(CNN) - Vice President Joe Biden delivered an optimistic assessment of the political situation in Iraq on Monday, predicting the successful formation of a new unity government in Baghdad and declaring that attempts by al Qaeda to inflame sectarian tensions have "utterly failed."
Biden also dismissed the impact of alleged Iranian attempts to manipulate and control the Iraqi political process. He declared Iranian influence in Iraq to be "minimal" and "greatly exaggerated."
He asserted that the overall level of violence in Iraq has now declined to the point that some early U.S. veterans of the conflict "would not recognize" the country today. The roughly 650,000-member Iraq security force is "already leading the way to defend and protect [the] country," he said.
The vice president's remarks, delivered at a gathering of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Indianapolis, Indiana, came a little over a week before the August 31 deadline for the conclusion of the U.S. combat mission in Iraq.
From CNN Politics
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Pull all the troops out of Iraq now. They can't even form a government. Never should of gone in there in the first place!! Bozo Bush got all kinds of terrible advice from the Rethuglican war mongers!!
To bl: We all know Obama's middle name is Hussein. You need to get over it!!! So many ignorant narrow minded people are frightened by that name!! Get a life!
This is a positive assessment of our efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan and that's what we need to see. Our fine military has not received the full support of the American public that it deserves and some positive words about what they are accomplishing can only help. Yeah, it's difficult but the fact of the matter is we do have a lot of our people in both places and we will certainly leave a better world for the next generation of Americans by meeting our objectives now.
Rush Goebbels@is so typical of the low life, drug addled, elitists that make up the liberal wing of the democratic party. So full of hate and deceit and clever. Just the kind of person who makes stories about Rush Limbaugh quotes (ala Rick Sanchez of CNN) or calls people racists either by design or just plain ignorance (most likely) if they disagree with whatever the other person is telling them. Mean, nasty, racist, anti-feminist and anti first amendment, but then that is the hypocrisy of liberalism.
He obviously hasn't learned much about the middle east, as yet.
Will Biden give the successful surge strategy under Bush the credit?
Do people remember that Obama (and 60% of democrats) wanted to yank all of the soldiers from Iraq and call it a lost cause. Also, it was Biden that suggested dividing Iraq into 3 countries....
(Note: Democrats and Republicans voted to got to war–it isn't a one party conflict).
This administration is such a joke.... are they really going to take credit for Iraq.....???
absurd....
It still amazes me that you Republican Jihadist still turn a blind eye to the fact that we should have never been in Iraq in the first place, So all the credit goes to President Obama's administration for ending that horrible idea. No WMD's, The Bush Administration lied about Sadaam and Bin Laden's relationship, etc. We attacked a soverign nation based on little Georgy had something to prove to daddy. So I am glad that the mess is over with. Now Mr. Vice President, as stupid as your far left base may be sometimes, and as ignorant the bible thumping right can be, we in the middle which makes up the majority know darn well that Iraq will never have unity, they never have, the never will. As long as you got Sunni's, Shia's and Kurds screaming at each other that thier sect of Islam has bigger nads, they will fight, as they always have and the craziest most narccisitic out of the bunch will be in control. But nice try anyway Mr. Vice President
Anything Bad -- Blame Bush
Anything Good – Take credit for it
Anything controversial – Blame Fox News
Anything upopular – Blame Arizona
Anything scandulous – Blame Michael Steele
Anything needing to get done – Blame the GOP minority
Anytime you don;t have an answer - blame any of the above, smile into the camera, and forefully read whatever is on your teleprompter
The Obama campaign manual states:
Anything bad happens – blame Bush
Anything good happens – take credit for it
Anything unpopular – Blame Fox News
Anything not getting done – Blame the GOP
Anything controversial – Blame Michael Steele
When you do not have a clue – smile and read from the teleprompter
Anything scandulous – blame all of the above and say that they collectively "acted stupidly"
When giving speeches – read from the joke list on the screen in front of you
Biden must keep careful his word mouth
I'm with James... Let the Fire eaters commence to unleash the wrath of a disgruntled tax burdened citizenry that has watched as a self serving government of corporate puppet elitists run our Nation into the ground.
