August 01, 2007
Biden No Fan of Obama's Pakistan Plan
At today's National Press Club luncheon designed to promote his newly-published memoir, "Promises to Keep," Sen. Joe Biden characterized Sen. Barack Obama's pledge to hunt down terrorists in Pakistan as old news, noting that he had been proposing such action for "five years." Asked if Obama's speech this a.m. was a good idea or showed the junior senator's inexperience in foreign policy, Biden said: "Yes." Asked again, Biden elaborated, saying "I've been proposing we pursue al Qaeda in Pakistan for five years." Biden went on to say that the "last thing you want to do" is announce to the people of Pakistan that you're going to violate their sovereignty. He said such action would force Pakistani Pres. Pervez Musharraf to make deals with various factions. Biden noted as POTUS you simply take action.
After a 30 minute speech, he took questions from the audience, most of which focused on foreign policy and his WH campaign. He was also asked about the Obama-Sen. Hillary Clinton scuffle regarding the YouTube debate question on meeting with various foreign leaders. He said he would send his Secretray of State, NSA and Defense Seretary to meet on a minister level but he would not meet with such leaders during his first year as POTUS.
Asked how he would solve the situation in Iraq, he said he would use the country's constitution. Biden: "Sometimes I believe I'm the only one who has read their constitution." He was also asked about the Senate getting the 60 votes needed to pass an Iraq resolution of its own. Biden: "Even possibility." He said GOPers are coming to the realization that if something isn't done: "They will lose their seat in the United States Senate."
The final questions focused on WH '08. Asked why he wasn't attending YearlyKos, Biden said: "To tell you the truth I thought I was. I don't do my schedule. It's not my reluctance." He went on to say they are a "major part" of the Democratic Party. He then had a light-bulb moment and remembered Random House, the publisher of his memoir, had scheduled a book party in his home state of DE. Biden: "I love you Kos but you ain't Delaware." He was also asked which GOPer he would like to face in the general election. Biden: "Be careful what you wish for, you might get it." He went on to caution Dems that they need to brandish their nat'l security credentials in this election. And he added that whether the GOP nominee was his "good friend" John McCain, Rudy Giuliani, or "a one-term governor," he "could hardly wait to debate them." [EMILY GOODIN]
Posted at 03:25 PM
Comments
Obama just gave Joe Biden an opening here. If Biden wants to be president, he needs to start distinguishing himself from the others - uncomfortable as that seems to be for Joe - and one way to do it is to start comparing himself to the others (while naming names and citing examples). The press follows Obama (and Clinton), so that's where he needs to "go."
Sue | 08.01.07 04:55 PM
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I love Biden.
I wish people would get the stardust out of their eyes and look at someone who doesn't need to make speeches to prove he knows foreign policy.
Someone who doesn't need talking points.
Time to wake up people!!
Jillian | 08.01.07 05:26 PM
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Right on Senator Biden always on top of things i know America will wake up and see you are the best choice...
MarineVet Texas | 08.01.07 07:59 PM
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No one except Joe Biden takes him seriously. He is full of hot air. Why you guys listen to this plagiarizer beats me.
Diogu | 08.01.07 08:11 PM
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This time around if US takes on any action in Pakistan without the consent or collaboration, they would surely face a strong protest and will eventually lose the key ally. If US doesn't respect the sovereignty they are ought to lose the their some leftover respect from allies.
Fahad Najib | 08.02.07 04:47 AM
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To me, this speech made Obama look even more young, inexperienced, and naive. And it doesn't help him that when the cameras zero in while he is "talking tough" he looks like he just got out of his teens. That young looking face is a detriment for him in the gravitas department.
bio mom | 08.02.07 10:35 AM
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Biden is a traitor and a liar.
Biden was meeting with the pakistan ISI leader on and around 9/11. This is the man who wired atta the $100,000 for the 9/11 attacks.
Biden should be put under oath and asked about those meetings with the pakistan isi and his involvement with it.
This sketchy behavior from Biden does not make him vice presidential material by any stretch.
Anything Biden says about foreign relations can not be trusted to be in the best interests of the American people.
brainofjfk | 08.19.08 06:09 PM
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