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

[robertlockwoodmills]

Biden is right, of course. But his words won't matter, because Bush and his apologists insist on portraying the Iraq occupation as a "war," and the outcome as a choice between "victory" and "defeat." Bush has managed to persuade the mainstream (corporate) media that Iraq is a war, and they've bought into it. Ipso facto, if we don't support Bush, we're "against the troops" or "defeatist." Nonsense.

If you invade a sovereign country and then occupy it, that's not really a war. I can't claim to be at war if I break into my next-door neighbor's house because I think he's mistreating his wife and kids and might someday attack me and my family. That's bascially what we did in Iraq. Saddam Hussein was a bad guy, he brutalized his own people, and Bush thought he had dangerous weapons he didn't have, which he might not have used against us even if he had had them. We invaded them, in the face of opposition from almost the entire world, and against the advice of Colin Powell ("if you invade Iraq, you'll own it") and even Dick Cheney, who once told Bush 41 not to get "bogged down over there."

So Bush 43 is responsible for Iraq. And it isn't a war, it's an occupation that grew out of an invasion. No war has ever been declared. Victory isn't possible, because it isn't definable. Nor is defeat.

[1differentdrummer]

Yes, 43 is responsible for the current mess in Iraq, but when did PNAC start beating the war drums to invade and change the government there? Didn't that way predate 43's inauguration? The war wing of the republican party was into the invasion and sold it to the party faithful who bought into it hook, line and sinker. Don't just blame 43, although he's the clown who sold it to the rubes, also blame it on the brilliant scholars who hatched the plot and the power behind the throne. Without English meddling at the end of WWI there would not be an Iraq and because of the war wing of the republican party there may not be one in a few years. They and their cheer leader in the WH upset a balance that may never be achieved again, all for the mistaken notion that the Middle East was just looking for a savior in the form of the US military.

[TLV]

I have always thought it was a shame when the brilliant were also so disastrously evil. It's a deadly combination for the average human being in oil rich nations who must suffer the endless greed and disgusting war-based profit plans they foist upon them.

[sodakhic]

Clinton and the Dems were saying the same thing in1998.

[AriannaEgo]

Well, guess what? Joe Biden is a failure. Remember this pretender to have accoladed himself to be a college scholar? Then we found out he was a C student? Anything you say no, Joe the Shmoe, belittles yourself and enhances credentials as an out and out lying incompetent. Thank GOD you are a nadir of disgrace during the Presidential race. You have no credibility....as usual

[iratior]

And that proves the surge is a success? Sorry, AriannaEgo, but all you've given is a textbook example of an ad hominem argument. I'll be honest with you, though. I hoping the surge fails. I support legitimate efforts to defend the United States, but what's going on in Iraq now is not a defense, it's a conquest. I was greatly amused to see the ABC news footage of stolen Iraqi army vehicles being driven around Basra. I hope al-Sadr's faction wins control in the parliament and votes to have the U.S. leave.

[YankeeCanuck]

Apparently you don't get out much or read much, Arianna. Biden was a college scolar, and has admitted he was an ordinary student. But he is a professor of constitutional law, chair of the foreign relations committee, and expert on the middle east. He is an eloquent speaker, a champion of human rights and has the substance to back it up. He's referenced in Samanthat Powers' recent book about genocide "Problem from Hell" His credentials in Senate are impeccable: never had a conversation with a lobbyist, never had corporate funding in his campaign. Corporations know he's too clean to grant favours.He's no "Washington insider" either-- he has commuted home by train daily to be with his family. If this system dod not run so much on money and celebrity, we might have got the President we need now.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

[bumpersticker]

We all know how this plays out. Petreus and Crocker will tell us we're halfway to Oz again, and we'll keep getting halfway there - turning the corner - until this utter failure of a President goes off to make the big money he predicted he would.

Wars have immense inertia - once they are in motuon, it takes real leadership to stop them, and neither Bush, Cheney, nor Rice are up to it. This is Pandora's Presidency, and god knows if we can put all the demons they have unleashed back in the box.

[ErnestineBass]

You'd be surprised, bumpersticker.

Pull the troops out, start apologizing like a mother, and spend what's left of our GDP on finding a cure for the "oil flu".

The world can live without America's apron strings.

[BlueStateMan]

Unfortunately, this is the Middle-east, Ernestine...... all of the apologies in the world won't amount to a hill of beans.

These people hold grudges for millennia.

[shockmagog]

I think he's a little premature. Let's give the "surge" another 4 months 'till we know for sure:

'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.'

Maybe we should call for a "troop enhancement" in order to speed up the obvious improved conditions in Iraq. this strategic action would help to facilitate a "surge drawdown" as a way to attain previous pre-surge troop levels.

[GrouchoMarxist]

Heh...troop enhancement. It would be funny if I didn't suspect that they'll be batting that idea around pretty soon.

[shockmagog]

Right after I wrote it I was thinking the same thing.

[Ping]

The Iraqi Army folded like a cheap tent in Basra.

The ENTIRE Iraq policy has been a failure from the start. The whole thing is a failure not just the surge.

[ErnestineBass]

Hmmmmm...I seem to recall Saddam's "elite" Republican Guard folding in much the same way in "Gulf War I", and again during Junior's "Operation Iraqi Freedom".

(Perhaps Saddam should have called them something other than Republican...?)

[KOisGod]

Sure the Surge has been successful. Blackwater just got its contract renewed, and w is going to ask for another 105 million in a few weeks.

