Biden-Brownback Iraq measure clears hurdle

[PatSeg]

A nonbinding measure supporting the split of Iraq into federal regions appears headed for congressional approval as part of the defense authorization bill that was completed in conference Thursday night.

Despite broad bipartisan support in the Senate, the language advocating such a split, which is one of the few Iraq-related measures that have been passed, did not gain traction in the House. After passing the Senate 75-23, the so-called Biden-Brownback amendment was tacked onto the Senate’s Department of Defense (DoD) authorization bill.

Several sticking points between the House and Senate versions were eventually stripped, including a controversial hate-crimes provision. The Biden-Brownback language survived, though it was altered to ensure that the call for federalism in Iraq doesn’t infringe on the country’s sovereignty.

The amendment’s September Senate vote was a triumph for Sen. Joseph Biden (D-Del.), the lead sponsor of the proposal. His language attracted the support of 26 Republicans as well as Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.), one of Biden’s chief rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) missed the vote, but his office indicated support for the measure.

The conference report on the defense authorization bill is expected to pass in both chambers, leaving the White House as a remaining obstacle.

More: http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/biden-brownback-iraq-measure-clears-hurdle-2007-12-11.html

[Occam Bandage]

1. And that is why Biden should be President. Responsible bipartisanship.

[PatSeg]

3. Biden is a real thorn in Bush's side

He's probably swearing up a storm in the WH right now, but then that's nothing new.

[rucky]

9. It's his plan, and on his terms.

He's pulling Republicans toward it, instead of the other way around.

[Occam Bandage]

12. And that's the kind of bipartisanship we need.

Not to sell out, like Lieberman. Not to challenge and snipe, like Clinton. To persuade. To find common ground--and to ensure that common ground is on your turf.

[1corona4u]

2. That's really good news...

[Progressive420]

4. Who cares its a nonbinding measure

though it was altered to ensure that the call for federalism in Iraq doesn’t infringe on the country’s sovereignty. This is a joke.

[PatSeg]

5. It is a matter of Congress making a statement to Bush

that they no longer support him and his policies on Iraq.

[gateley]

7. Let's compare it to all the OTHER plans that have been brought forth, voted on

and passed, shall we? :shrug:

If you don't like it, what plan DO you like, and what steps have been made to ACHIEVE that?

[Think82]

8. It means 75 Senators agree with Biden's strategy. Kind of a big deal.

[1corona4u]

13. Exactly.

[gateley]

6. I kept asking about the status of this. Biden has said if he becomes President

and this hasn't been implemented, he will do it immediately.

NOTHING has been done -- This war has almost become a 'normal' part of our every day lives! What has happened, here?

This is a STEP toward a solution, and it sits and stagnates. I have to question those who claim to want to pull out the troops -- nobody is making any MOVEMENT to do so.

[murbley40]

10. Kick

[MadBadger]

11. If Biden were president, does he even have the power to make this happen?

I think his plan could have worked, but not anymore.

[PatSeg]

14. I think it is possible

As president, he is capable of bringing more people over to the idea. He got a lot of republicans to cross over as a senator, just imagine what he could do as president.

[MadBadger]

15. But the Iraqis have a government in place. They are their own nation

I dont think we have the right to change their government.

[PatSeg]

16. The resolution is not a proclamation

or an imposition. It is a declaration of support for the type of government that is already called for in the Iraqi constitution. It is this administration that has called for a strong central government in Iraq.

Meanwhile, we did not have the right to invade and occupy their country in the first place.

[MadBadger]

17. But if he becomes president, how can he rightfully try to proceed with that course

Sure we didnt have the right to invade and occupy their country, but then do we have the right to then change their now established government? I'd say absolutely not.

[1corona4u]

18. Exactly...

his plan supports Iraq's constitution. It's specifically what their constitution calls for. It's also not "partitioning".

There is a third way. Leslie Gelb, President Emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations, and I have proposed a five-point plan to keep Iraq together, protect America's interests and bring our troops home. We recognize that while leaving Iraq is necessary, it is not a plan. We also need a plan for what we leave behind, so that America's interests and security are protected. That is what we have proposed.

Sectarian violence among Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds is now the major impediment to stability and progress in Iraq. No number of troops can solve that problem. The only way to hold Iraq together and create the conditions for our armed forces to responsibly withdraw is to give Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds a way to share power peacefully.. That requires a sustainable political settlement, which is the primary objective of our plan.

The plan would maintain a unified Iraq by decentralizing it and giving Kurds, Shiites and Sunnis local control over their daily lives - as provided for in the Iraqi constitution. The central government would be responsible for common interests, like border security and the distribution of oil revenues. We would secure support from the Sunnis - who have no oil -- by guaranteeing them a proportionate share (about 20 percent) of oil revenues and reintegrating them into society. We would increase economic aid, ask the oil-rich Arab Gulf states to fund it and tie all assistance to the protection of minority rights and the creation of a jobs program. We would initiate a major diplomatic offensive to enlist the support of Iraq's neighbors and create an Oversight Group of the U.N. and the major powers to enforce their commitments. And we would ask our military to draw up plans to responsibly withdraw most U.S. forces from Iraq by the summer of 2008 - enough time for the political settlement to take hold - while leaving a small force behind to take on terrorists and train Iraqis.

The course we're on has no end in sight. This plan can allow us to achieve the two objectives most American share: to leave Iraq without leaving chaos behind.

http://www.joebiden.com/issues/?id=0009