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Biden Iraq Plan Passes Senate (Federalized decentralized state)
nhPols.com ^ | 27 Sep 07 | staff

Posted on 09/27/2007 2:12:33 PM PDT by saganite

BIDEN IRAQ PLAN PLAN PASSES SENATE BY WIDE MARGIN Seen As First Major Step To Ending U.S. Involvement In Iraq

Wilmington, DE (September 26, 2007) - In a major repudiation of President Bush's failed policy in Iraq, Sen. Joe Biden's plan for a federal system in Iraq passed the Senate today by a vote of 75-23, garnering key bipartisan support from leaders of both parties in the U.S. Senate. In May of 2006, Sen. Biden, along with President Emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations Leslie H. Gelb, announced a detailed plan for promoting a political settlement in Iraq that would allow our troops to leave, without leaving chaos behind. The plan called for a decentralized, federal system in Iraq, which would give its people local control over the fabric of their daily lives, including police, jobs, education and government services. A limited central government would be responsible for protecting Iraq's borders and distributing its oil revenues.

Sen. Biden's amendment today to the Defense Authorization Bill is based on his federalism plan for Iraq and is a product of his year-long effort working across the aisle to build support. During the vote, Sen. Biden's plan secured the support of key leaders in the U.S. Senate from both parties, including Senate Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI), former Chairman John Warner (R-VA) and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Richard Lugar (R-IN). Last December, Sen. Biden became the first Democrat to oppose President Bush's proposed surge of additional troops in Iraq, stating at the time, that the only way to end this war was to build a bipartisan consensus opposed to President Bush's policy.

(Excerpt) Read more at campaignsandelections.com ...


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 110th; iraq
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1 posted on 09/27/2007 2:12:35 PM PDT by saganite
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To: saganite

Hmmmm...wonder how the Iraqis will respond to Biden’s dictate on how they will be governed? I guess they don’t have a say in how their country will be run under his amendment.


2 posted on 09/27/2007 2:16:09 PM PDT by Virginia Ridgerunner ("Si vis pacem para bellum")
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To: saganite

I’m sure glad Biden and our Senate think they are Iraq’s President and Senate.

Oh wait, you mean the Iraqis should be able to develop the kind of government they want, and they already have?

Oh my gosh. Someone tell our Senators.

What Republican would sign on to this s—t?


3 posted on 09/27/2007 2:16:55 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (Hillary has pay fever. There she goes now... "Ha Hsu, ha hsu, haaaa hsu, ha hsu...")
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To: saganite

Nation building Biden style.


4 posted on 09/27/2007 2:17:08 PM PDT by AU72
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To: saganite

Why is there any reason to believe that the press release is supported by any actual legislative language?


5 posted on 09/27/2007 2:20:13 PM PDT by Mr. Lucky
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To: saganite
The Iraqis can have our federalism. We sure aren't using it any more.

I also have a great deal for them on a largely ignored Constitution too.

6 posted on 09/27/2007 2:20:51 PM PDT by KarlInOhio (May the heirs of Charles Martel and Jan Sobieski rise up again to defend Europe.)
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To: saganite
Sen. Joe Biden's plan for a federal system in Iraq passed the Senate today by a vote of 75-23, garnering key bipartisan support from leaders of both parties in the U.S. Senate. In May of 2006, Sen. Biden, along with President Emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations Leslie H. Gelb, announced a detailed plan for promoting a political settlement in Iraq that would allow our troops to leave, without leaving chaos behind. The plan called for a decentralized, federal system in Iraq, which would give its people local control over the fabric of their daily lives, including police, jobs, education and government services. A limited central government would be responsible for protecting Iraq's borders and distributing its oil revenues.

And how will this be imposed upon the Iraqis? By gunpoint of course!

7 posted on 09/27/2007 2:22:28 PM PDT by Mike Darancette (Democrat Happens!)
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To: saganite
Well now, color me confused. I thought the Iraqi people would decide how to set up their gov't - We set them free and guarantee their right and freedom to vote and set up their own gov't = what the blue blazes has Biden got to say about this???

Now we pass a law that dictates just how they will govern - any bets about a backlash?Are they now a free country - or our puppet - a province?

