Senate Overwhelmingly Backs Biden Iraq Plan

AP:

The Senate passed a resolution Wednesday suggesting Baghdad limit the power of its federal government and give more control to Iraq's ethnically divided regions.

The 75-23 vote marked the first agreement on Iraq among lawmakers in months, although it would have little practical effect. Republicans agreed to swing behind the nonbinding measure after it was amended to make clear that Bush should press for a new federalized system only if the Iraqis want it.

Still, the resolution underscores a bipartisan longing in Congress for a fresh diplomatic approach in Iraq. It also was a victory for presidential hopeful Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., a primary sponsor of the resolution along with Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan.

Read the whole story: AP

Comments

[WigWamWag]

Joe Biden appears to be the only Democratic candidate worthy of consideration. Why then are Billery and the O-Bomb-iable one getting so much free press. Could it the fact that they support many Socialist agendas popular with ultra liberals?

[GuiltyByStander]

You're right; he is. Clinton and Obama came pre-packaged and pre-funded for the American Media who are doing their usual puppy-dog thing.

Joe is winning this one with good ideas and hard work in the Senate. Right about now is the time to offer him some help.

[transendentilist]

Such as?

[bdl0715]

I think the Biden plan is an excellent idea. Why are we so interested in keeping Iraq as one nation, when maybe they would be better separated? Let them all go their separate ways.

[syllepsis]

Sen. Feingold is once again the only Dem I can agree with.
We are not the feudal overlords of Iraq.
The sooner we realize that the better.

[Robert59]

Feingold is right, but as the biggest one at the table our stating it as an option worth considering will have its impact felt in Iraq.

We all talk about intensive diplomacy. This is the kind of intensive diplomacy we need, to get out in the public forum options other than all out civil war.

And it will be another gauge to find out if Sunnis want peace or war.

[Think82]

A few key facts about the Biden amendment:

* The legislation does not tell Iraqis what to do. It speaks only to what U.S. policy should be.
* Federalism is not a U.S. or foreign imposition on Iraq. Iraq's own constitution calls a "decentralized, federal system" and sets out the powers of the regions (extensive) and those of the central government (limited). The Constitution also says that in case of conflict between regional and national law, regional law prevails.
* Federalism is not partition. In fact, it's probably the only way to prevent partition or, even worse, the total fragmentation of Iraq.
* Federalism will not accelerate sectarian cleansing; it's the only way to stop it. Iraqis are already voting with their feet, as yesterday's article in the New York Times demonstrates. Before the surge, Iraqis were fleeing their homes at a rate of about 40,000 month; now, it's about 100,000 a month. Unless Iraqis come to some kind of agreement on sharing power peacefully, the cleansing will continue.

[RanTalbott]

The Bushies want a strong central government because it makes it easier to manage Iraq as a client state.

The Kurds certainly want their own country, but there are _lots_ of mixed marriages among Arab Iraqis, and many (perhaps a majority, though it's far from clear) who would prefer to live in a mixed, relatively secular (compared to what they're getting now, not compared to ours) state. A balkanized Iraq is very likely to have the same sorts of problems we saw in the break-up of Yugoslavia: families torn apart, and a fanatical minority making life hell for the majority who were at least willing, and often downright eager, to "just get along".

And what do you do about the Turkmen, and other ethnic and religious minorities who aren't one of the "Big 3"?

It's easy for us, sitting safe and warm thousands of miles away, to say "Let them all go their separate ways", but the situation is nowhere near as simple as most of us see it, and we don't have to live with the anguish of being ripped from our homes and separated from friends and family by razor wire and blast walls.

[naschkatze]

I think the Biden plan is the best under the circumstances. We have taken a country and destroyed it and now we are telling them what to do about it (non-binding caveat aside). Still, this is probably the only way to stem the bloodshed at this point.

[Nyland8]

The bloodshed is not for us to "stem" ... it is for the Iraqis to stem.

The "best" plan under the circumstances is to get out of Iraq ...

... all the way out ...

... ASAP

8

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[Firaxis]

I think this Congress should be known by it's deeds - NON BINDING.

[TJTelecaster]

We need a new Secretary of State..!

Maybe Colin Powell..!

The State Debt. has blown it in Iraq as bad as the Pentagon..!

[Robert59]

Colin Powell, are you kidding?
His lies helped us get in this mess. I'd like to see him and Tenet tried as traitors.

[cynara]

Only if we get to try Bush and Cheney first...

[godlessclif]

They re-elected Liebermann. The American voter is retarded.

[transendentilist]

That was a state election. But I get your point. Lieberman is a whiny little fence-jumper that will say anything to perpetuate his career.

[unpoetaloco]

That will work well for Ray Hunt. He'll get to keep his multi-billion dollar oil deal with the Kurds. Isn't it wonderful how everythng always works out for the best (for the guys with the money).

So, we started as nation-builders, and now we are nation-breaker-uppers.

I know, why don't we redraw the lines of the old Yugoslavia so we can turn around and break it up again.

Or, here's a thought, why don't we get the f*ck out and let the Iraqis do what they want to do.

[godlessclif]

Billions of dollars, is there any problem you can't solve?" ...Jon Stewart

[transendentilist]

Bill Richardson is the only dem candidate that supports total withdrawl of our troops, and I agree full-heartedly. The others just hem-haw away about leaving 50-75 thousand troops behind in Iraq.

