Biden gets a present in Iowa

[jillan]

Headline story!

Biden promotes Iraq plan victory

Biden promotes Iraq plan victory
By ABBY SIMONS
REGISTER STAFF WRITER


September 27, 2007


Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden enjoyed a sweeping victory Wednesday with the U.S. Senate's passage of his much-touted plan for Iraq.

Biden's plan for a decentralized federal system in Iraq, presented as an amendment to a military spending authorization bill, passed easily, 75-23. Among those voting for the proposal were 26 Republicans.

In an interview, Biden said the amendment promotes a governing system that, in essence, separates Iraq into three near-autonomous governments for Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds, while a limited central government protects the nation's borders and divides Iraq's oil revenues.

The Delaware senator predicted that the plan would reduce infighting in Iraq and would allow U.S. troops to leave without plunging Iraq into chaos.

Two other Democratic presidential candidates, Sens. Hillary Clinton of New York and Chris Dodd of Connecticut, and a Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas, also voted for the amendment.

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois was not present for the vote.

Biden, who is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, acknowledged that the amendment is a nonbinding resolution and cannot result in immediate action. But, he said, its passage is "a ray of hope" that sends a clear signal to President Bush from both Democrats and Republicans who believe the United States' current strategy in Iraq is failing.

"I believe that the president, if he is smart, will listen because this is a way out for him," Biden said. "This is a way for him to leave without a legacy of total disaster."

Biden said he is hopeful that his 18-month effort to pass the amendment will resonate with Iowa's voters as the 2008 precinct caucuses draw near.

"In Iowa everyone talks about being able to pull people together," he said.

"I have a long record of being able to gain the trust of significant numbers of Republicans to change their minds on matters. I believe I've demonstrated, and no one else comes close with the ability, to unite the Senate, to unite people."

[gateley]

1. He is just so impressive! I keep saying that and he keeps impressing me more! nt

[jillan]

2. I love those words "sweeping victory"

Go Joe :toast:

[RiverStone]

18. He stopped impressing me the moment...

Biden voted to give Shrub more war $$$ last May.

Ya can't play both ends of the fiddle Joe.

[The Count]

3. 'splain to me how is this a good thing - WTF gives us the right to split their country?

We had no right to go there in the first place - and this victory talk has the smell of nazi boots on it.
I commend Obama for not voting on it. Feingold was the lone No vote - this may give some a clue of how "impressive" this is.

[murbley40]

6. Are you

purposely uninformed? They are already headed in that direction!! Have you heard that before?

[Texas_Kat]

20. So is Biden planning on evicting Iraqi's at gunpoint?

How will the US divide the country? Exactly how is he planning on enforcing these 'divisions' of Iraq into 3 new states?

I've read his proposals and they are all nebulous on details and long on rhetoric....

[Think82]

23. ALL NAYSAYERS READ THIS FIRST:

http://www.joebiden.com/newscenter/pressreleases?id=0176

[Think82]

24. especially this part:

A few key facts about the Biden amendment:

* The legislation does not tell Iraqis what to do. It speaks only to what U.S. policy should be.
* Federalism is not a U.S. or foreign imposition on Iraq. Iraq's own constitution calls a "decentralized, federal system" and sets out the powers of the regions (extensive) and those of the central government (limited). The Constitution also says that in case of conflict between regional and national law, regional law prevails.
* Federalism is not partition. In fact, it's probably the only way to prevent partition or, even worse, the total fragmentation of Iraq.
* Federalism will not accelerate sectarian cleansing; it's the only way to stop it. Iraqis are already voting with their feet, as yesterday's article in the New York Times demonstrates. Before the surge, Iraqis were fleeing their homes at a rate of about 40,000 month; now, it's about 100,000 a month. Unless Iraqis come to some kind of agreement on sharing power peacefully, the cleansing will continue.

[babylonsister]

4. Too bad it's a lousy plan the Iraqis aren't interested in.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1928436

[murbley40]

7. You are misinformed also.

Their constitution calls for it.

[babylonsister]

9. I provided a link to what I said; why don't you do the same. nt

[gateley]

11. Okay -- here's your link

Iraqi VP Endorses Federalism

Babylonian Society

September 27, 2007

In al-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper (Issue no. 10530 - September 27, 2007), Dr. Adil Abdul Mahdi, the Shiite VP of Iraq said that the American proposal to partition Iraq might lead to embracing federalism and the birth of federal regions united by a federal goverment. He used the United Arab Emirates as an example.

The Iraqi VP mentioned that the federal system was in effect during the relatively claim Ottoman era which makes federalism an attractive choice for many Iraqis and Americans. Senator Sam Brownback did use the Ottoman map of Iraq while presenting the Biden-Brownback-Boxer amendment on the floor of the Senate last Monday.

The French-educated Iraqi VP said: “Today, we examine visions and interpretations to select the best federal system for Iraq and one of those visions is the federalism in UAE.”

With the U.S. Senate overwhelmingly backing Senator Joseph Biden’s bipartisan plan to endorse federalism in Iraq, the chances of moving forward with this approach to deal with the Iraq conflict are getting bigger. However, the ball is in the White House court now.

snip

http://babylonians.wordpress.com/2007/09/27/iraqi-vp-endorses-federalism/


COMMENTS?

[babylonsister]

15. 'might lead to federalism' vs. 'their constitution calls for it' are two

entirely different things.

[jillan]

19. Not really - federalism is in their constitution.

And the point you are missing is that the resolution states that the Iraqi's do not have to adopt it.

But when, I ask, are the leaders of Iraq going to do something to get control of their gov't???????

[Debi]

16. This really needs it's own thread - or am I missing it??? n/t

[gateley]

21. I think The Count introduced the topic in response to the OP, and when

Babylon Sister posted her "lousy plan" declaration, well, that just wasn't right. When I see an injustice, I knee-jerk respond.

[Debi]

22. Biden put this plan out quite a while ago - I realize it just passed Senate muster

but where were all the naysayers back when he first introduced it to America?

[Think82]

26. kick

[jillan]

14. and here is more -

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1928436&mesg_id=1931812

[Zandor]

5. "Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois was not present for the vote"

Shocking.

[PatSeg]

8. I was very disappointed in him for that

He was ill, but made it to the debate that night. He was the only democrat who didn't show up to vote and McCain was the only republican. This was an important session in the senate and everyone else showed up.

[murbley40]

13. He had a cold?

[Capn Sunshine]

17. Eh

He's not entirely convinced Biden's idea is the end all be all. Yet he's not against it.
Can't vote for or against, what do you do?

I forgot though, Iraq is a black and white issue.

PS for the record,I think Biden's approach is probablythe most realistic. Not everyone agrees.

[Think82]

25. Hopefully we elect a president who LEADS not one who's unsure

just saying... I like Barack but he never gives any straightforward answers, if you'll notice

[PatSeg]

27. That is part of being a leader

One has to be prepared to make decisions, even if there is some uncertainty, especially when the conditions are so dire. The only two senators who did not vote were McCain and Obama. If either of them have a better plan, they need to present it. Not showing up for the vote is not taking a stand and is not particularly professional.

[murbley40]

10. kick

[gateley]

12. Kick. nt