Democratic Sen. Joe Biden Declares Troop Buildup in Iraq Is Failure, Peace Is Far Off

[babsbunny]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/D/DEMOCRATS_IRAQ?SITE=ALOPE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Sen. Biden: Troop Buildup Is Failure




WASHINGTON (AP) -- A leading Democrat on Saturday declared last year's troop buildup in Iraq a failure.

Sen. Joe Biden, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the military push didn't succeed because U.S. troops remain committed there in large numbers and political reconciliation has not been achieved.

"The purpose of the surge was to bring violence in Iraq down so that its leaders could come together politically," said Biden, D-Del., in this week's Democratic radio address. "Violence has come down, but the Iraqis have not come together."

He later added, "There is little evidence the Iraqis will settle their differences peacefully any time soon."

[gateley]

1. He also said

this administration is dragging this out to hand it off to the next administration. And Biden is speaking for the majority of the SFRC -- Dems and Reps.

Watching the SFRC hearings on Iraq, it was apparent that this Committee KNOWS what's going on. I'm looking forward to the Patraeus/Crocker appearance next week.

[H8fascistcons]

2. WEll.....

If senator Biden would call on Nancy Pelosi to hold impeachment hearings in the House, I might actually have a little respect for him, i'm not holding my breath. Until then, he is just another one of the criminal Fascist enablers. The criminal Fascist republicans could not continue to commit crimes against the constitution without the help of the "Do Nothing" Democrats, they do not get to pick and choose which crimes against the constitution to ignore...

[gateley]

4. Oh -- so THAT'S why Pelosi hasn't pursued impeachment?

Because BIDEN hasn't called for it? Damn criminal... all this time I never realized it was all his fault. :eyes:

[H8fascistcons]

7. Thank you....

Thanks for the comment but they all need to be held accountable, why would you not expect Democrats to be irate and speak out? These are war crimes against the entire world! Imagine JFK in the senate and remaining silent on war crimes, how about MLK?. Sorry if Biden is your "guy" but it is what it is.
Regards.....

[gateley]

8. Biden has vociferously spoken out against what this administration is doing.

He is of the belief (or he was) that impeachment would take our attention off Iraq, etc. I don't agree with him -- I'm strongly for impeachment -- but that's why he specifically didn't call for it. He did say that "they" (?) are compiling information to make sure they have a strong legal basis, so if they do proceed, the charges won't be tossed out on technicalities. Even though it's obvious to us - and I'm sure to them - they're well aware of how strong legal representation can twist a "can't lose" case into something else.

Anyway, I don't hold out much hope that we'll see this transpire.

Bided DID say that if "this guy starts dropping bombs in Iran", that he would use his power as the Chairman of the SFRC to bring pressure to pursue impeachment. So of course everyone jumped on that and said "great, Biden, wait until AFTER he's done it". Well, you can't impeach someone for talking about/threatening an action. Since Kyl-Lieberman passed (Biden voted against it, by the way), Bush might still have wiggle room, though.

I DO share your outrage about the war crimes, as well as your frustration that nothing has come about thus far.

Kucinich's, Wexler's and Conyers's calls for impeachment are dead in the water. I'm not sure what anyone can actually DO.

[jillan]

3. That's what I love about Biden, he does not mince words.

I hope there is a place for him in the next administration.

[spanone]

5. the democrats best brace themselves cause they are gonna inherit this nightmare

bu$h* won't do squat to end this war....

[greyghost]

6. This isn't a war, it's the occupation of a foreign country that happens

to possess vast oil reserves. When McSame said we'd be there for 100 years he wasn't far off. Germany and Korea are prime examples of this philosophy.

The "civil war" in Iraq is going to be going on for some time no matter who becomes president. It's about the oil folks, always has been.