Biden: Basra conflict may not be ‘defining moment’

[gateley]

By Walter Alarkon
Posted: 04/01/08 04:07 PM

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joseph Biden (D-Del.), poised to start another round of hearings on Iraq, voiced skepticism Tuesday of President Bush’s claim that last week’s fighting between Shiite militias and Iraqi government forces was “a defining moment.”

Biden, in a conference call with reporters, was not ready to judge the effects of the conflict, which took place mostly in the southern city of Basra. Biden’s committee will hear testimony next Tuesday from Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker about the surge and the latest in Iraq.

“The president said this was a defining moment,” Biden said. “Some were saying this was a victory for Iraq. I need more info.”

snip

Biden said the situation was “a little bit” like the 2006 conflict between Israeli and Hezbollah forces near the Israel-Lebanon border.

“Israelis used forces they had, Hezbollah survived, and grew in strength,” he said.
Biden then added, “ looks to me like, at least on the surface,Sadr may have come out a winner here. He lives to fight another day.”

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/biden-basra-conflict-may-not-be-defining-moment-2008-04-01.html

As always, I listen to Biden on such matters -- he GETS it. This administration doesn't.

[kevinmc]

1. Biden was my first choice as Dem Nom. Smart guy and we need someone smart now. n/t

[KG]

2. biden doesn't believe bush, so he's going to ask bush's toadys for the truth?

maybe that's somehow better than believing his own lying eyes? :eyes:

he's just another spineless dem politico.

[Muttocracy]

5. no, not from Bush - he's having hearings all this week to get more info

BEFORE the "report" next week from Petraeus and Crocker.

[tama]

3. What does Biden get?

By the looks of it he still considers Sadr his enemy and Bush&Cheney (misguided) ally. If he really "got it" then he would see Sadr as an ally because he's the guy Iraqi people - the ones US was supposed to help - trust most and apparently for good reasons, and Bush&Cheney as enemy, nothing but criminals.

[Muttocracy]

4. oh please, if you knew anything about Biden or listened to the hearings

and what he says about Bush you wouldn't say such nonsense.

[bdamomma]

6. I was just listening to Senator Biden

and he just said in analogy that George really screwed up Center field. That we have no longer have any creditability either in Iraq or the surrounding regions. Too bad he is not going to be the man sitting behind that desk.