Biden Attacks McCain and Giuliani Over Troop Surge
EmailABC News’ Brian Wheeler Reports: Senator Joe Biden, D-Del., released a statement Monday directly attacking both former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, R-N.Y., and Senator John McCain, R-Ariz., over their defense of the troop surge in Iraq.
"Yesterday’s attempt by John McCain and Rudy Giuliani to defend the Bush-Cheney troop surge in Iraq totally misses the point – and is misleading to the American people. Security in Iraq is better, thanks in no small measure to our troops. But there is no evidence – none – that the surge is succeeding in achieving its stated objective: to allow Iraqis to come together politically," Biden said in the statement.
On ‘This Week with George Stephanopoulos’ McCain said, "Success is significant, and anybody who thinks that it isn’t does not know the facts on the ground. The progress has been accelerated since we inaugurated the new strategy, which I fought for for four years. We have seen significant progress."
And Rudy Giuliani told a questioner in New Hampshire, "I think that it would be a very big mistake to pull them out while the general there still thinks they can be successful. But I hope they do. And I believe that we have lost lives there, but they kept us safer."
Biden has chosen a tack that will likely be typical of the other Democratic candidates as they seek to salute US troops for the improved security while maintaining the ire towards the war that has become a hallmark of the party base in this campaign season. The Senator labeled the troop surge a failure back in April due to the lack of political progress in Baghdad.
McCain counseled patience in his interview on This Week, saying, "All of us are frustrated by the lack of performance by the Maliki government. But the more secure environment you have, the more political progress you’re going to see. That’s the classic way to win counterinsurgencies."
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Senator Biden and the other Dems know that the troop surge in Iraq was done to
reduce the level of violence in and around Bagdad!
This politcal nonsense was concocted by the Dems so that they can continue to claim no progress has been made!
Political progress in Iraq must come from negotiations between the Shia, Kurds and Sunni’s, Not military action by our troops!
The level of violence in and around Bagdad has decreased significantly, therefore the Surge Is Working!
Posted by: Reaganfan | November 26, 2007, 7:32 pm 7:32 pm
Maybe Senator Biden should go to Iraq, carry a pistol and make the Iraqi’s sit down at a table so they can “come together politically”. This double talk has to stop sooner or later. Lead by example Gentleman, then maybe the Iraqi’s will follow.
Posted by: Cpopera | November 26, 2007, 10:54 pm 10:54 pm
What even the Dems won’t say – and the Repubs won’t even acknolwedge – is that the surge is working because Al Sadr unilaterally declared a six month ceasefire – remember? And “decreased significantly” means that it has returned to, oh, say, 2006 levels. Sucker, please!
Posted by: YaFatha | November 26, 2007, 11:29 pm 11:29 pm
Biden just can’t stand the fact that he is on the losing side. He knows he is wrong but just can’t bring himself to admit it. This self-delusion of his is a real shame because he could have been a viable Democrat leader had he only stood with Joe Lieberman and Zell Miller. He lost touch with his roots, meaning the people back home he used to talk to about politics. Something happened when he arrived in D.C. and he never got back whatever it was that got him there. A real shame.
Posted by: HorizonScanner | November 27, 2007, 9:48 am 9:48 am
Interesting to note violence went way down in Basra, when the Brits pulled out. Troop surge, unfortunately seems to be the only plan pushed by Bush-Cheney for Iraq. McCain’s right, a secure environment creates a better atmosphere. Biden offers the best way however, with a plan to negotiate a real sharing among the three parties in Iraq. Biden’s proposal to share power and oil wealth with Iraq as three republics, would draw Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds to the table faster than more US troops. Biden also supports the presence of the troops in a gradual, military driven pull out.
Posted by: Jonatales | November 27, 2007, 11:17 am 11:17 am
We should never have been in Iraq. Anyone who supported the idea should not be elected. The dollars we wasted could have been better spent towards energy and financial independence.
Posted by: anthony fiano | November 27, 2007, 2:39 pm 2:39 pm
Anyone who believes that Iraq will come together politically is delusional! This war has destroyed Iraq and is about to destroy America, as well. As for Lieberman and Miller, they should be put out to pasture!
Posted by: Lynn Beckman | November 27, 2007, 10:08 pm 10:08 pm
Anyone who believes that Iraq will come together politically is delusional! This war has destroyed Iraq and is about to destroy America, as well. As for Lieberman and Miller, they should be put out to pasture!
Posted by: Lynn Beckman | November 27, 2007, 10:08 pm 10:08 pm
Anyone who believes that Iraq will come together politically is delusional! This war has destroyed Iraq and is about to destroy America, as well. As for Lieberman and Miller, they should be put out to pasture!
Posted by: Lynn Beckman | November 27, 2007, 10:10 pm 10:10 pm
No one is winning in Iraq except the Defense Contractors…Mission accomplished by the Bush Admin.
I’m glad that Biden spoke out against the false claim that the “surge” is working. Hopefully it will get him some badly needed press…Good or bad.
I’m so tired of seeing Hil/Bar over and over again. Let’s here about someone who has real ideas about solving the Iraq bust. Imaging using policies and plans that have actually worked before.
Think About It America!
Posted by: FHH3 | November 27, 2007, 11:15 pm 11:15 pm
FHH3: It is Not a False Claim!
Even your buddies at the New York Times
have admitted that the surge is working!
Let’s see between Hillary and Biden the choice is Hillary the Liar or Biden the Plagerist! You’re right Biden has real ideas But they are usually Someone Elses!
Posted by: reaganfan | November 28, 2007, 10:44 am 10:44 am
Um. Buddies at the New York Times? Excuse me? Do you know what your talking about- they may be slightly more liberal than the economist, but that magazine is a little conservative, so they balance each other out. Furthermore, the NYT has been relatively patient with the war, primarily because of its funds that it receives from AIPAC.
As for Biden, he has a relatively simple plan to get the US out of Iraq. The fact is that the USA doesn’t have any more money. Economically, we are in a position that is very precarious, doubly so when considering war costs. So what if the world is more dangerous. If you read Road to 911 you’d see exactly WHY we are in the terrorist threatened place that we are.
Simply-division of the Iraqi country into three estates will cause tension, of course (see India and Pakistan) but it will return it to a more stable state (the one that existed before the British screwed it up). Also, if someone steals ideas- it’s fine. So long as they’re good ideas. It takes a fine mind to coalesce all sides of an argument and formulate a plan with pieces of each. (See Roman Empire)
Posted by: Connor | February 29, 2008, 10:57 am 10:57 am