Other then that, oil is still above a hundred a barrel, Oil companies are reporting HUGE earnings numbers, and the dems are snipping at each other while forclosures continue in unprecedented numbers.

But look folks, we've got those rebate checks being printed right now as I type, and with six hundred on average per tax payer coming - don't worry, be happy, spend it fast, be happy, ftat screen TV, be happy, trip to Vegas, be happy, new barbeque, be happy, be happy be happy be happy, be happy be happy

[ltfHusseincrazy]

Trouble is $600 won't pay for any of those things. It's a third of my mortgage. I'm investing it just for the principle of the thing.

[BlueStateMan]

Those checks aren't going to stimulate bubkis..... I'm going to pay some BILLS with it.

[1differentdrummer]

Wait, don't we pay them back at tax time next year?

[GrouchoMarxist]

So Biden gets a headline for stating the obvious. Oh well, at least someone had the guts to say it.

[LizM]

Senator Biden wasn't stating the obvious - this blog post was. Of course, you must look beyond the headline - or title of a resolution, for that matter - as this report is found completely lacking in any respect that counts.

[JiminNC]

"Republicans say they are satisfied with the recent drop in violence and that more time is needed to improve the situation there."

We'll see if they keep singing that tune.

[BlueStateMan]

They'll sing whichever tune they're TOLD to sing....

Same as it ever was.

[who38]

Let's hope that our elected representatives ask General Betrayus the tough questions about the "surge" rather than running scared like they did last time. What a sad, sad joke this all is. Four thousand lives lost for what?

[BrickSykes]

The Surge is doing what it was intended to do: Prolong the War under the NeoCons long enough to get the USA so deep that there will be NO pulling out for many Democratic Administrations.

THE SURGE WAS, AND IS, A HOAX!!! In that context, it has been successful!

Brick

[realpolitic]

Petraeus has become too much of a political player and not an objective military observer. Congress should ask former regional commander Fallon to testify, as well. He opposed a continuation of the surge.

[JohnTalbutt]

The way to leave is to make withdrawal the mission of the military. Take only such time as to do it safely. We should take those whose cooperation with us will have compromised their safety and just go. Iran's influence is minimal; different culture, language, ethnicity and history (unless you count wars where they fought each other). Sunnis and major (al-Sadr's) Shite group already are operating in sync. Small contingent of Al Queda only there as long as we stay. Wahabbis consider all groups in Iraq infidels. That is why Al Queda exists no where in the world except where we and the Saudis have planted and protected them. If you don't believe it. Name a place.

[ltfHusseincrazy]

The truth is, I don't care what happens when we pull out. If these people couldn't get their shit together before we got there, they can't do it now. Pull out work on alternative energy and infrastructure. Beef up homeland security and FUCK the ENTIRE Middle East!

[1differentdrummer]

Brilliant. Junior makes another mess by following the PNAC and AEI line and you blame the Iraqis. Seems to me we have had an incoherent Middle East policy for many years and it's not the fault of the Iraqis that republican scholars couldn't empty a boot with instructions on the heel.

[huffhuffpass]

Endorse Sen. Obama already!

[farseer]

Here is an interesting quote

"Based on extensive interviews with policy makers, bureaucrats, journalists, field operatives and foot soldiers who've spent time in Iraq, author Charles Ferguson reports a 'stunningly unanimous opinion ... that the surge is producing no lasting military or security benefit whatsoever.' Insurgents have lowered their level of fighting but are waiting for the Americans to leave.

source: NO END IN SIGHT, Iraq’s Descent Into Chaos. By Charles Ferguson. PublicAffairs. 2008, quoted in March 30, 2008, The War on Error, By BARRY GEWEN

The quote and citation are from wikipedia, article "Iraq War troop surge of 2007" at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_War_troop_surge_of_2007

For those who say the surge has been a success, what has become of the 18 benchmarks written into the May 25, 2007 $120 billion war-spending bill?

[farseer]

The Democrats should open as a major theme for the 2008 campaign, the two facts that:
1) the surge is a failure, and
2) McCain was the father and chief proponent of the surge.
See (for example) the wikipedia article on the surge, and the citations / references it contains:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_War_troop_surge_of_2007

[BeyondGoodAndEvil]

This will definitely be the way to win the election. Keep talking about how the surge is a failure and tying it to McCain.

[PardonMyFrenchFries]

That's how you win over fellow democrats but not the presidency. We need to look strong on "National Defense."

[JohnTalbutt]

Let me break it to you sparky. You don't look strong when you get in wars against countries that were no threat to you and lose them. You mainly look like fools.

Now please stop making postings that are inconsistent with common sense. Speaking for all the others, if you keep doing it, we are not going to continue clearing up your confusion.

[ADR]

Joe Biden is the failure. He couldn't even become the Dem candidate for Prez. What a loser...

[ErikW65]

Change the subject and attack the messenger in three sentences: hey, not bad for a neocon!

[Raymondf]

HERE! HERE!

[Raymondf]

JOE BIDEN IS A LOSER

[GhostintheMachine]

In his opinion.

[shockmagog]

Apparently, the idea that the "surge" (which is actually an escalation) has so far been unsuccessful seems to be controversial with some people.

[GhostintheMachine]

The surge has reduced violence and allowed the Iraqii military and police force to build, construction efforts in Iraq have iproved dramatically and the political/religious process has made advances however slowly.