... Biden has become the chief White House skeptic on escalating the war in Afghanistan, specifically arguing against Gen. McChrystal's request for 40,000 more troops to pursue a counterinsurgency strategy there.
... Biden speaks up at an international security meeting at the white house:
"Can I just clarify a factual point? How much will we spend this year on Afghanistan?" Someone provided the figure: $65 billion. "And how much will we spend on Pakistan?" Another figure was supplied: $2.25 billion. "Well, by my calculations that's a 30-to-1 ratio in favor of Afghanistan. So I have a question. Al Qaeda is almost all in Pakistan, and Pakistan has nuclear weapons. And yet for every dollar we're spending in Pakistan, we're spending $30 in Afghanistan. Does that make strategic sense?" The White House Situation Room fell silent.
It's been known for a while that Biden has been on the other side of McChrystal's desire for a big escalation of our forces there ... So if the president does decide to escalate, Biden, for the good of the country, should escalate his willingness to act on those reservations.
What he must not do is follow the same weak and worn-out pattern of "opposition" we've become all-too-accustomed to, first with Vietnam and then with Iraq. You know the drill: after the dust settles, and the country begins to look back and not-so-charitably wonder, "what were they thinking?" the mea-culpa-laden books start to come out. On page after regret-filled page, we suddenly hear how forceful this or that official was behind closed doors, arguing against the war, taking a principled stand, expressing "strong concern" and, yes, "deep reservations" to the president, and then going home each night distraught at the unnecessary loss of life.
Well, how about making the mea culpa unnecessary? Instead of saving it for the book, how about future author Biden unfetter his conscience in real time -- when it can actually do some good? If Biden truly believes that what we're doing in Afghanistan is not in the best interests of our national security -- and what issue is more important than that? -- it's simply not enough to claim retroactive righteousness in his memoirs.
Though it would be a crowning moment in a distinguished career, such an act of courage would likely be only the beginning. Biden would then become the natural leader of the movement to wind down this disastrous war and focus on the real dangers in Pakistan.
- Arianna Huffington of The Huffington Post
Oh, Arianna Huffington. Can I call her Huffie? Great. I love Huffie, and read her blogs / watch her on CNN all the time. But, this is probably the dumbest idea she’s ever had. Biden resigning? Noble? Sure. Striking? Sure. Smart? No.
The Vice President only really has two jobs – to break tie votes in the Senate, and take over after the president kicks it…he’s not exactly a pivotal figure in policy making.
After Dick Cheney running the country with his hand up President Bush’s backside for 8 years, we may all have forgotten that the Vice Presidency is traditionally a do-nothing job.
It’s not like Barack has to turn to Joe Biden and ask for permission before he makes decisions.
The Vice President disagreeing with the decisions of the White House shouldn’t make much difference at all in the courses of action the President takes.
I’ve become bored with this blog topic… I’m tired of war anyway. If I had things my way, we’d bring all of our troops from around the world back home – no military bases abroad or anything. Policing the world has gotten to be a bit much for the country to deal with. Chasing the Taliban around the Middle East isn’t exactly working out for us. And in case anyone hasn’t noticed, the national debt as of October 19, 2009 at 11:20:36 PM EST is:
$11,959,366,151,888.69
That’s over 11 trillion dollars folks. War is expensive. We don’t have that kind of cash lying around. (which is why we just keep printing more…)
So I say we “pull a Ron Paul” and just leave the rest of the world to its own devices and sort out our own problems here in the USA. Oh how I like that Ron Paul. Paul for Pres 2012!
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Huffie's Entire Article:
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