Sen. Joseph Biden (D-Del), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is doing what the tarnished Senator McCain (R-AZ) used to do, straight talk.... "White House Postponing Loss of Iraq, Biden Says."
The forcefully-speaking Biden sees the current situation in Iraq this way.... The Decider is waiting until after the elections of 2008, and a new president, to take the historical blame for "landing helicopters inside the Green Zone, taking people off the roof," in a chaotic withdrawal reminiscent of Vietnam.
Such a postponement would insure the death of yet more brave troops, continue the Bush administration's plunge into an abyss of debt, and fuel yet more terrorism throughout the Iraq region and the world.
To what purpose?
To avoid such a scene of failure on Bush's watch.
So, The Decider irresponsibly continues his "stay the course" Iraq policy.... however he cloaks it in his upcoming speech.... unable and unwilling to face, as Biden thinks, what VP Cheney and former defense secretary Rumsfeld have already faced, the fact that Iraq was a "very, very, very, very bad bet, and it blew up in their faces."
Starting next week, Biden will hold committee hearings on every aspect of U.S. policy in Iraq. He intends to expose the Iraq policy underbelly and bring pressure to bear to influence GOP lawmakers.
In the meantime, new Democratic legislative leaders "Pelosi, Reid Urge Bush To Begin Iraq Pullout." They sent a letter to The Decider warning him that sending more U.S. troops to Iraq.... the "surge" option.... was "unacceptable" to the Democratic majorities in Congress. Instead, they want him to begin a phased withdrawal of U.S. forces in the next four to six months.
As at least the Bush advisers must know, a "surge" would not be a new strategy, but a new tactic. Shuffling generals and diplomats, increasing troop strength.... hollow maneuvers all.
Bush has been spending a lot of time in the Iraq woodshed. Is our thumb-sucking Decider incapable of a new strategy? Are we asking a spoiled boy to do a man's job?
Stayed tuned.... although the sorry answer is probably yes.
2 comments:
I have always liked Biden, actually. My first "encounter" watching him was a long time ago on a late-night CSpan viewing, during which he was the "voice of reason" surrounding some issue I can't recall--basically, his argument was that the Senate at the time was bickering over bits and pieces and not about the issues at hand, so they all should get over it. I was very impressed with him from that moment on, and given the content of your post, I continue to be.
slskenyon, I have NEVER liked Biden as a Presidential candidate, and still don't. But he's very enjoyable as a Senator. On Bush and Cheney trying to run out the clock in Iraq-Nam he is brilliant: Way ahead of most everyone!
Post a Comment