BIDEN: "The most disastrous thing we could do right now is invade Iran"

[jillan]

ANDREA MITCHELL: “Hillary Clinton and anyone else who voted to declare the Iranian army as a terrorist organization — do you think that Hillary Clinton is giving President Bush a green light to invade?”

SEN. JOE BIDEN: “I think they are being very naive, thinking he will look at the letter of the law, rather than the intent, which is saying that it is a terrorist organization. What’s that old expression — first time I get fooled, OK. Second time, it’s my fault. He did the same thing before with regard to Iraq. I don’t know how he couldn’t have learned a lesson about this.”



http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-US&brand=msnbc&vid=ac476452-d76a-4a33-ab1b-6482ec1ff71f

[TwilightZone]

1. A nitpick: we're not going to invade Iran.

We don't have the forces required for an invasion.

We might bomb it to the ground, though.

[jillan]

2. Biden is discussing the Kyl/Lieberman amendment.

[TwilightZone]

3. Understood. My point was merely a semantic one.

Unless we pull all of our forces out of Iraq, we don't have the numbers to "invade" anywhere. If we're stupid enough to take on Iran, it most likely won't be from the ground.

[Froward69]

4. you are in the twilight zone

Bush/cheney are just looking for an excuse. Hillary enabled them.

[TwilightZone]

8. I sure wish that people would read beyond the subject line

[jillan]

9. Did you hear what McCain said at the Repug debate?

That we will be discussing Iran sooner than anyone thinks. (paraphrasing)

When McCain says something like that, it scares the crap out of me.

[ginchinchili]

15. McCain is just an extension of the Bush foreign policy

I do believe he intends to bomb Iran. Republicans see such actions as a demonstration of a strong leader. I think Hillary supported this amendment for the same reason. But I think it demonstrates weakness in the head.

[monktonman]

5. What will we do when they invade Iraq??

Does anyone really think that after we bomb Iran
that the Iranians arent going to send troops over the border?
And after they send troops into Iraq to attack american soldiers,
do you really think Cheney isnt going to start an invasion of Iran.
Perfect pretext for a draft IMO.

[Froward69]

6. Totally agree...

[jillan]

7. "bomb bomb bomb Iran"

[Hydra]

12. Which would be just as bad

I can't see Iran staying home after they are subject to airstrikes and cruise missile attacks. All hell is likely to break loose, and with Turkey chomping at the bit to invade northern Iraq, this can't end well.

[gateley]

10. Go to the videos and look at the Jimmy Carter Don't Bomb Iran video. I think

that has a clip of Giuliani saying essentially that in certain circumstances there might be no option other than a military one.

Edit to add: Biden said the IWR was intended to PREVENT a war with Iraq - or that's how it was presented to the Congress. Interesting - it goes a long way in understand why so many voted for it.

And very valid point about we were fooled once, so why should we believe Bush now?

Just a little miffed Biden supporter note: Even though Mitchell was talking with Biden, they showed more footage and pics of Clinton than they did of him. :grr:

[Jillian]

11. Off to the greatest!

[emlev]

13. WaPo: Cut Iran Democracy Funding, Groups Tell U.S.

Cut Iran Democracy Funding, Groups Tell U.S.
Iranian Americans, Others Say Program Has Backfired

By Robin Wright
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, October 11, 2007; Page A15

More than two dozen Iranian American and human rights groups have launched an appeal to Congress to reduce or eliminate new financial support of up to $75 million aimed at promoting democracy inside Iran.

The U.S. program, launched in 2006, backfired in its first year, undermining democracy efforts in Iran and leading to wider repression of activists as foreign agents or traitors, the groups said. Among those detained were four Iranian Americans, all charged with "crimes against national security" linked to the U.S. program. A second year of funding will further endanger democracy efforts, the groups added.

"Iranian reformers believe democracy cannot be imported and must be based on indigenous institutions and values. Intended beneficiaries of the funding -- human rights advocates, civil society activists and others -- uniformly denounce the program," according to an open letter organized by the National Iranian American Council, the American Conservative Defense Alliance and the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation. The letter was signed by 23 other liberal and conservative pro-democracy groups.

"While the Iranian government has not needed a pretext to harass its own population, it would behoove Congress not to provide it with one," said Trita Parsi, NIAC president.

Human Rights Watch is among several groups lobbying against the program as the House and Senate appropriations committees negotiate the funding. "Giving tens of millions of dollars to support Iranian activists inside Iran is counterproductive," said Saman Zarifi of Human Rights Watch. "First, Iranian activists don't want it and can't get it. Second, it supports Iranian government efforts to cast activists as foreign agents." ...

[jillan]

14. We are funding Iran? When will these assholes ever learn?

Reminds me of when we supplied Hussein with weapons - and then invaded his country because he was using them.

It does not make sense!

[Donald Ian Rankin]

16. No, the most disastrous thing you could do is invading Idaho.

Invading Iran ranks fairly high up, though.

[demommom]

17. KICK!

[demommom]

18. KICK!

[Tom Rinaldo]

19. I agree with Biden here . I am very glad he said this.

I am also glad that our current candidates, Hillary Clinton included, are now starting to speak out more directly against the rush to war dwith Iran.

[ginchinchili]

20. Hillary doesn't seem to know where she stands on Iran

But to back away from any war rhetoric would suggest to me Wes Clark's influence.

[murbley40]

21. I agree with Joe.

:patriot: