A proliferation of plans for Iraq - BG (a comparison between Kerry and

[Mass]

Biden).

Boston Globe's reporter Nina Easton (the one who is married to a GOP operative) is profiling Biden and comparing him to Kerry in this article today.

While Easton, of course, clearly prefers Biden, her article gives us some insight on Biden .

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/04/09/a_proliferation_of_plans_for_iraq/

First on Iraq, we can know understand clearly why he was somehow snarky about Kerry's plan on Friday. Kerry stole him the limelights. He had a plan for Iraq too.

Senator Joseph Biden of Delaware revealed that he, too, is working on a plan that he hopes will amount to more than a ''transitory headline" and will influence a security situation that is ''still soluble but . . . becoming extremely elusive."


That was Tuesday.

On Wednesday, Biden was caught off guard when Massachusetts Senator John F. Kerry proposed his Iraq plan -- which consists of imposing a May 15 deadline on the Iraqis to form a government, or face the loss of US military support, and setting a path toward the withdrawal of American troops by this year's end.


Which plan? One interesting idea, IMHO, three semi-autonomous regions, though it is not clear why we would need 130,000 troops to enforce this if it was the Iraqis' will. The rest is more of the same, and, frankly, it is time to stop being afraid of not being tough enough.

Unlike Kerry, Biden believes that at least some troops need to stay in the country long term to prevent or contain civil war. (Until a year ago, Biden was calling for more troops in Iraq.)

The Biden plan is also expected to dwell on the makeup of the Iraqi government itself, calling for a federation of three semiautonomous states rather that one central government that attempts to unite the party's divided ethnic factions. (Note: this is an interesting idea, but how can we impose that by ourselves).

Biden compared the odds of success in Iraq to taking a three-point shot in basketball, with the buzzer sounding, from ''somewhere between the key and mid-court." While consistently critical of the White House, Biden also worried about the future of the Democrats, saying he feared that ''my party is going to conclude that force is never a legitimate tool."

As for the man, I guess he is trying to imitate his great friend McCain with some straight-talking (as honest as McCain?). Of course, Easton could not avoid some Kerry-bashing (hair-splitting style - I think she has not listened too much to Kerry recently). I personnally do not like his style, but, I guess some people may like it.

If Kerry is known for his hair-splitting style, Biden continues to display his trademark blow-dryer candor. When an Al-Jazeera TV correspondent commended Biden's view of America's Middle East policy but challenged the US government's sponsorship of radio and TV in Iraq, Biden attacked the Arab outlet for refusing to ''report anything good. . . . You look like a wholly owned subsidiary, if you ask me."

And the senator wasn't much kinder to a BBC reporter questioning US crackdowns on illegal immigrants. ''You don't treat your immigrants as well as we treat ours," Biden pointedly responded.

Here is where he definitively lost me - He was nice to Bush.


''a bright guy" whose certainty of the world is based on his ability to overcome alcohol abuse through faith.

[Mass]

1. In MTP, Kerry came said that a three-state solution could be the solution.

but you could not really know before you are the talks between the parties.

[ginnyinWI]

2. she's wrong or misleading on the plan for the troops

Kerry, this morning, said he thinks they should be deployed nearby--like Murtha also said. So they won't be completely gone--they will just be held in reserve until they can actually do more than be sitting ducks on the streets.

Was it Biden that said * is a "bright guy"? Yipes--reality check time, Joe! (looks like somebody is pandering to somebody's base!)

[Mass]

3. Not all of them - Some.

Kerry is talking about "withdrawing the majority of the troops" and keep a few beyond the horizon (exactly like Murtha, but not like Biden who still thinks that the US are kingmakers).

I dont know how much the "at least some troops" Biden talks about amount to today, but, not that far ago, it was more nearly 100,000 troops, so quite different from what Bush is aiming at.

Kerry today was making clear his plan was close to Murtha's, that he quoted at least twice.

And Kerry made it clear that they were not to intervene except if the US national security was at risk.

[ginnyinWI]

4. yes

And that's an important distinction. Biden has always been more hawkish, I think.
But it isn't enough to have a plan--you have to be smart and get opinions from people who know what's what--our military brass--like Kerry does. That's why when he says something I believe it--I know he does his homework. Biden has been on the SFRC longer, but does he consult like JK does?

[karynnj]

5. In fairness, Biden has also gone to Iraq and talked to people

The big difference is Kerry seems to know that there are 2 parts to conversation - talking and listening - and he values listening. If Biden questions people in Iraq like he did Alito, he will simply come back thinking that he had brilliant meetings.