Joe Biden, asked about a tripartite solution for Iraq, launches into a 13 min. 20 sec. response.

[Barack_America]

And I'm happy to present it to you in all its single paragraph glory (italics mine)

Oh, That Joe! (No. 10 in a Series) -- The Verbose Blue Hen Riffs on Iraq

September 07, 2008 8:25 PM

On a flight to Kalispell, Mont., Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., was asked by a reporter, "Do you still believe in a tripartite solution to Iraq?"

His answer lasted 13 minutes, 20 seconds.

Before we reprint it, in full, it's only fair to ponder how long Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's answer to such a question would be.

Mr. Biden's response:

"The Bush administration's policy in the beginning -- and John's -- continues to be a strong, central government, democracy, that will gain the confidence of all the Iraqi people that would be a democratic institution that would make the dominoes of the oligarchies fall in the Middle East. That was success, that's what they talked about. Now what's happened? Where there's relative peace, where is it? It's up in the Kurdish area. Where? Where they don't allow Shia troops to come up. Where they don't allow the Iraqi army to come up without their permission. There is now relative calm in Anbar. Why? They did exactly what I proposed two years ago. They turned over authority and trained homegrown local Sh-- Sunnis. And said we promise you, those Shia aren't coming and patrolling your streets. That's called the awakening. That's what got all of the sheikhs to come together and say OK. I predicted if you ask the sheikhs to have their sons join the army or join the police force, the security forces and you told them they'd protect their own area, they'd join in droves. The first day Petraeus wisely made that offer, a thousand Sunnis showed up for the police force. Virtually none showed up before. So what's happening? Where's it working? It's working from the ground up. Exactly what I've proposed is happening. We're about to have regional elections. What are the regional elections? The Iraqi constitution says in article 114, 15, 16, it says that any of these areas can conclude that they want to be, not a governate, there's 18 of these things, but they can be essentially a state like the state of California or the state of Massachusetts. They can write their own constitution. They can have their own laws relative what you teach your kids in school, like California versus Alabama. They can have their own laws, their own security force, their own cops, not a national police force sent out. That's why it's working. And the second reason why it's working is that, so far is, what else did they do? They did exactly what I've been calling for for two years. It's the mix of forces. You may remember if you had to cover this my saying it's the wrong mix of forces in Iraq. We need counterinsurgency forces. And what did they do? They brought them back from Afghanistan, unfortunately, instead of adding them. And what happened? The counterinsurgency forces are now the forces that today and yesterday the military says are having the most success. So folks, they may not want to call it what I was talking about. But the end result is, there is a lot of autonomy in the Anbar province today. There is a lot of autonomy up in the Kurdish area today. And there is increasing autonomy in the Shia regions. But I've always proposed a central government. A central government that has a standing army, controls the currency, controls the banking system, controls the borders, controls the foreign policy. And so, you know, John says he wants to have every shred of Iranian influence eliminated from Iraq. And he supports Maliki. You notice, every time Ahmadinejad comes to Baghdad, Maliki kisses him on both cheeks. Literally, not figuratively. You notice before agreed to begin to negotiate the Status of Forces Agreement, what did, what did Maliki think he had to do? He had to get on a plane to go to Tehran and talk about it with the Iranians. Cause look, folks. It's a geographic fact of life, they've got a long border and a 5,000 year history. So it's about time we get real here and take a look at the possibilities now, if they continue along these lines, of something good happening. And the possibilities rest in two things. One, there's a genuine political accommodation. And so you're going to have, as I said, elections in the provinces. Supposedly -- and by the way they're supposed to take place next month. I've been predicting they're not likely to take place next month. But maybe they will. If they will, do you think the people down in Basra are going to vote for a government in Basra any different than an all Shia government in Basra? what do you think? Want to take any bets anyone? So come on. It's time that we had people who understand, understand what's going on in Iraq, not just sloganeering. Not just sloganeering. And the irony is, the guy who supposedly has the least experience among us, Barack Obama, got it right 14, 15 months ago. He said, 'Look, let's transfer -- let's be as responsible getting out as irresponsibly we were getting in.' And then he said, 'We need a timeline here. And you're going to go ahead and hand off authority gradually to Iraqis, and what are you going to do? You're going to pull out American combat forces.' Where, if reports are correct, and my information is based on the state department and others, what is Maliki demanding, and what is Bush agreeing to? A timeline to draw down American combat troops. A gradual hand off of police authority and military authority to the Iraqis. Who's the only guy, major figure in America who's standing outside that agreement? John McCain. John. And the other point I made today, and it's an important point since you poor devils have to cover me you should be aware of it in my view, John, I've never heard John utter a word about what he's going to do, after, after -- quote he establishes victory in Iraq? What's he going to do about Syria? Turkey? Iran? Saudi Arabia? What's he going to do to have some reason to believe whatever is worked out that Iraqi's neighbors are going to sign on to it? And tell me, how is it possible to have a long term stable, stable Iraq, free and open without some regional understanding of Iraq's independence? Barack and I, and I have laid this out in painful detail for two years as Barack has. That's why we've called for a regional conference. That's why we talked about the need to bring the permanent five of the United Nations in to give the imprimatur to this. To make it clear to Iran, Syria, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, hands off. Hands off. Whatever deal the Iraqis work out, you've got to stand by. You need the weight of the world putting pressure on the region a little like we did in Bosnia. A little like what happened in Kosovo. Could that have happened if the Germans didn't buy into the deal? If the Greeks didn't buy into the deal? If the Italians didn't buy into the deal? If the Hungarians didn't buy into the deal? So what I -- what confuses me, and it does confuse me about John McCain and Sarah Palin's position on Iraq is, tell me the end of the story, John. Victory sounds wonderful. We're all for victory. What do you mean by victory? And so, I just say, there's, you know you can call -- and by the way, you recall when I put forward that plan, I said there's a half a dozen ways you can implement this plan. I don't have any -- It wasn't three areas, it doesn't have to be five, it can be two, it can be seven. But there's got to be a way where we finally, if you have peace -- 'Hey, I'm a Shia. I'm not going to kill your Sunni family. And you don't have to worry the Kurds are going to come and get you, because the Kurds are basically with you.' Everybody has to get to the point where they conclude there's more in it for them staying together than there is in it them going separately."

-- by Jake Tapper and Matt Jaffe

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/09/oh-that-joe-n-5.html

A month's enough time to comprehend all this. Sure it is! :evilgrin:

[saltpoint]

1. We'll see how Permafrost Barbie stands up against

this level of expertise.

[Barack_America]

5. My thoughts exactly.

IMO, nuance, rather than nastiness, is the key to winning the VP debate.

:thumbsup:

[tblue37]

44. American voters don't do nuance. They do soundbites. n/t

[AdHocSolver]

46. Biden is preaching to the choir. It is the 40 percent who do sound bites that he has to win over.

Any person who can deal with nuance is already against the war, knows that trade deficits are bad, knows that we need health care reform.

What they want to know is an Obama administration going to fight to change the way the Republicans have handled these issues. If you don't convince them that you will fight to implement your platform, they will give up on you and you will lose.

You don't need to convince them with nuanced analyses that we need to end the Iraq war. Just keep telling people that ending the Iraq war is high on your agenda, while McCain wants to start another war in Iran.

You don't need to convince people with nuanced rhetoric that we need to reduce energy dependence on oil. Just tell them you are going to invest in renewable energy sources and better efficiency, and McCain will not.

You have to consider your audience. The Obama campaign talks about reaching across the aisle. Consider that many "across the aisle" have no more than a high school education, and some don't even have that.

Tell the people you will give tax breaks to corporations who provide jobs in the U.S., and close loopholes that give tax breaks to companies that send jobs overseas and Republican John McCain will not.

Long-winded nuance doesn't appeal to me, and I have a college education. Good writing or speaking skills require cutting out half of what you were originally going to say, and rephrasing what is left in the active voice.

Everyone who knows the problems doesn't need long-winded, nuanced rhetoric to be convinced. What they need to know is that Obama will act to fix the problems, and Republicans and McCain will continue with these failed policies.

[Barack_America]

49. But those same people understand, "When I went to Iraq", "When I spoke to Petraeus"...

"When I met with al-Maliki", etc.

And she can't say that. What Biden needs to do to win is to bring up stuff like I mentioned above and also respond to Palin with statements like, "I'm sorry, but that doesn't bring x in to account", etc.

[nyc 4 Biden]

60. for easy reading...

Mr. Biden's response:

"The Bush administration's policy in the beginning -- and John's -- continues to be a strong, central government, democracy, that will gain the confidence of all the Iraqi people that would be a democratic institution that would make the dominoes of the oligarchies fall in the Middle East. That was success, that's what they talked about.

Now what's happened? Where there's relative peace, where is it? It's up in the Kurdish area. Where? Where they don't allow Shia troops to come up. Where they don't allow the Iraqi army to come up without their permission. There is now relative calm in Anbar. Why? They did exactly what I proposed two years ago. They turned over authority and trained homegrown local Sh-- Sunnis. And said we promise you, those Shia aren't coming and patrolling your streets. That's called the awakening. That's what got all of the sheikhs to come together and say OK.

I predicted if you ask the sheikhs to have their sons join the army or join the police force, the security forces and you told them they'd protect their own area, they'd join in droves. The first day Petraeus wisely made that offer, a thousand Sunnis showed up for the police force. Virtually none showed up before. So what's happening? Where's it working? It's working from the ground up. Exactly what I've proposed is happening.

We're about to have regional elections. What are the regional elections? The Iraqi constitution says in article 114, 15, 16, it says that any of these areas can conclude that they want to be, not a governate, there's 18 of these things, but they can be essentially a state like the state of California or the state of Massachusetts. They can write their own constitution. They can have their own laws relative what you teach your kids in school, like California versus Alabama. They can have their own laws, their own security force, their own cops, not a national police force sent out. That's why it's working.

And the second reason why it's working is that, so far is, what else did they do? They did exactly what I've been calling for for two years. It's the mix of forces. You may remember if you had to cover this my saying it's the wrong mix of forces in Iraq. We need counterinsurgency forces. And what did they do? They brought them back from Afghanistan, unfortunately, instead of adding them. And what happened? The counterinsurgency forces are now the forces that today and yesterday the military says are having the most success.

So folks, they may not want to call it what I was talking about. But the end result is, there is a lot of autonomy in the Anbar province today. There is a lot of autonomy up in the Kurdish area today. And there is increasing autonomy in the Shia regions. But I've always proposed a central government. A central government that has a standing army, controls the currency, controls the banking system, controls the borders, controls the foreign policy.

And so, you know, John says he wants to have every shred of Iranian influence eliminated from Iraq. And he supports Maliki. You notice, every time Ahmadinejad comes to Baghdad, Maliki kisses him on both cheeks. Literally, not figuratively. You notice before agreed to begin to negotiate the Status of Forces Agreement, what did, what did Maliki think he had to do? He had to get on a plane to go to Tehran and talk about it with the Iranians. Cause look, folks. It's a geographic fact of life, they've got a long border and a 5,000 year history.

So it's about time we get real here and take a look at the possibilities now, if they continue along these lines, of something good happening. And the possibilities rest in two things. One, there's a genuine political accommodation. And so you're going to have, as I said, elections in the provinces. Supposedly -- and by the way they're supposed to take place next month. I've been predicting they're not likely to take place next month. But maybe they will. If they will, do you think the people down in Basra are going to vote for a government in Basra any different than an all Shia government in Basra? what do you think? Want to take any bets anyone?

So come on. It's time that we had people who understand, understand what's going on in Iraq, not just sloganeering. Not just sloganeering. And the irony is, the guy who supposedly has the least experience among us, Barack Obama, got it right 14, 15 months ago. He said, 'Look, let's transfer -- let's be as responsible getting out as irresponsibly we were getting in.' And then he said, 'We need a timeline here. And you're going to go ahead and hand off authority gradually to Iraqis, and what are you going to do? You're going to pull out American combat forces.' Where, if reports are correct, and my information is based on the state department and others, what is Maliki demanding, and what is Bush agreeing to? A timeline to draw down American combat troops. A gradual hand off of police authority and military authority to the Iraqis. Who's the only guy, major figure in America who's standing outside that agreement? John McCain. John.

And the other point I made today, and it's an important point since you poor devils have to cover me you should be aware of it in my view, John, I've never heard John utter a word about what he's going to do, after, after -- quote he establishes victory in Iraq? What's he going to do about Syria? Turkey? Iran? Saudi Arabia? What's he going to do to have some reason to believe whatever is worked out that Iraqi's neighbors are going to sign on to it? And tell me, how is it possible to have a long term stable, stable Iraq, free and open without some regional understanding of Iraq's independence? Barack and I, and I have laid this out in painful detail for two years as Barack has. That's why we've called for a regional conference. That's why we talked about the need to bring the permanent five of the United Nations in to give the imprimatur to this. To make it clear to Iran, Syria, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, hands off. Hands off. Whatever deal the Iraqis work out, you've got to stand by. You need the weight of the world putting pressure on the region a little like we did in Bosnia. A little like what happened in Kosovo. Could that have happened if the Germans didn't buy into the deal? If the Greeks didn't buy into the deal? If the Italians didn't buy into the deal? If the Hungarians didn't buy into the deal?

So what I -- what confuses me, and it does confuse me about John McCain and Sarah Palin's position on Iraq is, tell me the end of the story, John. Victory sounds wonderful. We're all for victory. What do you mean by victory? And so, I just say, there's, you know you can call -- and by the way, you recall when I put forward that plan, I said there's a half a dozen ways you can implement this plan. I don't have any -- It wasn't three areas, it doesn't have to be five, it can be two, it can be seven. But there's got to be a way where we finally, if you have peace -- 'Hey, I'm a Shia. I'm not going to kill your Sunni family. And you don't have to worry the Kurds are going to come and get you, because the Kurds are basically with you.' Everybody has to get to the point where they conclude there's more in it for them staying together than there is in it them going separately."

-- by Jake Tapper and Matt Jaffe

[AdHocSolver]

67. If Biden or Obama respond like this in a debate, they will lose the 40 percent by the third sentence

McCain or Palin will respond with a stupid sound bite, and will be applauded by the 40 percent who "don't do nuance" for stopping the ache in their pea-sized brains.

Without getting too deep into nuance, Obama and Biden have to get across in as few words, using simple statements the following three themes:

1. That the issues this country faces today, jobs, economy, affordable health care, deficits, international problems, are the result of failed Bush policies that were enabled by a corrupt and incompetent Republican Party.

2. John McCain and Sarah Palin have nothing to offer except more of the same failed policies of the Bush administration.

3. An Obama-Biden administration will bring new policies to Washington that will bring jobs back to America, promote affordable health care, revitalize the economy by investing in new technologies, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, regain our country's standing in the world, and bring about a successful conclusion to the war in Iraq.

This is the message that Obama and Biden should repeat over and over again without excess verbiage until it sinks in to the minds of the 40 percent who have issues with nuance.

[chill_wind]

68. Thanks. You've got to ask yourself why Jake wouldn't want you to read it that way.

Though it doesn't change the fact that, while he's really, really into this--- it's still too long.

Love Joe, though. Obama picked good.

[woo me with science]

55. Your point is apt.

You could have said that in two sentences, though. O8)

[krkaufman]

54. And when Biden finishes one of these questions ...

... he'll be said to have been showboating.

[okieinpain]

64. exactly.

[mcctatas]

12. She'll just say...

"I defer to God's plan for Iraq, I'm a hockey mom, a pit bull, did I mention I'm a governor of a state with a population of 670,054. I know it's less than a third of the population of the city that Obama organized in and was a senator for <2,842,518>, but I like to hunt and wear fur vote for me, vote for me!!!!!"

[nyc 4 Biden]

58. No, IMHO i think she will . . .

. . . respond to one of Joe's intelligent, thorough responses with a quick, dismissive "wow, you do like to talk" or the like, which provides sound bite material and a laugh from the moronic masses.

[NotThisTime]

35. Her head will explode... I'm pretty well schooled on it, and it took me a few minutes to comprehend

it all in its entirety.... now think of someone who has not thought of Iraq "in a long time" Uh, her head will be spinning....

[Schema Thing]

2. I feel sure that Biden spoke in paragraphs.

[napi21]

6. That's almost a duplicat of his response on MTP today! I think he did

a TERRIFIC job! Some situations cannot be answered in a sound bite!

[Barack_America]

17. I think Tapper presented it in a single paragraph so that the VOLUME of his response...

would impress the reader.

The point is that Joe knows his shit in a way that Palin never, ever could.

[Egnever]

43. I think she could

But it would take time. Perhaps years. I don't thinks shes stupid. I do think she has a very small world view.

I sure as hell don't want her as VP though while she takes her classes or god forbid CIC.

[gateley]

3. As I've said for a long time, I really learn a lot about the situations we're

facing around the globe from Biden's responses. If Sarah's smart, she'll read this.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

4. it isn't too late for you to indent a little and make it easier to read

might keep the thread alive longer if people can read it.

[Barack_America]

8. I posted it exactly how it was presented on ABCNews.

To indent it would mar the author's point. It's not meant to be read as much as admired. I believe that is why it was presented as a single, enormous block of text.

[gateley]

26. But I'd recommend reading it, too (even though I get the point.)

It's educational. For me, anyway.

[Cha]

24. Good to see you posting

again, WYVBC!

OP`Rec'd~

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

27. I took time off from posting after the primary - been lerking

seemed like Obama Daily News had done its job.

Now people can post threads without them sinking in 5 seconds, so no need.

I still like to read, can find out what is the latest buzz here.

Nice to see you too.

[Cha]

32. We need positiveness around here to drown out

the naysayers..that hasn't changed.

[Cha]

7. Absolutely adore Obama's choice of Joe Biden for

our VP nom!! :toast::patriot:

[napi21]

10. ME TOO!!!!!!! n/t

[Egnever]

42. Thats cuz you pay attention :)

:loveya:

[AtomicKitten]

47. me four

:toast:

[geek tragedy]

9. Great for a committee chair, bad for a candidate. n/t

[Barack_America]

13. Thank you Captain Sour.

The point is that Biden has a stockpile of experience and nuance into foreign policy that Palin could never match.

It is not to suggest that he cannot give more succinct answers.

[geek tragedy]

15. Nuance don't mean shit to me.

Nuance loses in November.

[gort]

28. Okay, then how about if Governor Palin gives her response

by speaking in tongue?

Thank you for your concern.

bluhhhhhh.....bluuuuh.....snicker snicker snicker homina homina doooo!

[Cha]

65. And, you're worth less than

shit on this board.

[1corona4u]

41. LOL...Captain Sour....

:rofl::rofl:

[Bobbie Jo]

16. go away.

[gateley]

18. Great for proving who has the chops when it comes to foreign policy

knowledge. As opposed to knowing Russia is close to Alaska.

[saltpoint]

19. Surf thru the web from the past week's Biden appearances

and have a look at those clips.

Then tell us I you still think Biden is not a good candidate or campaigner.

I bet you change your mind.

[NYC_SKP]

39. it hates Biden, hates Obama, not going to change its mind.

it's been posting all f'n day negative shit stirs and I'm about sick of it.

All the logic in the world won't pry this one free of clinton's asses, sad to say.

sorry to rant on your reply, but it's getting old, fast...

I predict a flameout....

it, not me.

[RayOfHope]

72. All day? Try several weeks n/t

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

63. And watch Palin in the AL gubernatorial debates

CSPAN was airing them yesterday and they are no doubt on their website

Based on the moderators responses: on several questions, she failed to directly answer and spouted talking points instead.Maybe happened more than that, but since it was all Alaska issues, I can't be sure.

[RayOfHope]

70. I stg, you are one of the most negative 'supporters' at DU. n/t

[gateley]

11. "The Iraqi constitution says in article 114, 15, 16, it says that..."

McCain and Palin: "Iraq has a CONSTITUTION?" Yep, and Biden knows what it says!

They are SO screwn! :rofl:

[Newsjock]

14. Palin's answer

"We will not surrender to the terrorists in Iraq."

1. Which answer is the more educated, intelligent, reasonable answer?
2. Which answer shows a remarkably unsophisticated -- and downright dangerous -- worldview?
3. Which answer will resonate the most with low-information voters?

I'll go kick a can now or something.

[Barack_America]

21. To which Joe, objections of the moderator be damned, poses a question DIRECTLY to Palin...

That makes her response look as foolish as it certainly will be.

[dkf]

20. I was curious he didn't talk more about the defacto partitioning

in Iraq.

Its ridiculous that Iraq basically did through violence what he wanted to do peacefully, which led to the relative stability we see today and he gets bashed for his proposal.

[regnaD kciN]

22. Keep in mind, this was a casual conversation on a campaign plane...

...not a sound-bite response during a campaign appearance.

[Barack_America]

25. Indeed. But it certainly highlights the wealth of knowledge Biden has in this area.

He knows three ways to destroy any feeble argument that Palin might make.

[TheKentuckian]

29. Some will not be happy unless

Obama flips out and declares John W. Bush a Gawddamned lying traitor sack of shit and Joe tells Palin she is a vapid whore and to fuck herself with a jagged and rusty oil pipe.

[okieinpain]

66. now that would be the fraudian slip of all fraudian slips. n/t.

[Indiana_Dem]

23. Oh he's just so cute! I could listen to him for hours.

I've been listening to him for years, actually--on c-span!

[obamacon]

30. Soundbites

This level of understanding is impressive, and will win over insiders. However, I hope he has 30 second and one minute soundbites for the debate. Its like Mark Twain once said, I didn't have time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long one instead. The tripartite solution was opposed by a vast majority of Sunni's and Shiites.

[renate]

31. I don't want a VP who takes 13 minutes 20 seconds to address a complex issue

Oh wait... that's exactly what I want.

[Barack_America]

33. *wags finger*

I was about to rip into you! Lol.

And it's not that he NEEDS 13 min. and 20 sec. to answer this question, it's that he CAN. That's pretty damned impressive.

[NotThisTime]

37. Double wags finger - I bet he could take 20 LOL... he shortened it down!

[itsrobert]

34. That's great, but Sarah only has to take 90 Seconds to respond in tthe debates

Does she have 90 seconds on Iraq. Let's see, "My son Track.... Cut and Run Democrats, Victory! Victory! Victory! We're Winning"

The Freepers and Corporate Media will eat it up.

[Barack_America]

36. To which Biden responds, "I'm sorry but I've been to Iraq (x number of times) and that simply....

isn't a viable solution".

And Palin retorts, "Well, I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night and I say it'll work!"

?????

[NotThisTime]

38. And this is why I am thrilled with him as our VP...

[1corona4u]

40. LOL, God love ya Joe!!

:-)

Broken down a bit;

Mr. Biden's response:

"The Bush administration's policy in the beginning -- and John's -- continues to be a strong, central government, democracy, that will gain the confidence of all the Iraqi people that would be a democratic institution that would make the dominoes of the oligarchies fall in the Middle East. That was success, that's what they talked about. Now what's happened? Where there's relative peace, where is it? It's up in the Kurdish area. Where? Where they don't allow Shia troops to come up. Where they don't allow the Iraqi army to come up without their permission. There is now relative calm in Anbar. Why? They did exactly what I proposed two years ago. They turned over authority and trained homegrown local Sh-- Sunnis. And said we promise you, those Shia aren't coming and patrolling your streets. That's called the awakening. That's what got all of the sheikhs to come together and say OK. I predicted if you ask the sheikhs to have their sons join the army or join the police force, the security forces and you told them they'd protect their own area, they'd join in droves. The first day Petraeus wisely made that offer, a thousand Sunnis showed up for the police force. Virtually none showed up before.

So what's happening? Where's it working? It's working from the ground up. Exactly what I've proposed is happening. We're about to have regional elections. What are the regional elections? The Iraqi constitution says in article 114, 15, 16, it says that any of these areas can conclude that they want to be, not a governate, there's 18 of these things, but they can be essentially a state like the state of California or the state of Massachusetts. They can write their own constitution. They can have their own laws relative what you teach your kids in school, like California versus Alabama. They can have their own laws, their own security force, their own cops, not a national police force sent out. That's why it's working. And the second reason why it's working is that, so far is, what else did they do? They did exactly what I've been calling for for two years. It's the mix of forces. You may remember if you had to cover this my saying it's the wrong mix of forces in Iraq. We need counterinsurgency forces.

And what did they do? They brought them back from Afghanistan, unfortunately, instead of adding them. And what happened? The counterinsurgency forces are now the forces that today and yesterday the military says are having the most success. So folks, they may not want to call it what I was talking about. But the end result is, there is a lot of autonomy in the Anbar province today. There is a lot of autonomy up in the Kurdish area today. And there is increasing autonomy in the Shia regions. But I've always proposed a central government. A central government that has a standing army, controls the currency, controls the banking system, controls the borders, controls the foreign policy. And so, you know, John says he wants to have every shred of Iranian influence eliminated from Iraq. And he supports Maliki. You notice, every time Ahmadinejad comes to Baghdad, Maliki kisses him on both cheeks. Literally, not figuratively. You notice before agreed to begin to negotiate the Status of Forces Agreement, what did, what did Maliki think he had to do? He had to get on a plane to go to Tehran and talk about it with the Iranians. Cause look, folks. It's a geographic fact of life, they've got a long border and a 5,000 year history.

So it's about time we get real here and take a look at the possibilities now, if they continue along these lines, of something good happening. And the possibilities rest in two things. One, there's a genuine political accommodation. And so you're going to have, as I said, elections in the provinces. Supposedly -- and by the way they're supposed to take place next month. I've been predicting they're not likely to take place next month. But maybe they will. If they will, do you think the people down in Basra are going to vote for a government in Basra any different than an all Shia government in Basra? what do you think? Want to take any bets anyone? So come on. It's time that we had people who understand, understand what's going on in Iraq, not just sloganeering. Not just sloganeering. And the irony is, the guy who supposedly has the least experience among us, Barack Obama, got it right 14, 15 months ago. He said, 'Look, let's transfer -- let's be as responsible getting out as irresponsibly we were getting in.' And then he said, 'We need a timeline here. And you're going to go ahead and hand off authority gradually to Iraqis, and what are you going to do? You're going to pull out American combat forces.' Where, if reports are correct, and my information is based on the state department and others, what is Maliki demanding, and what is Bush agreeing to? A timeline to draw down American combat troops. A gradual hand off of police authority and military authority to the Iraqis.

Who's the only guy, major figure in America who's standing outside that agreement? John McCain. John. And the other point I made today, and it's an important point since you poor devils have to cover me you should be aware of it in my view, John, I've never heard John utter a word about what he's going to do, after, after -- quote he establishes victory in Iraq? What's he going to do about Syria? Turkey? Iran? Saudi Arabia? What's he going to do to have some reason to believe whatever is worked out that Iraqi's neighbors are going to sign on to it? And tell me, how is it possible to have a long term stable, stable Iraq, free and open without some regional understanding of Iraq's independence? Barack and I, and I have laid this out in painful detail for two years as Barack has. That's why we've called for a regional conference. That's why we talked about the need to bring the permanent five of the United Nations in to give the imprimatur to this. To make it clear to Iran, Syria, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, hands off. Hands off. Whatever deal the Iraqis work out, you've got to stand by. You need the weight of the world putting pressure on the region a little like we did in Bosnia. A little like what happened in Kosovo.

Could that have happened if the Germans didn't buy into the deal? If the Greeks didn't buy into the deal? If the Italians didn't buy into the deal? If the Hungarians didn't buy into the deal? So what I -- what confuses me, and it does confuse me about John McCain and Sarah Palin's position on Iraq is, tell me the end of the story, John. Victory sounds wonderful. We're all for victory. What do you mean by victory? And so, I just say, there's, you know you can call -- and by the way, you recall when I put forward that plan, I said there's a half a dozen ways you can implement this plan. I don't have any -- It wasn't three areas, it doesn't have to be five, it can be two, it can be seven. But there's got to be a way where we finally, if you have peace -- 'Hey, I'm a Shia. I'm not going to kill your Sunni family. And you don't have to worry the Kurds are going to come and get you, because the Kurds are basically with you.' Everybody has to get to the point where they conclude there's more in it for them staying together than there is in it them going separately."

-- by Jake Tapper and Matt Jaffe

[Barack_America]

50. Thanks for adding the paragraphs.

As you could see from the link, they presented it as an enormous block of text. I thought it was fun to look at it that way, even though it was hard to read!

So thanks for breaking it up for the people actually interested in reading it!

[gateley]

51. The big block of text got the message across --

Joe knows and understands the situation FULLY.

If a similar question was asked of Palin, what - a sentence? Two? "The Surge Worked."

[krispos42]

45. I can haz paragraf plz thanks bi

n/t

[lamp_shade]

48. She won't debate it. A back out plan is already in place, you can bet.

[annabanana]

52. How was his response received? I think that it would be

such a relief not to be talked down to that they would enjoy it.

[gateley]

56. I would have applauded. nt

[krkaufman]

53. The goal isn't to "comprehend"...

... only to pass the media test. They're effectively cramming for finals.

I may have done the same in college, but that's not the approach I want to see in the White House.

[me b zola]

57. What? Substance? American pols don't need no freaking substance!

We like 'em to look and sound like us, speak in words that fourth graders can understand--even if what they're saying is complete gibberish--and use folksy phrases so that we can rest assured that they aren't smarter than us. What kind of commie would want their elected officials to be smarter than they are?

Give me a cowboy who is afraid of horses and clears brush! He reminds me of my neighbors so he must be good enough to lead the nation! I want a PTA hockey mom who was elected as a small town mayor and left that town that she found with a balanced budget $20 million in debt! Reminds me of the woman across the street from me who has a gambling problem! Real (incompetent)people in charge, it makes me feel not so inadequate!

[SidneyCarton]

59. Biden can do the soundbite if he has to, he can be quippy.

Remember his rebuke to Giuliani?

"A noun, a verb and 9-11"

[chill_wind]

69. Yes he can!

:hi:

[AspenRose]

61. Not to worry, though: Eliza Doolittle's in "training."

:crazy:

[Barack_America]

71. Lol. Except she needs to work on the accent (nuke-u-lar) -AND- learning both...

foreign and domestic policy.

Tall order! But did you hear she's using flashcards?!?!

:rofl:

[bigwillq]

62. kick

[amandabeech]

73. He needs a three line soundbite,

and a minute to a minute and a half explanation.

A real problem is that the voter in the middle may not know that there are three major groups in Iraq.

I had a brief discussion about Iraq with my new roommate, a mother of three grown kids and possessor of a bachelor's, and when I mentioned the Shia and the Sunni, she had no idea of what I was talking about. I tried to explain, but after two sentences of "Professor" Amanda's speech, her eyes glazed over.

Really short and sweet is going to be tough, but I assume that Biden has a squad of aides to help him boil it down.

I'd give him a hand myself, if he paid me. Ha-ha!