[Nyland8]

Bullshit.

Kucinich has been opposed to the occupation from day one ... and is in favor of removing ALL of our fighting forces.

8
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[stlrfan]

Useless empty resolution what else is new. You know Cheney got wood over Kyl-Lieberman.McCain probably pissed he didn't get his name on that one.

[TXfemmom]

Well, the Kyl/Lieberman just passed with only 22 Democrats voting against it. CLINTON VOTED FOR IT.

THAT IS THE END OF THE BITCH. SHE CAN'T SAY THAT SHE DIDN'T FIND OUT WHAT BUSH WAS CAPABLE OF WHEN SHE VOTED FOR IRAQ, AND NOW SHE GIVES HIM THE OPENING FOR WAR WITH IRAN?

GO TO HELL, EVERY DEMOCRAT WHICH VOTED FOR THIS.

WE NEED A REVOLUTION. KEEP IT AS PEACEFUL AS POSSIBLE, BUT OUR COUNTRY, AND OUR TOUTED FREEDOMS ARE GONE.

[Grannysue]

A non-binding amendemendt that does what? NOTHING. Whoop the hell eee.

[TXfemmom]

Non-binding, means nothing.

The ones who voted for this should back it up, immediately, with not one more dollar for Iraq, except to safely evacuate our troops, until the Iraqis enact and PUT THIS INTO ACTION, OR LET THEM FEND FOR THEMSELVES.

These Senators need to show some spine, and some sense of RESPECT FOR AMERICA AND OUR TROOPS, AND make it clear to the Iraqis, and the warring factions, that they shall be left to their own devices, if they do not take steps to enact and put these steps into action, and immediately, as we are not going to spend our blood and money so they can keep killing one another and our troops. this has to be done where Bush and the Iraqis, have a situation where they must follow the lead of the Senate, and that means, a binding, legal bill which mandates it, and if it is not implemented, then the dollars must then be diverted, immediately, to safely withdrawing our troops.

[Bluetiger]

Yawnnn Sorry after reading this having . . . trouble keeping awake

Lets see we voted not to interfere in their choices of a government when our vehicles and aircraft running round shooting up the place is not an interference. When our backing one faction over another is not interference. When our telling them how to use their resources is not an interference.

Come on!

[WilliamWallace]

So, Sen.'s Biden and Dodd are the only ones on the debate dais to absolutely say "no"?

Well done, gents.

What brand of weenies do Obama and McCain have to be to not vote on this piece of trash?

[WilliamWallace]

...on the Lieberman/Kyls rubbish, that is.

[scooperss]

Who really gives a damn what this bunch does anymore? It's never good.

[WilliamWallace]

"passed a RESOLUTION, SUGGESTING".....lol...weak, man

[Chris]

Of course it is non binding. The US can not dictate to a sovereign land what their form of government has to be.

I liek this plan and hope that the Iraqi's will consider it but it is ultimately up to them.

[bdl0715]

We can not dictate what form of government they have, but we can say take our advice or we walk and you are on your own.

[Think82]

A few key facts about the Biden amendment:

* The legislation does not tell Iraqis what to do. It speaks only to what U.S. policy should be.
* Federalism is not a U.S. or foreign imposition on Iraq. Iraq's own constitution calls a "decentralized, federal system" and sets out the powers of the regions (extensive) and those of the central government (limited). The Constitution also says that in case of conflict between regional and national law, regional law prevails.
* Federalism is not partition. In fact, it's probably the only way to prevent partition or, even worse, the total fragmentation of Iraq.
* Federalism will not accelerate sectarian cleansing; it's the only way to stop it. Iraqis are already voting with their feet, as yesterday's article in the New York Times demonstrates. Before the surge, Iraqis were fleeing their homes at a rate of about 40,000 month; now, it's about 100,000 a month. Unless Iraqis come to some kind of agreement on sharing power peacefully, the cleansing will continue.

[Iscarius]

Oh boy, they managed to pass a resolution suggesting something! Now we're getting somewhere!

[curiousasheck]

The Lieberman/Kyl Amendment has passed by a 76-22 vote.

[CarmanK]

Tha's disgusting. Lieberman/Kyl gives this President nuanced permission to attack Iran and verification that the Senate will not interfere. There are far too many Senators left over from 2006. They did not learn a thing from Iraq and like the energizer bunny the American taxpayer keeps on paying, keeps on paying.

[chery]

Did you see how many dems back this latest Lieberman amendment? Haven't we learned anything from Iraq??? I'm irrate! I'm speechless as to how ignorant our party is. How can they in good conscience vote for a Cheney give away?? It's just mind boggling. They fell for the snotty rhetorical insults of this past two days, and felt they were taking a stand against the leader of Iran. All they did give write Dick Cheney a blank check to go to war with Iran. They're just too dumb to bother with, I swear! Ignorant fools! They just keep voting to hand this administration more power, and then whine about it afterwards. Sheeesh! I'm so sick of the victimology of being a democrat. Thank goodness at least the two paragraphs were tossed out before the vote! We get what we deserve, honest!

[olivia]

And not a single word about it on HuffPo, unless the article was too small to see.

[bluesnot]

Makes me want to puke, as I just explained in my email to the DNC.

What a bunch of losers sucking up to Lieberman.