," he said. "I hope I'm known — whether people agree with me or not — for my moral character. From the very first day I heard about (the Foley case), I said, 'If there's anybody in (the Republican) leadership who has known about this, weeks or months or years ago, then they need to resign.'"

Javier Castillo, chairman of the Pitt County Republican Party, doubted that Iraq or Foley would negatively affect Jones' chances.

"I personally believe not, because Walter has done a great job for his district," Castillo said. Voters may disagree with Jones on that one issue (Iraq), but District 3 voters likely agree with him on most things, and approve of his services in the district, Castillo added.

Richardson echoed Castillo's sentiment on Iraq.

"Republicans don't have to march in lock-step on all the issues," he said.

Johnny Rouse, Pitt County Democratic Party chairman, took the opposite view.

"I think, if anything, it'll hurt him with the core Republican voters," Rouse said. They may choose not to vote at all out of disgruntlement over Jones' criticisms of the Iraq war, he added.

Neither Castillo nor Rouse believed the Foley scandal would affect the incumbent.

"Mark Foley's in Florida, and he's already quit, so that's a problem for electors in Florida, not here," Castillo said.

Rouse said the scandal "may hurt the Republicans' image as the party of quote-unquote values, but I don't think it should affect" Jones. "It would be unfair to paint him" with the actions attributed to his Republican colleague, Rouse said.

By T. Scott Batchelor
sbatchelor@coxnc.com
The Daily Reflector