Carlson: Biden takes a hit by funding vehicle that saved Iowans

[PatSeg]

From the Des Moines Register:

<You probably didn't hear or read about four soldiers from an Ottumwa-based Iowa National Guard unit being wounded in Iraq a few days ago.>

snip

<The Iowans were wounded when an improvised explosive device - a roadside bomb - exploded next to their vehicle during a patrol near the Iraqi city of Samarra. Two of the soldiers were injured seriously enough to be flown to a military hospital at Landstuhl, Germany. The two other members of the 833rd Engineer Company were treated in Iraq and returned to duty.>

snip

<They were in an RG-31 armored vehicle," said Lt. Col. Gregory Hapgood, chief spokesman for the Iowa National Guard. "If they'd been in a Humvee, they would have been killed. A Humvee couldn't have withstood the explosion."

You could call it "Exhibit A" in the argument over whether to build more of the state-of-the-art armored vehicles for use by U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Not that you would think such a thing would be a point of political controversy. But it is, and you can ask Joe Biden if you don't believe it.

More than any other member of Congress, the Delaware senator has pushed for funding and construction of thousands of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles - including the RG-31 - the type that saved the Iowa soldiers last week.

Why would championing these things cost a politician, when they are certain to protect American troops?

Well, Biden is a Democrat running for president. Democrats, particularly party activists who will attend the caucuses, are loathe to back anybody they even suspect might support the war in Iraq.

Biden opposes the war, and it's not just jabbering. He's come up with a plan to divide Iraq into three semi-independent regions with a strong central government and a fair split of oil revenues. It may be the best idea yet to resolve the ugly situation and get U.S. troops home.

Biden's political problem: He cast a Senate vote in May in favor of a supplementary appropriations bill to continue funding the war. The sole reason is because the bill included funding for buying MRAP vehicles.>

<"As long as there's one American kid over there, I'm voting the money for these things," Biden said in a chat the other day during a stop in Des Moines. "It's the one way we can save lives before getting them out.">

snip

<"It's cost me politically," Biden said. "But some things are worth losing elections over. This is one."

You can bet the four Iowa National Guard soldiers who were wounded last week and their families would agree.>

More: http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071021/OPINION01/710210337/-1/ENT06

[Richardo]

1. You should clarify that you mean 'John Carlson' and not Tucker or Margaret

...or Arthur.

[PatSeg]

3. That was the way the headline was written

but I can see how people might read it the wrong way.

[rusty quoin]

2. Eventhough it was not written by Tucker, it does sound like his logic.

[Debi]

4. What? n/t

[PatSeg]

5. My reaction as well!!!!

And I've had my morning coffee.:crazy:

[Debi]

6. I'd understand if it was some sort of attack piece, but Jon Carlson

is far from rw rabid dog :shrug: I just don't get it.

[murbley40]

7. me either.

[PatSeg]

8. Oh well, at least I know I'm not alone

People can say the oddest things sometimes.

[jillan]

9. I enjoyed the comments more than the article itself.

[lyonn]

10. Biden, caught between a rock and a hard place

Save lives with the delivery of MWRAPS or vote no on funding this lousy war. I like Biden's explanation that if this vote meant he was out of the presidential running, so be it. Now that is class.

[PatSeg]

16. And I believe he says that with all sincerity

I don't detect anything phony about the man at all. We are long overdue for a leader like this.

[murbley40]

21. yes to both!

[suziedemocrat]

11. I'm liking him more and more. I might send him $100 next month.

Is it worth giving just $100?

[ginchinchili]

13. Yes. I just donated another $100, and I don't make a lot of money.

I mean that in the real sense of the phrase. But it's worth it to me.

I have to side with Biden on this difficult decision. Voting against funding won't accomplish the primary goal anyway, getting us out of Iraq in a responsible way. Biden doesn't want to see any more young American coming home in pieces or in coffins. So instead, Biden built a bridge that can finally, realistically, start bringing our troops home, Biden's plan for Iraq.

Bush will keep this war going until he's out of office. If he has to do so without giving our troops everything they need to help keep them safe, he will. He proved that by sending them in there ill-equipped in the first placed. Biden has his priorities straight and, damn it, he just can't make himself bend those priorities for political purposes. That's why I'm supporting him.

[suziedemocrat]

14. Yeah! If I see more GD "Support Our Trrops" magnet on a Repug car I'll puke!

They are not supporting the troops and it's criminal. All the vehicles should be properly armed. Period. There is so much waste in this war, and yet we won't spend even a little bit of money to save soldiers lives.

[PatSeg]

15. They are supporting the "idea" of the troops

but not the actual human beings.

[lyonn]

17. I figure that when Biden is President and gets our troops

out of Iraq those vehicles can be shipped to Afghanistan. Things aren't going to swell over there. Besides, it's a U.N. venture there.

[PatSeg]

22. We could sure use a super dooper dose of common sense

and we could use it real soon (like yesterday).

[murbley40]

19. Yes!!

I have sent 100.00 per month for a while now. I do not have a lot of money either. We are the ones who can turn this thing around and give him a chance. We are HIS people.:grouphug: :patriot:

[ginchinchili]

12. Over and over again Sen Biden turns out to be right.

More than any other candidate the positions he has taken are best for America, even if they aren't always the most popular among Democrats or positions taken before most people realized they would be popular. It's because he's got the gift of objective pragmatism, something that's become very rare among America's politicians.

Yes, there will be those who point to his vote to grant Bush authority to take measures against Iraq, later interpreted by Bush to grant him authority to invade Iraq. He admitted his mistake and has learned, demonstrated by voting against the Kyle/Lieberman bill, unlike Hillary, who still hasn't learned her lesson: Bush can't be trusted.

[murbley40]

18. kick

[murbley40]

20. kick