Joe Biden News

VIDEO: Biden Makes A “We Killed Bin Laden” Phone Call

12:10 pm EST May 6th, 2011 | National Security | 1 Comment

Vice President Biden Is In Iraq

11:24 am EST August 30th, 2010 | Foreign Policy | 5 Comments

The White House just sent this out:

Vice President Joe Biden has arrived in Iraq to participate in a Change of Command and Change of Mission Ceremony, fulfilling the commitment made by the President in his first month in office.

This is the Vice President’s sixth trip to Iraq since January 2009. The United States ends its combat mission in Iraq on August 31st, having drawn down to fewer than 50,000 troops from approximately 144,000 troops in January 2009. The remaining troops will advise and assist Iraq’s security forces, conduct partnered counter-terrorism operations, and protect U.S. civilians. In accordance with an agreement between the U.S. and Iraqi governments, all U.S. forces will leave Iraq by December 31, 2011.

President Obama will deliver a National Address on Iraq on August 31st. The Vice President’s visit at this juncture will reinforce the long-term U.S. commitment to Iraq. The Vice President will meet with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi, Vice President Adil Abd al-Mahdi, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, leader of the Iraqiyya coalition Ayad Allawi, Chairman of the Islamic Supreme Council Ammar al-Hakim and other political leaders to discuss the latest developments in Iraq and to urge Iraqi leaders to conclude negotiations on the formation of a new government.

Topic: Iraq, Joe Biden

VIDEO: Joe Biden On Joe Barton’s BP Apology

5:03 pm EST June 18th, 2010 | Environment | 105 Comments

This is underhanded with an oversized ball right fat over home plate.

I’m just sad he didn’t say “Malarkey.”

Topic: BP, Energy, Gulf Oil Spill, Joe Barton, Joe Biden, Oil

Israel Playing Games With American Lives

6:48 pm EST March 11th, 2010 | Foreign Policy | 18 Comments

The idea that they’re still pushing settlements now is amazingly ludicrous. Thankfully the vice president apparently made that clear.

People who heard what Biden said were stunned. ‘This is starting to get dangerous for us,’ Biden castigated his interlocutors. ‘What you’re doing here undermines the security of our troops who are fighting in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. That endangers us and it endangers regional peace.’

The vice president told his Israeli hosts that since many people in the Muslim world perceived a connection between Israel’s actions and US policy, any decision about construction that undermines Palestinian rights in East Jerusalem could have an impact on the personal safety of American troops fighting against Islamic terrorism.

Both sides in this conflict seem to have a vested interest in keeping it going rather than engaging in any move towards something resembling peace. I can’t wait for the day when we can tell both sides to go to hell.

More: Israel, Joe Biden

Topic: Binyamin Netanyahu, Israel, Joe Biden, Middle East, Palestinians

Biden Condemns Israeli Government For Building New Settlements

3:22 pm EST March 9th, 2010 | Foreign Policy | 13 Comments

For Immediate Release

March 9, 2010

Statement by Vice President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.

Jerusalem

“I condemn the decision by the government of Israel to advance planning for new housing units in East Jerusalem. The substance and timing of the announcement, particularly with the launching of proximity talks, is precisely the kind of step that undermines the trust we need right now and runs counter to the constructive discussions that I’ve had here in Israel. We must build an atmosphere to support negotiations, not complicate them. This announcement underscores the need to get negotiations under way that can resolve all the outstanding issues of the conflict. The United States recognizes that Jerusalem is a deeply important issue for Israelis and Palestinians and for Jews, Muslims and Christians. We believe that through good faith negotiations, the parties can mutually agree on an outcome that realizes the aspirations of both parties for Jerusalem and safeguards its status for people around the world. Unilateral action taken by either party cannot prejudge the outcome of negotiations on permanent status issues. As George Mitchell said in announcing the proximity talks, “we encourage the parties and all concerned to refrain from any statements or actions which may inflame tensions or prejudice the outcome of these talks.”"

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Topic: Israel, Joe Biden, Middle East

Shorter Joe Biden: USA! USA!

3:10 am EST February 4th, 2010 | News | 10 Comments

This is the part where I slow clap for the vice president, building to a standing ovation.

Late in the conversation, I asked Biden about the surprise applause line in President Obama’s State of the Union speech–’I do not accept second place for the United States of America.’ Will we hear more on the America-as-No.-1 theme?

