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

[jeersforfears]

Joe Biden says the surge is a failure. Liberal Huffington posters agree. Go figure.

Arianna, offer a challenge. You were a republican. Say something like, "Killing murderers stops murderers from murdering.­" Or, "The violence is down to nothing significant in Iraq, therefore the surge has worked."

Or, "Tax cuts work," then do a Stephen Hawking style quickie explanation on economics. Then let the little darlings on your threads chew things over.

You'd be a true patriot if you did.

But then, you were never a true republican, so all anyone can expect is a mud pie when they read your blog site.

[ErikW65]

Or Arianna could say something like, "The violence was brought down temporarily by paying Sunni militants not to fight."

That would be more accurate, no?

[shockmagog]

Are you still here?

[ElkoJohn]

`
leave them alone
and they will come home
waging their tails
behind them
.

[ErikW65]

Which pundit said something like, "Who does Bush think Al Qaeda is, Lassie?"

Yeah, I mean, like they would not think to strike us here again, not unless and until, we were to withdraw from Iaq. Yeah, that's it. I meet people who have swallowed this lie, and it's like being in front of a brain-washed pod.

[armadillious2002]

Yep - tax cuts for the wealthy have worked out well - they have gotten fabulously richer and the general economy is in the tank - way to go repubs - mission accomplished.

[jeersforfears]

Tax cuts for the rich is a canard that has been explained over and over. The middle class - everyone, really - benefits from tax cuts, according to how much they earn and contribute to commerce. All boats have risen over the decades. You can't see that because you don't want to. America is wealthier than ever, and continues to grow. The "weakness" occurring now is a normal correction when mistakes are made. This time it's the housing and mortgage problem, last time it was the .com bubble.

[JoJoKewl]

MAX1 See Profile I'm a Fan of MAX1
Can someone tell Joe...
CONgress if a FAILURE!

YOU tell Congress it's a failure. I'm telling you the surge is a failure.

[alwaysthere]

failure beget's failure...

[JoJoKewl]

Everybody says the Iraqis have 'failed' to make political reconciliation. Does anybody ever consider that they don't WANT to get along with each other??? It aint a failure - these people never wanted to live together in the first place. The Brits forced them together. Now we're trying to keep them together. They'll have the country THEY want in the long run.

[JoJoKewl]

If the decline in violence meant the surge was working - then the increase in violence means the surge is failing. But the violenc only went down to the level of 05 - nobody thought we were winning then. The surge CAN NOT win the war.

[vet64]

The escalation is a failure. The Americans and their collaborators are militarily superior and the rebels will hide out when they arrive. after the Americans leave the rebels resurface and begin the terror of murders, assassinations against the teachers, doctors, government officials and suspected collaborators. Since the Arabs all look alike to the caucasians, the Americans will kill indiscriminately.
No different than Vietnam. The Neo con Parasites wouldn't admit it even if it bit them on the butt. It's time we quit bleating like sheep every time King Pinocchio invokes Bin Laden and tell him that thanks to his lies, Bin Laden is still free.
Vietnam~~ For you Neo Con Parasites!!

[ErikW65]

Thank you for your service. Thank you for posting here. Your contribution to this thread is appreciated. You are in the same class as Ret. Gen W. E. Odom, as well as Generals Fallon and Shinseki.

[MAX1]

Can someone tell Joe...
CONgress if a FAILURE!

[ErikW65]

Fine. But no one is actively saying "Congress is a success!" the way they are with the Surge, get it?

[shockmagog]

As soon as the Republicans have been sufficiently diminished in the Senate after the election, and some of the Vichy Democrats are gone, Congress will be able to get things done. Please be patient and vote Democratic if you are at all interested in seeing an improvement.

[Stokes]

posted in huff-post 2-12-07

Malachi has summoned his troops to disband it's forces in the Province of Al Anbar.

10-29-05
He is going to push the button. Red Alert. Fore-most in the thoughts of Bush and his cronies is to cover his tracks. An all out nuclear abyss seems logical to them. But woe to them as they get trapped in their tracks. The freedom fighters will rise up against this evil.

Although the destruction is massive, there is heralded a victory for the oppressed. Many in the U.S. Congress will weep for holding back on reprisals on the criminals in power.

