Biden's plan is one realistic solution to the Iraq problem, and, not surprisingly, has gained tremendous momentum, particularly today when the Senate, by a 75-23 vote, passed a non-binding resolution echoing Biden's decentralization plan. Will this have a positive effect on the war? Perhaps. At the very least, it is a feather in Biden's cap that may help him begin to climb the mountain that confronts him in trying to gain the national Democratic nomination.
More realistically, however, it gives whoever the next president is, GOP or Democrat, a solid reason to appoint him as the next Secretary of State. Obviously, I realize that if the Republicans (speculatively through Fred Thompson) are able to keep the White House, it is highly improbable that any such party lines will be crossed. And why should they? As a non-sequitur, I will save my developing belief that we don't really even have a distinct two-party system anymore for another day.
Nevertheless, given the inability for the currently Democrat-controlled Congress to do anything productive since gaining both houses two years ago, maybe such a West Wing-esque party line crossing should be considered. And while our senior Senator has ruled this position out, I have to question whether he would turn it down if the opportunity presented itself 18 months from now.
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The L.A. Times posted an article today about how the Iraqi government has united against Senator Biden and Congress's plan for the decentralization of Iraq. I think something must have gotten lost in the translation. Arabic for "realistic and workable solution to a gigantic problem" must sound something like "Americans want to divide and conquer the region even more aggressively." Talk about a poor translation of ideas. What a mess. Not sure how Congress is going to react to this one. If anything, maybe it will prompt Karl Rove to come out of retirement.
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