Joe Biden: Dem Rivals "Not Making Sense" On Bhutto Murder

Council Bluffs, Iowa - Presidential candidate Senator Joe Biden took the occasion of the assassination of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto to chide his Democratic rivals as too inexperienced to be president and to tout his own foreign policy credentials.

"Observe what's been going on in Pakistan and you'll see not many candidates have spoken out," Biden said. "And those few who have spoken don't make a lot of sense."

Biden made his remarks Thursday night to an audience of about 150 supporters gathered at the Elks Lodge in this small city abutting Nebraska.

Biden didn't single out any of his rivals by name in deriding their statements on Pakistan. But calling "nuclear-riddled" Pakistan an "emerging, urgent crisis," the veteran Delaware senator suggested that among the Democratic contenders he alone was best suited to deal with dangerous global affairs.

In a post-event interview with The Huffington Post, Biden at first refused to specify which candidate he was referring to when he said they weren't making sense on Pakistan. He noted that front-runners Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, both of whom issued brief statements earlier in the day lamenting Bhutto's murder, were "both good people" but didn't have his breadth of foreign policy experience.

When further pressed on the issue, Biden singled out second-tier candidate Bill Richardson as an example of a candidate putting forth simplistic responses to the Pakistani crisis. "Richardson said that [Pakistani President] Musharraf should step down and make way for a coalition government," Biden said. "But what coalition? There isn't any. What's he talking about?"

The assassination of Bhutto, Biden told HuffPost, was one more symptom of what he called a "dyslexic" U.S. foreign policy. "We've got things backwards," he said. "Our policy in Afghanistan where we haven't devoted enough resources to fight Al Qaeda has only encouraged the same extremists in Pakistan."

Biden devoted most of his two-hour appearance to lengthy presentations of various "Biden plans" to solve thorny international issues.

"You know a lot of people make jokes about me running really running for Secretary of State," he told the crowd who peppered him with questions on foreign policy issues ranging from Russia to the Middle East to Afghanistan. "I'm not. I'm running for President. But I would ask you: 'How many of you are willing to vote for a candidate not able to be Secretary of State?'"

"I know many of the world leaders for the last 30 years. Not because I'm and important guy. But because I came up with them," he said referring to his long-time leadership position on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "It's not hyperbole to suggest the rest of the world is waiting for an American president to be elected who can connect the dots. And I can."

Check out the rest of HuffPost's Iowa coverage.

Comments

[gevan]

I like Joe. Joe knows Foreign Affairs. But we all know that people from Delaware aren't allowed to become President. (the Clayton curse) Really, anyone from a state with fewer representatives than senators is ineligible.

[Duncan]

I'm sick of hearing about how inexperienced other candidates are on foreign issues.. I would much prefer a candidate that sticks to just trade with foreign nations and gets out of the intervention or aid business.

[armadillious2002]

I've said all along that Biden's the man for the job and he is. Public is just too lame to realize it.

[VOTER]

Biden will be getting my vote in the primary.

He would make a great Sec. of State but I prefer to

have him be the one making US policies.

President Biden, 2008

[MNmommy]

I've been flip-flopping between Biden and Richardson for months, today - Biden and Dodd rose and Richardson fell off the radar.

It's frustrating from my perspective though because it will be all over but the crying. I really hope that folks THINK before they vote in the primaries. I sure wish that we had a national primary.

[foreffectivegovernment]

If you think Joe Biden would make a good President now that this crisis he foresaw has occurred, send him some money. Any amount up to $250.00 will be matched and become $500.00. He could use the help financially because he chose to spend his life in public service so he is one of the few Senators who is not a millionaire.
Unlike some, he did not use the Senate as a stepping stone to a sweet lobbying job like Republican Trent Lott has done recently. Joe appears to be an honest and sincere politician. (If you can imagine that).
I just wish that those Republicans who flushed their money down the toilet by giving it to Ron Paul, as a protest against their own party, had used common sense and donated it to Joe.
The old saying, "Money talks" is especially true today as evidenced by the frontrunners in both parties. As long as lobby groups and the media select our candidates, we are destined to pass up experienced and qualified people for phoneys who allow their rich friends to buy the Presidency for them. (Example: George Bush). Give Joe Biden a chance to show us what he can do as President.

[Mariel]

Just think, over a year before we get a new president. Who can last? this game is getting depressing. Why not just elect the one with the most experience and get it over with?

[lovethesinner]

Joe is doing his best to pitch his candidacy, but the verdict is in. Eight comments in an hour and a half on Huffpo is not a sign of public support.

Why is Joe not getting the attention he deserves? I think a lot of people would actually be angry if he isn't picked to be Sec. of State. (I know I would be.) We've had such lousey people running the state dept. we forget how powerful and important that job is.

Joe wouldn't get to make policy, but he'd be the best man to get policy put into action. A good administration isn't one guy at the top, it's a team.

I wish him all the luck in Iowa, however. He's a great man, and he definitly deserves respect. If he won the nomination, I wouldn't cry (for long) and I'd gladly support him in the general.

Go Irish!

[darrelplant]

You know what looks really pathetic? A guy touting himself for his years of experience in foreign policy who was too stupid to vote against the Iraq AUMF.

Where were Biden's thirty years of "experience" in 2002? He voted the same way as Clinton, Dodd, and Edwards, giving George W Bush -- of all people -- the authority to invade Iraq, and for what? Most of the Congressional Democrats weren't as stupid as Biden. Most of our major allies and the UN didn't approve of the Iraq war. But Biden bought it hook, line, and sinker.

When it came time to actually stand up and make a decision he could do something about, Biden wasn't arguing against going to war in Iraq, he was helping to green-light it. Sure, he's got plans for stuff now, but why should anyone take his judgment seriously? If he really knew what he was talking about, 2002 was the time to put it on the table.

[Tellmethetruth]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joe-biden/a-new-approach-to-pakista_b_71733.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joe-biden/we-need-a-pakistan-policy_b_71399.html

For those who want to refresh your memories of exactly what Joe Biden wrote on Huffington Post on November 6 gn 8th (2 months ago) about Pakistan. He laid out his policy.

The Pakistan Media after reading Biden's thoughtout plans for Pakistan, endorsed him for President in November of 2007. This made the Pakistan news, but not the US news. Shame on the US Media for failing to report this dangerous world situation.

Now everyone has at last woke up to the true experienced candidate who is operating a world stage and respected by world leaders and who has the knowledge to lead us out of nuclear land mines the US is now in.

[Lynne222]

MUR8, Joe said until the FACTS come out, Musharraf needs to be there. they have NUKES, get it? Do you think we should just out him, and take the chance of some radical launching a NUKE?
You're the one not making sense.

You're really uninformed if you think it's a good idea to remove Musharraf. Chris Dodd also said the same thing. But I doubt you were ever going to vote for him anyway.

[Lynne222]

As usual, Joe's right. he has been talking about this for a long time, and no one has paid any attention. maybe they will now. This has far reaching consequences. I thought Joe's statement was very profound, and addressed more than just his condolences for Bhutto and her family.

My only wish is, that John Edwards would STOP copying Joe's every word. Every time Joe makes a statement, John copies is so much so, that many of the words are the same. I am not the only one who sees it either.

Joe Biden is the leader we need, no one else. he has earned his place in the WH, and he deserves it.

[Rog49Thomas]

a possible improvement over a president who writes in crayon

[elleng]

Just what we need: honest and straightforward.