8 posted on 09/27/2007 2:24:54 PM PDT by maine-iac7 ("...but you can't fool all of the people all of the time" LINCOLN)
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To: saganite
Weaken the federal government and even take away authority over the police, but leave it with the defense responsibility. That would make the Shia areas easy pickings for Iran and its militias and the Sunni areas sitting ducks for Al Qaeda.

Another brilliant idea from Slow Joe.

9 posted on 09/27/2007 2:26:04 PM PDT by colorado tanker (I'm unmoderated - just ask Bill O'Reilly)
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To: maine-iac7

Well, I think the Shiites would go for it and I know the Kurds will like it. Don’t know about the Sunnis. I think they oppose it on the grounds there’s no oil in their provinces. In any case, whatever Biden comes up with will have to be agreed on in Iraq, else it doesn’t matter a tinkers damn what he says or does.


10 posted on 09/27/2007 2:27:42 PM PDT by saganite
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To: Mr. Lucky
"Why is there any reason to believe that the press release is supported by any actual legislative language?"

That's actually a good question. "Legislation" implies passage of a law, and I don't think that's what this is. It must be some sort of a resolution requesting that the president pressure the Iraqi government to work towards this particular form of federalism. It may not actually be a bad idea, but at this point we couldn't force it on the Iraqis without violating the democratic framework that we've tried to help them create.
11 posted on 09/27/2007 2:29:21 PM PDT by Steve_Seattle ("Above all, shake your bum at Burton.")
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To: saganite

As much as I hate to agree with Biden on anything(vote Biden for president and give us Delawareans a break), I’ve liked this idea since before Iraq’s government formed.


12 posted on 09/27/2007 2:30:45 PM PDT by Delacon (When in doubt, ask a liberal and then do the opposite.)
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To: saganite
It’s nonbinding and is nothing but a waste of time resolution.
13 posted on 09/27/2007 2:32:34 PM PDT by tobyhill (The media lies so much the truth is the exception)
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To: DoughtyOne

Historically, Iraq was mostly several nations, for more than 5000 years, Iraq has strugled to define itself, many, including Hamurabi the great foght battles to unify Iraq, but was only successful for a short period, as soon as the sword got dull or the warriors got a little lax, the various tribes became troublesome, Sumer in the south, Babylon or Akkad in the center, Kurde or other to the north,
never have they lived villingly in peace without the sword
poised over them.
I don’t much agree with Biden, but this time I make an exeption


14 posted on 09/27/2007 2:46:45 PM PDT by munin (The war on muslim terror=world war 3 time to let's roll Time to lube our guns with pork fat)
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To: Delacon
As much as I hate to agree with Biden on anything(vote Biden for president and give us Delawareans a break), I’ve liked this idea since before Iraq’s government formed.

Regardless how right or wrong the idea itself may be, it's up to the Iraqis to determine how their government is constituted, not the US Senate.

15 posted on 09/27/2007 2:49:13 PM PDT by Bob
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To: Bob

Regardless how right or wrong the idea itself may be, it’s up to the Iraqis to determine how their government is constituted, not the US Senate.

I agree, and if we let the Iraqis have their civil war, it will be so


16 posted on 09/27/2007 2:51:58 PM PDT by munin (The war on muslim terror=world war 3 time to let's roll Time to lube our guns with pork fat)
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To: munin

Biden’s idea is facile and misleading. Making the regions separate countries would simply lead them to fight over border issues. Turkey has made it clear that it would never tolerate an independent Kurdistan (logical though that might be), and Iran and its puppet Syria would simply pick off the pieces.

Biden is really a complete dope.


17 posted on 09/27/2007 2:53:03 PM PDT by docbnj
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To: saganite

Jeeze.....Why didn’t they just vote for Heaven on Earth?

Ya know....some things just can’t be legislated.


18 posted on 09/27/2007 2:54:37 PM PDT by G Larry (HILLARY CARE = DYING IN LINE!)
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To: saganite

They have done a good enough job of fouling up our government. Might as well screw up Iraq as well.Bunch of worthless clowns


19 posted on 09/27/2007 2:55:49 PM PDT by paul51 (11 September 2001 - Never forget)
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To: docbnj

Biden isn’t proposing seperate countries. It would still be Iraq but with a weaker central govt and more power in the provinces. Kinda like we used to have.


20 posted on 09/27/2007 2:56:51 PM PDT by saganite
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