It's On: Two Men With Poor Judgement

Barack Obama's website (after dodging the rudely placed campaign contribution request) has announced that his running mate for the 2008 U.S. presidential election is long-time U.S. Senator Joe Biden.

That will fill the Democratic Party ticket for POTUS with two U.S. senators who, in hindsight, demonstrated very poor judgement how to resolve the sectarian conflict in Iraq: Obama didn't care and wanted out in 16 months whilst Biden wanted Iraq federalised and carved up into three sectarian states. Obama's position on Iraq could be summarised (in his own words) as "opposed from the start". Biden tabled a bill that would require George Bush to have exhausted all diplomatic options before launching the war only to have his proposal shot down.

In contrast, GOP presidential hopeful, John McCain urged for a change in strategy once the insurgency and sectarian strife became apparent. McCain criticised the Administration's steady-as-she-goes approach and pushed for the surge. Eventually, the President came around and adopted General Petraeus' counter-insurgency strategy. Result? Well, when was the last time you heard about a car bomb killing and maiming scores in Iraq? Oh yeah, that's right. Not for some time...

On a more recent foreign policy issue? Obama blames the U.S. for Russia's invasion of Georgia saying it should be a better example. At the time when Russia was bombing the crap out of Georgian targets, Obama urged Georgia and Russia to show restraint (because Georgia was also invading Russian territory right?). What about slow Joe Biden? Well on 7 August 2008, Biden called for Russia to "immediately...restore calm" (as if Russia wasn't a belligerent). Then after his trip to Tblisi last week, Biden stated that:

I left the country convinced that Russia's invasion of Georgia may be the one of the most significant event to occur in Europe since the end of communism...The continuing presence of Russian forces in the country has severe implications for the broader region. The war that began in Georgia is no longer about that country alone. It has become a question of whether and how the West will stand up for the rights of free people throughout the region. The outcome there will determine whether we realize the grand ambition of a Europe that is whole, free, and at peace.

Much better than Obama, but still slow. McCain on the other hand, from the outset of Russia's aggressive and unprovoked action called for Russia to "immediately and unconditionally...withdraw...from sovereign Georgian territory".

Guess which presidential ticket I think is the better one? Oh yeah, the one that still hasn't announced a running mate. That's who.

Update 24/08/08 12:30AM AEST: Here's McCain's response. Ouch.

Comments

[rachel]

I'm sure all the Indian-Americans at 7-11 and Dunkin Donuts will be thrilled he chose Biden.

[Manny]

For readers unfamiliar with the Biden-botch-up here it is.

[Manny]

Or a fuller account of the Biden gaff-o-meter.