Whether Biden is right or wrong, it was wrong for the U.S. to invade Iraq and it's right for us to get out of Iraq, we have killed Saadam H. and his sons whom Iraqis feared. The U.S. can't kill everyone who is evil in Iraq, it's up to the Iraqi people to take control of their country.
Hey Biden...
Try to remember – Saddam Hussein was the guy who used to run Iraq. King Hussein was the guy who used to run Jordan. Bonus points if you know they're both dead.
You're welcome... buffoon.
The rampant hatred, fear-mongering, lies, and racism from the right-wing and their supporters makes me desperately wish for another Civil War so our nation can eradicate this cancerous growth that is dragging us down once and for all. The only good thing about right-wing politicians and their followers, is when they die and go off to roast in Hell where they belong (take Keith in Austin, doug, eric, ib, and most of the inbred clowns from Texas with you).
Sounds like the Bush surge strategy (opposed by Obama) has worked better than anyone hoped. The overall withdrawal date was negotiated by Bush too, and he had already started the withdrawal that Obama merely continued.
I don't care what Iraq does, I want our soldiers out of a fraudulent war Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld LIED to the world about so they could go in and try to steal Iraq's oil.
If Iraq recovers from the Bush destruction of their country, it certainly will be in spite of the hatred Iraq now has for America – Hussein was once considered a "friendly" dictator and the US gave him money and help when we were trying to get our hostages out of Iran in 1980.
I am so thrilled President Obama got all our combat troops out of there last week ( hello media – where was the praise for that great accomplishment?) No more billions wasted that ran up our deficit to where it is. No more murdered soldiers who died for a lie. No more bully war policies. No more torture. No more destruction of Iraq who had nothing to do with 9/11, had no WMD, and was no threat to anyone.
Thank you President Obama for getting our troops out of there ahead of schedule and for bringing them home and back to their families. The stain of the Bush lies and criminal acts is being rectified and our Allies are trusting us again.
did he thank President Bush??
Imagine, this tool is a heartbeat away. Me thinks Biden still enjoys sniffing model glue.
Wonderful, but it still doesn't excuse us starting a (hugely expensive) pre-emptive war with a sovereign nation.
Don't give me that "spreading democracy" or "Saddam was a bigbadscaryman" crap either; there are lots of petty tyrants around the world who will reign without fear of the USA. Now we've tipped the balance of power in the Middle East towards Iran, and look where that's getting us.
Thanks for nothing Dubya.
How?
Obama voted against the surge.
Biden wanted to split Iraq to three parts.
Now they are riding on the success of Bush's later days (post Rumsfeld).
First of all, Biden is never right about anything. Secondly, as I flew home this weekend I had several Army officers on my flight who told me they were going to meet up with their troops and head to Iraq for a year long deployment. Those of us with a brain know we are not getting out – that would be dangerous and stupid. People believe what they want to believe – remember that is how we ended up with Obama as President and this dingbat as VP. I fear for my country unless we wise up soon.
The number one reason I voted for Obama was because I trust him not to start any stupid wars, and I trust him to end the wars responsibly. So far so good– Obama still has my vote in 2012. The GWB Iraq war was by far the worst presidential decision of my lifetime.
Vote Republican, and you can appologize to your kids when you visit their grave in Arlington. The Republican party is a bunch of warmongers, representing corporate interests such as big oil and the military industrial complex. And don't buy their BS about being fiscally conservative because they are far from it. They overspend just as much as Dems but they spend it on killing people instead of helping people.
Wow, I didn't know a rock could speak.
who put S. Hussien in power in Iraq?
the same people who told us he had to go!
who helped O. bin Laden fight the Russians in the late 70's-80's? (they called them freedom fighters then)
the same people who told us he had to go! (they call them terrorists now)
know your history America, if we followed the constitution, would we have 700 bases in 130 countries around the world?
would the rest of the world hate us?
VOTE THEM ALL OUT!