Senator Biden on Face the Nation

[ginchinchili]

The discussion this Sunday morning on Face the Nation was quite sobering and should require all of us to take another look at how the Democratic primary is shaping up. It's a very complicated and potentially ugly situation that many Americans will want to ignore and hope it all just goes away, but that would most likely make things a lot worse shortly down the road. Once again Sen. Biden demonstrated his impressive breadth of knowledge on the situation and showed why he is the one we need at the helm of our nation at this point in time rather than one of the other less experienced candidates. His answers aren't always the most pleasing to hear, but they are the most realistic, honest, and informative.

The Middle East is a potential powder keg and there are a lot of interrelated pieces. No presidential candidate, Democrat or Republican, has demonstrated a clear understanding of the situation, much less a policy to deal with it, except Sen. Biden.

Sen. Biden was just on Face the Nation talking about the Middle East situation and, in particular, Pakistan, which is potentially the most serious threat to the U.S. and our allies. But he understands the enormity and complexity of the problem, and does not shy away from stating what he believes we should do.

For one, we need to make changes in our Iraq policy that gives us some light at the end of the tunnel without irresponsibly just "pulling out." He believes we should help Iraq fulfill what they have stated in their Constitution creating a federation of semi-autonomous regions not unlike what we have here in the U.S., with a limited centralized government. That way they avoid the one size fits all approach that Bush has been trying to force down their throats. As we begin pulling out of Iraq, some of our intelligence apparatus and special forces will go to Afghanistan to help stabilize that country and, provided we have the intelligence that backs a successful outcome, go after bin Laden and his cadre of supporters in Pakistan, because Musharraf is not going to get the job done, and it needs to be done.

On Iran, the saber rattling has to stop. It hurts, not helps, our situation. Threatening Iran with war does not serve our national interests.

The Middle East is not a child's game of checkers. This is serious business. Biden may not be the latest fad candidate, but he sure as hell is the most qualified to take over the presidency beginning on day one. After watching him speak again, this time on Face the Nation, I'm going over to his website and donating $100.00 to his campaign and would strongly encourage others to do the same.

[John Q. Citizen]

1. Threatening Iran with war is an impeachable offense. We signed treaties

that prohibit that behavior. And signed treaties carry the full force of law, if one believes the constitution. I wish Biden would note that.

Dennis Kucincih has the best plan to exit Iraq. It's HR 1234 and it's been introduced into the House. It provides a mechanism to leave without leaving a power vaccuum in our wake. If Biden has a plan he feels is better, perhaps he can put it into a bill and introduce it in the Senate.

Talk is cheap. Let's see it in black and white.

Here's link to HR1234 at Thomas/gov I cut and pasted Section 2 so you can get an idea of the plan.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.R.1234:
SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

It is the policy of the United States that--

(1) the United States should end the occupation of Iraq immediately, simultaneously with the introduction of a United Nations-led international peacekeeping force pursuant to an agreement with nations within the region and which incorporates the terms and conditions specified in section 1;

(2) the Department of Defense should use readily available existing funds to bring all United States troops and necessary equipment home while a political settlement is being negotiated and preparations are made for a transition to an international security and peacekeeping force;

(3) the Department of Defense should order a simultaneous return of all United States contractors and subcontractors and turn over all contracting work to the Iraqi Government;

(4) the United Nations should be encouraged to prepare an international security and peacekeeping force to be deployed to Iraq, replacing United States troops who then return home;

(5) the United States should provide funding for a United Nations peacekeeping mission, in which 50 percent of the peacekeeping troops should come from nations with large Muslim populations;

(6) the international security force, under United Nations direction, should remain in place until the Iraqi Government is capable of handling its own security;

(7) the Iraqi Government, with assistance from the United Nations, should immediately restart the failed reconstruction program in Iraq and rebuild roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, and other public facilities, houses, and factories with jobs and job training going to local Iraqis;

(8) the Iraqi Government, in an act of political sovereignty, should set aside initiatives to privatize Iraqi oil interests or other national assets and abandon all efforts, whether at the behest of the United States or otherwise, to change Iraqi national law to facilitate privatization;

(9) the Iraq Government, in an act of political sovereignty, should set forth a plan to stabilize Iraq's cost for food and energy, on par to what the prices were before the United States invasion and occupation;

(10) the Iraqi Government, in an act of political sovereignty, should strive for economic sovereignty for Iraq by working with the world community to restore Iraq's fiscal integrity without structural readjustment measures of the International Monetary Funds or the World Bank;

(11) the United States should initiate a reparations program for the loss of Iraqi lives, physical and emotional injuries, and damage to property, which should include an effort to rescue the tens of thousands of Iraqi orphans from lives of destitution; and

(12) the United States should refrain from any covert operations in Iraq and any attempts to destabilize the Iraqi Government.

[Frances]

2. I think that Bush's saber-rattling in Iran

is increasing the strength of the Taliban and Taliban-like people in both Afghanistan and Pakistan. And that is not in the best interests of the U.S.

[ginchinchili]

5. Yes, Bush's entire Middle East policy does just that.

As Biden pointed out in the last presidential debate, Bush's threats of war with Iran is one reason our gas prices continue to go up, and the only ones that helps is oil producing countries like Iran and Bush's buddies in the oil industry.

[youthere]

27. not to mention the fact that it is...

hardening the Irani's against us as well, and solidifying their support of Ahmedinejad. Maybe Bush really is a "uniter" after all.

[ginchinchili]

4. Where have you been?

"If Biden has a plan he feels is better, perhaps he can put it into a bill and introduce it in the Senate." You obviously haven't been paying the least bit of attention to American politics. And this Kucincih plan sounds good and simple, but is naive at best, and certainly would leave a vacuum.
Check out Biden's plan: http://planforiraq.com/

By the way, Biden has already put forth his plan into a bill and 75 Senators, obviously including many Republican, voted in favor of it. When Kucincih accomplishes that, then we'll talk.

[John Q. Citizen]

9. What was the bill number? When will it be voted on in the house?

[ginchinchili]

12. I made the whole thing up, now go back outside and play.

I've learned that when someone comes at an issue like you are it's not about someone trying to get informed. If you were really interested you'd do a simple google search and learn about it. There's a lot of info out there on it. He wrote the bill with Brownback and Boxer. I gave you a link to an overview of his plan. Do a little of the work yourself, that is if you're really interested.

[ginnyinWI]

3. thanks for the summary--this program will be rep'd on XM radio

today at 2:30 Eastern. Channel 132. I like to listen to the Sunday talk shows on Sunday afternoons on XM radio--no commercials.

[Jillian]

6. Biden makes me feel comfortable. I feel if he is in charge, he will know what he is doing and that

comforts me.

[ginchinchili]

8. He not only is the most informed candidate on foreign policy, but...

he also has the most carefully thought-out actions he would take. Naturally, as president Biden would surround himself with the most qualified people, but as a candidate I like the fact that he doesn't hide behind such answers as, I would gather together my advisers to come up the the best strategy, or, I would put together a bi-partisan commission... Like you, with Biden in the presidency I'd feel secure in the fact that we put in place the best qualified person to help steer our country through these scary times.

[John Q. Citizen]

10. Is that why he supported the IWR, because he is extremely knowledgable

and it was the best idea?

Or did he vote for it because he thought it was smart politically at the time and he knew it would pass anyway?

[gateley]

14. EXCELLENT! We have NEVER had that IWR vote brought up before! Boy,

what an eye-opener! I hope other people on DU get a clue as to who did or did not vote for the IWR! We need to be INFORMED! Thank you!

[John Q. Citizen]

15. I'm wondering why he voted for it? I like Biden, he's a good man, but if you are

going to tout his incredible knowledge of foriegn affairs (and I've always heard he knows a lot about foriegn affairs) it seems like my questions are reasonable.

why did he cast that vote?


I think Hill voted for it because she's a hawk. I think Edwards voted for it to establish hawk credentials and for the political aspect back in NC.

I still haven't figured out why Dodd voted for it.

But the why is important to me.

[gateley]

16. First of all, thank you for your level-headed and very fair response to my

(now embarrassing) snark. You're a bigger person than I. :headbang:
]
The vote was passed by a healthy margin, and I can't help but think all people thought they were doing the "right thing".