Woman's God given intuition.

[Raymondf]

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO MODERATE 8 WORDS, GIVE ME A BREAK.

[Raymondf]

EITHER POST MY REPLY OR KICK ME OFF A--HOLES

[Raymondf]

POST MY COMMENT TO STOKES YOU COWARDS.

[Stokes]

Calm down, Raymondf. No need to get your blood pressure up. By the way, my husband was a 20 year vet. World War 2 in the thick of it in the South Pacific . Relax, the worst is yet to come.

[Raymondf]

Guess I'll have to contact bill orielly and see if he can help me get to publish my reply to stokes, him and arienna are souch good friends.

[HGS111]

I thought we had them right where we want them. Aren't we fighting them over there so we don't have to fight them over here???

[wmbear]

WE'RE FIGHTING THEM OVER THERE, so we'll have to keep fighting them over there some more, apparently­....

[Nochnoi]

Because the United States isn't located on any map, and they will never find us if we keep them busy "over there"....­..... indefinitely if some have their way....

[Ozarks]

Joe Biden's post contains a statement where Republicans allude: "Republicans say they are satisfied with the recent drop in violence and that more time is needed to improve the situation there".
If the Republicans are so satisfied then why have they completely suppressed the latest NIA report on the situation in Iraq? I would suggest that Republican secrecy is for two reasons:1) So that General Patraeus and Ambassador Croker. So aptly named Betreyus and Crock full s$$$t can lie their way through appearances before Senate and House Committees. If the NIA report was made available before these appearances they would look like the fools they are. 2) This NIA report must have some really damaging analysis and conclusions of the facts on the ground in Iraq. No wonder Adm. Fallon called Betrayus an "ass kissing little shit" and had to resign his commission and retire.

[ErikW65]

Imagine a debate with Petreaus, Crocker, and McCain on one side, and Fallon, Odom, and Obama on the other!

[harriscrl3]

The surge is a failure because it can reduce violence but it CANNOT fix the underlying reason for instability so of course McCain and others can claim its a success because of violence reduction. But its a failure because it cannot fix the problem and all they keep doing is redefining the goal in Iraq. This war has had so many different goals its no surprise that its being going on for 5 years.

Carol

[wmbear]

YOU ALMOST GET THERE. The Surge is a failure because the U.S. occupation of Iraq is a failure. The U.S. occupation of Iraq is a failure because the U.S. never should have invaded and occupied Iraq in the first place. Make sense?

[ErikW65]

Absolutely. Now let's elect the only candidate who accurately predicted the outcome, and had the guts to say so in public, instead of looking ahaead toward framing themselves as tough on foreign policy, and enabling this fiasco!

[woundedduck]

Okay, Biden, now tell your Dem colleagues to repeat your message on every news outlet across the planet. Jam this story down the throat of the MSM until it's the only story they have. Then repeat it some more. This is the only way you'll ever be able to break through to the American public and provide them with an understanding of the real situation in Iraq.

But will Dems show solidarity on this message? Highly doubtful. They're too busy equivocating.

[AdLib]

Would be nice but not holding my breath either.

[ResidentChimp]

This is exactly what the MSM is doing. Even if it's not the truth. HuffPo can post all the anti-American left wing propaganda they want, but it doesn't alter the fact that the surge is working and the surrender monkeys and their allies are losing.

[AdLib]

What happens when your toner runs out?

[batgirlevi]

You need to send a thank you not to al Sadr. His ordering a cease fire with his army is what reduced the violence after the 'surge'. Get help for your confusion and denial.

[Bobby]

The war was a LIE. The surge was a LIE, perpetrated by Puppetraeus. This is what happens to a military force that is led by a couple of civilians (Bu$h & Cheney) that didn't have the guts to fight when it was their time (Vietnam). Bu$h & Cheney are all about the Military Industrial Complex, when it comes to the war profiteers like Blackwater, Halliburton and the Carlyle Group. But in terms of putting our troops in harm's way, they just don't give a shit. Nor do they take care of the troops when they come home. Just look at the Walter Reed situation. How many Generals have spoke out about the strategy and conduct of the war in Iraq? Several. I think I lost count at eight or nine. You also have guys like Puppetraeus that have been wrong about the strategy of the war before (2004) and are wrong now (the surge). I know a guy that went on his 4th tour of Iraq recently. He knows guys that are on their 5th! That is totally ridiculous. And SHAMEFUL. This war is ONLY about war profiteering and oil.

[Nochnoi]

The surge is a failure...­. Wow!! I hadn't noticed at all!

[AdLib]

Hey Nochnoi, all good your way?

I remember telling Bush last week, "With regards to your legacy, don't forget that people won't be able to spell "failure" without a "fail" followed by "u".

[Nochnoi]

Evening AdLib.... sick kitty, other than that... all good... : )

Hehehe.... did Bush listen?

[TN]

CNN is airing how McCain was right about the surge.

[AdLib]

Which one? The one in Iraq or Vietnam?

[Bobby]

Know this about McCrazy...

1. John McCain voted against establishing a national holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Now he says his position has "evolved," yet he's continued to oppose key civil rights laws.1

2. According to Bloomberg News, McCain is more hawkish than Bush on Iraq, Russia and China. Conservative columnist Pat Buchanan says McCain "will make Cheney look like Gandhi."2

3. His reputation is built on his opposition to torture, but McCain voted against a bill to ban waterboarding, and then applauded President Bush for vetoing that ban.3

4. McCain opposes a woman's right to choose. He said, "I do not support Roe versus Wade. It should be overturned­."4


5. The Children's Defense Fund rated McCain as the worst senator in Congress for children. He voted against the children's health care bill last year, then defended Bush's veto of the bill.5

[winwithoutrwar]

Could it be another "Goldwater" from Arizona?

Than either Clinton or Obama will win big in November.

[Raymondf]

GOOD FOR JOHNNY BOY FOR VOTING AGAINST A HOLIDAY FOR A BLACK ACTIVIST. WE OWE BLACKS NOTHING, THEY WERE GIVEN LAND AFTER THE CIVIL WAR. THE WHITES STOLE NATIVE AMERICAN LAND, AND MADE THE CHEROKEE NATION TRAVEL MOSTLY BY FOOT FOR A 1000 MILES, SOME TO PRISONS, OTHERS TO CONCENTRATION CAMPS KNOWN AS RESERVATIONS. REMEMBER READING ABOUT THE TRAIL OF TEARS. LIKE I SAY WE OWE THE BLACKS NOTHING, LIKE WE DO THE AMERICAN INDIAN. AND ITS TIME TO STOP PUSSY-FOOTIN AROUND AND HELP THE ONE OR AT LEAST APOLOGIZE TO THEM FOR STEALING THEIR LAND WAY TO GO MR. MCCAIN. I WAS A VICTIM OF REVERSE DISCRIMINATION AND I WANT TO THANK THE BLACK MAN THAT GOT THE JOB I SHOULD OF HAD I MADE 7 FIGURES, THANKS.

[Bobby]

And this...

6. He's one of the richest people in a Senate filled with millionaires. The Associated Press reports he and his wife own at least eight homes! Yet McCain says the solution to the housing crisis is for people facing foreclosure to get a "second job" and skip their vacations.­6

7. Many of McCain's fellow Republican senators say he's too reckless to be commander in chief. One Republican senator said: "The thought of his being president sends a cold chill down my spine. He's erratic. He's hotheaded. He loses his temper and he worries me."7


8. McCain talks a lot about taking on special interests, but his campaign manager and top advisers are actually lobbyists. The government watchdog group Public Citizen says McCain has 59 lobbyists raising money for his campaign, more than any of the other presidential candidates­.8

9. McCain has sought closer ties to the extreme religious right in recent years. The pastor McCain calls his "spiritual guide," Rod Parsley, believes America's founding mission is to destroy Islam, which he calls a "false religion." McCain sought the political support of right-wing preacher John Hagee, who believes Hurricane Katrina was God's punishment for gay rights and called the Catholic Church "the Antichrist" and a "false cult."9


10. He positions himself as pro-environment, but he scored a 0—yes, zero—from the League of Conservation Voters last year.10

[speakingtruth2power]

The MSM is the whore of corporatism and the enemy of populism.

The fourth estate was supposed to give voice to the later but has

been bought up by the moneyed interests of & for perpetual war.