Biden: Iraq surge success a 'fantasy'

[babylonsister]

Biden: Iraq surge success a 'fantasy'

by Rick Pearson

DES MOINES—Democratic presidential candidate Joseph Biden says any talk that the U.S. troop surge in Iraq is working is "fantasy" since its goal was to lead to a fully functioning unity government in the war-torn country.

The Delaware senator, speaking to the Iowa State Association of Counties at a downtown hotel today, also joined his rival and Senate colleague, Christopher Dodd of Connecticut, in calling for a massive investment in the nation's infrastructure—its roads, bridges and sewers—to make up for a longtime lack of upgrading public works.

Biden, the head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said one key to helping counties and other municipal governments deal with federal mandates is to help free up some of the money now used to fund the Iraq War.

Amid reports that the U.S. military surge has helped to stabilize insurgent attacks in Baghdad and a recent Pew Research Center poll that found 48 percent of Americans now believe the U.S. military effort in Iraq is going well, up from 30 percent in February, Biden said, "This whole notion that the surge is working is fantasy.

"The surge was to provide breathing room. Breathing room for what purpose?" he asked the officials assembled from Iowa's 99 counties. "To work out a coalition government to end this civil war."

Biden said there is "let me emphasize, no political progress among the major factions" in trying to govern Iraq. Biden has long supported a decentralized federal government system for Iraq.

more...

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2007/11/biden_iraq_surge_success_a_fan.html

[rucky]

1. The perception of progress in Iraq will be a key issue in the GE

and this poll makes me uneasy about us beating the GOP in a walk.

Good on Biden for nipping this in the bud early-on.

[Frustratedlady]

3. He also made a good point in last night's town hall meeting...

in saying that the Iraq War was like a boulder in the highway. You can't make any progress until the boulder is removed. He then went on to explain his plan for getting out of Iraq.

I suppose you could take that a step further and say that George is the boulder...he's so damned stubborn and won't listen to reason.

It might be a good idea if Biden and Dodd pair up and fight their way up the ladder before January. They might not be a bad team.

[BeyondGeography]

2. Biden at his best

:thumbsup:

[youthere]

4. Kicking

[murbley40]

5. kick

[1corona4u]

6. Joe's indisputably right. n/t

[Think82]

7. kick!

[gateley]

8. Even if Biden doesn't get the nom, I will look to him for information regarding

foreign affairs. I know he'll level with us and tell us the truth - and we deserve nothing less.

Thanks for posting this, babylonsister! :hi: