Joe Biden: The Surge Is A Failure

WASHINGTON — A leading Democrat on Saturday declared last year's troop buildup in Iraq a failure. Sen. Joe Biden, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the military push didn't succeed because U.S. troops remain committed there in large numbers and political reconciliation has not been achieved. "The purpose of the surge was to bring violence in Iraq down so that its leaders could come together politically," said Biden, D-Del., in this week's Democratic radio address. "Violence has come down, but the Iraqis have not come together." He later added, "There is little evidence the Iraqis will settle their differences peacefully any time soon." Biden offered an early rebuttal to next week's testimony by Gen. David Petraeus, the top military commander in Iraq, and Ryan Crocker, the U.S. ambassador there. Petraeus and Crocker are expected to say the recent buildup in troops has succeeded in improving security. But they also likely will say that a period of assessment is needed this summer before officials can decide whether troop withdrawals can continue. Democrats have called this approach unacceptable and said they would pursue an alternative policy through legislation. They said their focus will be on restoring the strength of the Army and Marines and refocusing the nation's resources on fighting terrorists in Afghanistan. "I believe the president has no strategy for success in Iraq," Biden said. "His plan is to muddle through, and hand the problem off to his successor." Republicans say they are satisfied with the recent drop in violence and that more time is needed to improve the situation there.

Comments

[HumeSkeptic]

It does our country no good now to criticize Bush. Bush got away with murder and we couldn't stop him.

All our energies must focus on the Dems with the hope that they would do something to stop, if not reverse the damage.

We must force Dem candidates to talk about Iraq. And we must force them to not just talk about the "surge" - and discussions of whether it is working or not working.

Bush committed arson. With his "surge" he shows up with a fire engine to put out the fire now engulfing the whole neighborhood and beyond. And, somehow, the whole discussion now is how well his fire fighting is going.

What about the crime of arson itself? What about accountability?

We must force the Dems back to the topic of how this fraud called Iraq war started, who lied, why, and hold the criminals accountable.

[Tom95134]

What would do our country a lot of good is the instant Bush and Cheney are out of Office that prosecution begin against them for War Crimes.

[CranialRectalLoopback]

We chose not to stop him.

[HumeSkeptic]

Yes "we" did. Not all of us, but the majority did.

[afgail]

Circumstances on the ground will force the candidates to talk about Iraq. And going head to head with McCain will focus on Iraq as well.

[gakabani]

It does not take a nuclear scientist to figure that out. It is a failure because it was on top of a failure.
The Iraq war was based on lies and deception, what else.

Only here in America we get to believe our own lies.

[beudrep]

Biden+BULLSHIT= US CONGRESS

[woundedduck]

You, sir, are a moron!

[Marlyn]

"There is little evidence the Iraqis will settle their differences peacefully any time soon."

YES, and in particular, while they are still being occupied by the USA. To do so would be to admit defeat for the Iraqi and for them to be OCCUPIED FOREVER (or at least for 100 years).

The USA attacked Iraq based on LIES about WMD, and as a result, we can NEVER "win" there. It was always about MONEY (International bankers bleeding America dry) and OIL, Operation Iraqi Liberation (OIL)

[Harinama]

agreed. Amazing..a foreign power takes over a country WITHOUT PROVOCATION, and the citizens fight back? AMAZING, who would have thought?

Just like Vietnam, they'll only stop fighting WHEN WE LEAVE!

Iraq was a pretty stable country, with a decent economy. Sure they were ruled by a dictator(US created and supported), but....dru­mroll...TH­EY HAD NO TERRIORIST PROBLEM. Nothing like an invader to make enemies come out of the woodwork.

again i reiterate.­..

THE ONLY WAY TO A STABLE PEACE IN IRAQ IS FOR US TO LEAVE
THE ONLY WAY TO A STABLE PEACE IN IRAQ IS FOR US TO LEAVE
THE ONLY WAY TO A STABLE PEACE IN IRAQ IS FOR US TO LEAVE
THE ONLY WAY TO A STABLE PEACE IN IRAQ IS FOR US TO LEAVE
THE ONLY WAY TO A STABLE PEACE IN IRAQ IS FOR US TO LEAVE
THE ONLY WAY TO A STABLE PEACE IN IRAQ IS FOR US TO LEAVE
THE ONLY WAY TO A STABLE PEACE IN IRAQ IS FOR US TO LEAVE

hopefully those ignorant selfish imperialist folks who claim to call themselves "Americans" can read and understand this..or do i need to repeat it again 100x? (probably)­...

[VivaZapata]

you're going to have to say it many more times to counter and compete with john mcoldfart extraordinaire's "the surge is working, my friends."

[RootlessCosmopolitan]

right on Joe.

now's a good time to get out while the getting is good.

[rrafiringa]

I know of an effective way of endind the war in Iraq. Let's give them Bush and his cabinet.

[lisakaz]

They prob. have the good sense not to want 'em. They'd prob. prefer civil war.

[HumeSkeptic]

Of course it is a failure, but only for the people of the Unites States and Iraq, just as everything else this Administration has done. But it is not a failure from the viewpoint of war profiteers.

[Whinger]

Joe, the entire war is a failure, and every mini surge that will flow from now until the warmonger leaves office will fail, just as he has failed in everything he was involved in!

[HumeSkeptic]

Of course it is a failure, but only for the people of the Unites States and Iraq, just as everything else this Administration has done. But it is not a failure from the viewpoint of war profiteers.

[bobo209]

Like the current IDIOT N CHIEF this whole war criminals regime is a failure.We are saving a private investment bank??BEARS AND STERNS??WHY?this is where stolen money of the poor goes..

[Marlyn]

bobo209, exactly.

Look at the history of war and banking in "The Money Masters", a google video documentary that predicted our current economic situation 10 years ago.