What followed was a torrent, in red, white and blue.

‘From me you’re going to hear more,’ he replied emphatically. ‘I want to tell you something, because if we cede the ground to those who suggest that–I don’t mean foreigners, I mean domestic critics–that somehow, we are destined to fulfill (historian Paul) Kennedy’s prophecy that we are going to be a great nation that has failed because we lost control of our economy and overextended, then we might as well throw it in now, for God’s sake. I mean it’s ridiculous.’

On he went. ‘Give me a break. So many people have bet on our demise that it absolutely drives me crazy. … There’s sort of an attitude that is both politically directed by our Republican friends but also believed by a fair number of people that we just can’t make this transition in the 21st century.

‘We will continue to be the most significant and dominant influence in the world as long as our economy is strong, growing and responsive to 21st-century needs. And they relate to education, they relate to energy and they relate to health care.’

The conservative movement is now built on an engine that blatantly calls for the failure of the USA, while liberals so far have too often spoken about how our goals and policy prescriptions in yawn-inducing morality language when in fact the gut value is the continued prosperity and dominance of America.

I think the President and Vice President get that. They just need to say it more.

Topic: Joe Biden

What Matters

3:54 pm EST November 18th, 2009 | News | 11 Comments

Don Surber on the ratings boost Oprah got from the Palin interview.

No. 1 best seller.

Goosing Oprah’s ratings.

Let’s see Joe Biden top that.

Um, okay.

The state of the vote for Vice President of the United States, as delivered to the President of the Senate, is as follows:

The whole number of the electors appointed to vote for Vice President of the United States is 538, of which a majority is 270.

Joe Biden of the State of Delaware has received for Vice President of the United States 365 votes.

Sarah Palin of the State of Alaska has received 173 votes.

This announcement of the state of the vote by the President of the Senate shall be deemed a sufficient declaration of the persons elected President and Vice President of the United States each for the term beginning on the 20th day of January, 2009, and shall be entered, together with the list of the votes, on the Journals of the Senate and House of Representatives.

Topic: Joe Biden, Sarah Palin

Biden Approach To Afghanistan Sounds Right

10:39 pm EST September 22nd, 2009 | Terrorism | 24 Comments

I don’t agree with nation-building, not now in the way the world is currently going, at least. But neither do I think its wise to just get out while Al Qaeda elements are there. Al Qaeda is the target. 9/11. Seriously.

Among the alternatives being presented to Mr. Obama is Mr. Biden’s suggestion to revamp the strategy altogether. Instead of increasing troops, officials said Mr. Biden had proposed scaling back the overall American military presence. Rather than trying to protect the Afghan population from the Taliban, American forces would concentrate on strikes against Qaeda cells, primarily in Pakistan, using special forces, Predator missile attacks and other surgical tactics.

The Americans would accelerate training of Afghan forces and provide support as they took the lead against the Taliban. But the emphasis would shift to Pakistan. Mr. Biden has often said that the United States spends something like $30 in Afghanistan for every $1 in Pakistan, even though in his view the main threat to American national security interests is in Pakistan.

Topic: Afghanistan, Al Qaeda, Joe Biden, National Security, President Obama

Biden On Recovery

5:53 am EST July 26th, 2009 | News | 68 Comments

Obama, Biden

Vice President Biden, in the Sunday NY Times:

The care with which we are carrying out the provisions of the Recovery Act has led some people to ask whether we are moving too slowly. But the act was intended to provide steady support for our economy over an extended period — not a jolt that would last only a few months. Instead of quick-hit rebates, we are giving Americans a tax cut in each paycheck. Instead of pumping out all the state aid immediately, we are spreading it over the two years that it will be needed. Road projects, energy projects and construction projects are being started as soon as they pass review, contracts are competitively bid and reporting systems are in place.

Even with such care being taken, we have already committed more than one-fourth of the Recovery Act’s total funds, and we are on track to meet the deadline set when the act was passed in February — spending 70 percent by the end of September 2010.

The Recovery Act is not the cure for all our economic ills — no single piece of legislation could be. But how many government initiatives can point to both large numbers of projects coming in under budget and a Government Accountability Office finding that we are ahead of schedule in key areas?

Somewhere in the very near future when the economy is growing at a strong yet steady pace, we’re going to look back at the people bitching and moaning about the Recovery Act not working as a very quaint and odd time in U.S. history.

Topic: Economy, Joe Biden