After the NH debate when Biden was being interviewed by Chris Matthews, he was asked about Hillary's Iran vote and something about her being wrong on Iraq, too. While stating that HRC's vote was fundamentally wrong, Biden said "I'm not sure what you mean in terms of being wrong about Iraq. Bush violated the conditions sent down in the authorization regarding the use of force."

That's the best explanation I've heard thus far and helps me understand why they keep saying they didn't vote for the WAR. Bushco presented one approach and received support, but did something completely different than what he received the authorization for.

I'm not sure I wouldn't have voted the same with the information they'd been given. We didn't know then what we know now about how despicable this administration really is.

I can't explain why Biden voted a certain way, except to say I strongly believe he is a good person, and I'm confident his votes are a reflection of his sincere desire to, as I said, do the right thing.

I'm guessing Dodd felt it was the right thing, too. In my book they both have a lot of integrity.

[John Q. Citizen]

17. my Dem Senator, Baucas, made a simular defense. After the vote but before the invasion he

wrote me and said that bush couldn't invade without another UN vote authorizing military action. The problem I have with his and Biden's responses is then why didn't they get up and shout bloody murder that the President was illegally going to war?

That's always troubled me, because congress has a duty to defend the constitution and only they can declare war.

And none of the slim majority of Senate Dems who voted for the IWR ever screamed that it was illegal, ever even brought up that bush was acting illegally.

I can't say that gives me full confidence. My Senator has one of the more conservative voting records in the Senate, for a Dem.

[karynnj]

18. How much coverage would it have got?

Do you remember March 2003? It was extremely frustrating - the inspectors were finding nothing and Saddam was destroying missiles deemed to not be in compliance. There were rallies world wide against the imminent invasion.

There was at least ONE Senator who voted for the IWR who did speak out that Bush was not holding to the promises of how he would use the resolution - several times in interviews, campaigning and in a formal speech at Gergetown University - that was Senator Kerry. The problem was that the media did not join Dean, Gore, Kerry and others to demand that Bush not go to war.

Biden did try to get a better resolution - in fact Dean said in September taht he would vote for Biden/Lugar, which was the preferred amendment for Kerry and I think Dodd. My guess is that Biden may have thought they could push the war off and may be avoid it by insisting on the inspections process and the UN.

[John Q. Citizen]

23. You are right, now that you mention it I do recall that Kerry raised the issue.

[creeksneakers2]

7. Biden is highly intelligent and very experienced

He'd do a great job of rescuing our foreign policy.

[gateley]

11. When the Pakistan news broke yesterday I kept looking for Biden to find out

what we should/could DO, and to explain to us what it all meant. That's how much I trust in him, especially regarding the ME situation. I didn't even pay attention to Bush/Rice's comments because really, why bother?

He's the go-to man in my book. We need him during this fragile time.

[ginchinchili]

13. If you caught Face the Nation then I'm sure he did not disappoint.

You make a good point. With so many sources of information now, one has to be creative in how to obtain the most accurate and detailed info. You named perhaps the best source available to us on international developments and analysis on how these developments should be handled. As far as keeping the American people informed--and in every other respect as well--Joe Biden would be an antipodal change from the pea brain we have in there now.

[Shanti Mama]

19. just a slight correction...

Pakistan is considered to be part of South Asia (India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, the Maldives). Political issues in this part of the world (I live in Nepal) evolve quite differently from those in the Middle East, though clearly Pakistan and the Middle East are linked together for unfortunate reasons.

I don't mean to be nit-picking but I think it's important that we all understand the 'lay of the land.'

[jillan]

20. Thanks for that! And welcome to DU!!

I'll be looking forward to your future posts to find out more about you and what life is like for you :hi:

[Froward69]

21. Yes Thank you, Feel free to

Chime in at any time. :hi: Welcome.

[Shanti Mama]

22. Thanks, Pirhana and Fro.

It is very interesting to observe my country from the other side of the world. Over the years I find myself more and more alienated, less able to imagine living in the US again. If I had to move I think I'd prefer somewhere in Europe, or another 3rd world country where life is so real.

Shanti (peace).

[youthere]

25. Welcome to Du Shanti Mama!

[PatSeg]

26. Welcome to DU Shanti

and thank you for your perspective. We tend to function in a bubble over here, but thanks to the Internet that is starting to change.

[Debi]

24. Welcome to DU Shanti Mama!

:hi: