Biden gets it right on the "surge"

Sen. Biden calls Iraq troop buildup a failure

Political reconciliation has not been achieved, he says

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."

"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.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23970660/

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{ Trust Biden to say it as it is! People forget what the real purpose of the "surge" was. As usual the Bush misinformation department is trying to equate success with a reduction in violence but that was never the whole issue. The reduction in violence doesn't change a thing if it doesn't get our troops home faster or get the dispirited and generally despised Iraqi government to get their act together. Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki is a complete failure and no one has any faith that he or his government can solve the myriad problems in that disintegrating country. The "surge" is a failure and has paved the road for the next phase....the "pause". The "pause" is coming which means all the extra "surge" troops are staying where they are...in the cauldron of Iraq. The disaster continues....... does it not?}

Rose