Sarah Palin vs. Joe Biden

Today's debate between Sarah Palin and Joe Biden was a sad reminder how McCain's choice of VP is a threat to national security. Palin dodged most questions to recite what her tutors taught her in the past five weeks, proving once that McCain cares more about serving as president in the remaining years of his life than putting this nation on a better track. Joe Biden, on the other hand, and after an uncharacteristically subdued performance during the first half, was for unfathomable reasons coached not to "kill" her. And he could have, very easily, pointed out how she was unfit to become a vice president, rather than leaving it to the partisan imagination.

But the tragedy is not in Biden not going after Palin. The tragedy was in Palin being unable to effectively go after Biden, for she showed no signs that she understood or digested a single word of what she was taught. Instead, we got a lot of winks, fake kitchen table tales, and "darn rights". For the same reason she butchered the name of the commander of the US forces in Afghanistan, she couldn't answer the question pertaining to recent US policy towards Israel, specifically, when Biden accused the administration of not properly supporting the Jewish state after the US and France allegedly "kicked Hizbullah out of Lebanon"! (update: the full quote is: When we kicked -- along with France, we kicked Hezbollah out of Lebanon, I said and Barack said, "Move NATO forces in there. Fill the vacuum, because if you don't know -- if you don't, Hezbollah will control it.Now what's happened? Hezbollah is a legitimate part of the government in the country immediately to the north of Israel)

Followers of this blog know what an idiotic statement that was, and how superficial and uninformed it is. But with Palin as an opponent, could you really expect someone to call him on it?

Another danger came when Palin faithfully regurgitates what the coaches told her to say about the "Surge". Apply it everywhere, they told her. Biden nailed her on it. But although the Obama-Biden Iraq strategy is riddled with fantasy, all Palin could offer was a weak argument about "winning" and how great McCain was in pushing for the "Surge". So Biden won the argument, as did Obama during his first debate, and the nation sunk deeper into ignorance about the country that is today very far from being a project for success.

McCain's Surge. What a travesty to ascribe this tactic to the Senator, when in fact it was a result of work done by people inside this very administration that everybody loathes. And how wrong it is to say that it led to a victory, or could lead to one. What is victory anyway? And victory for whom, and against what, and how do you measure it? The walls and fault lines that separate Baghdad neighborhoods today and the irreparable damage done to the US stature in the world, speak of a different reality than the one Palind an McCain paint. Sadly, and while Obama points it out clearly, the solutions that both he and McCain prescribe are detached from reality.

Going back to the core issue here. By picking Palin, McCain robbed this nation of a safety net, should his old body fail him. I can probably live with McCain in charge of foreign policy. But I cannot trust Palin's with the nuclear codes, or "nucular" in Palin-speak. If she couldn't handle the simple task of understanding the issues, instead accepting the role of a puppet, then she and the man who chose her simply do not deserve a vote.

Lastly, and this is a note to some of my readers, at least the remaining ones, spare me your partisan politics. What has been disheartening to me over the past few months was how quickly certain people can turn against you when you disagree with them, or when you attempt to think outside the ideological box. It is no secret to anyone that my posts about Hizbullah, and Obama's statement on Lebanon, were widely popular and heavily quoted by many "conservative" bloggers. Today, I stand in amazement at some of those bloggers' inability to get over their obsession with negating the other's point of view, and in the process denying themselves the truth they claim to seek or represent. The "left" often exhibits the same fanaticism and self denial.

It is the sad truth that to many, country doesn't and will never come first, and that change will unlikely come as long as we don't understand what it is we really need.

In the meantime, we're left to choose the lesser of two evils. And sometimes, that choice is made easier when confronted by the intolerance and racism of those who won't eat a doughnut if it's not dressed in red and blue, or won't accept questions from a black journalist.

Update. Now Lebanon on Biden's gaffe. He meant Syria!?

Joe Biden, the US Democratic Party’s vice-presidential candidate, condemned Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah on Thursday night, but mixed up Hezbollah with Syria.

Speaking in a debate with his opponent, Republican candidate Sarah Palin, he referred to the US’s Middle East policy by saying, “When we kicked - along with France - we kicked Hezbollah out of Lebanon,” a statement assumed to confuse Hezbollah with Syria.

Biden said that both he and Democrat presidential candidate Barack Obama had said, “‘Move NATO forces in there. Fill the vacuum, because if you don't know - if you don't, Hezbollah will control it.’”

Comments

[VOR]

I agree AK. Palin's job was to restore some credibility after her many gaffes, she won a few points on style but there was no substance to her comments whatsoever. Biden looked a bit tight and nervous, but regained his form of a seasoned politician after a while keeping the focus on the issues rather than being distracted with Palin's act. The sad truth is that these debates are scripted and do not encourage the candidates to say much beyond the sound bites and the buzz words, in short you don't get much. Some things that were said were silly to downright ridiculous, but overall nothing worthy to talk about. I used to have a better impression of McCain, but recently, he has shown me that he is very narrow minded in his appraoch to doing things and may not be the candidate I was hoping for. In any case, we still have another 32 days and counting down before casting our votes.

[Michael J. Totten]

Biden said the U.S. and France kicked Hezbollah out of Lebanon.

WTF?

Palin is troubling, but Biden lives in a fantasy world.

[AK]

you know, I thought he was accusing the administration of NOT kicking Hizbullah out of Lebanon. After checking the transcript, it turned out to be much worse. I corrected it and posted the full quote.

[Ace]

Biden is supposed to be the "go-to" guy for Obama on Foreign policy - he even said that during the debate. Not only does Biden not have a clue about Lebanon but he clearly has no understanding of what it would mean to send NATO troops into Lebanon, not to mention that there is not a single ally that would agree to do so. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that Obama had never heard of Lebanon when "supposedly" he and Biden were calling for NATO to move into Lebanon "after the US & France kicked out Hezbollah.

We all remember how difficult it was to find countries willing to beef up the useless UNIFIL troops in Lebanon. It's doubtful Biden even knows (from what he said last night) the difference between UN peacekeepers and NATO.

You may not like McCain AK -- but he does understand what's happening, and has happened in the past, in Lebanon. Biden doesn't and neither does Obama.

Keep it mind that Biden is the genius that came up with the "divide Iraq" plan and he still firmly believes in that plan. He is a total idiot.

[danny]

Guys,

These USA politicians are total dumbasses when it comes to the Middle East. The only sound bite that they have is "protect Israel" etc...
I never expected Biden to be an expert in Middle Eastern or foreign affairs. The VP job is to go to funerals and mall openings! The Biden ad about his expertise is just that; a marketing ploy to the geographically challenged American voters.

The decisions regarding foreign policy are made by the state dept and the Pentagon boys. Obama or McCain cannot change much except blow idle rhetoric...See what GWB has been doing recently with Syria and Iran. Rice meeting with fat bastard. For what? Give more false signals?

As for Palin; again she was chosen to firm up Mac's right wing base. Remember that Mac has never been the Republican poster boy. Now he is bowing to the right religious conservatives. Palin is a minnow. She'll never be advertised as an intellectual power house.

Biden screwed up on both counts. He meant to say Syria then he should have said that Syrian proxies; the HA; have taken over the government with Georgie's blessing!

Again, let's hope McCain does have some understanding of Lebanese affairs; and not only the Israeli version of it! Then we're totally screwed.Israel rather have a Syria on its northern frontier then a hell bent religious fanatics that have sworn for its destruction.

[Jeha]

It does not matter, because we don't matter. The most worrying thing is that it indicates how local American policy is viewed from an Israeli perspective.

[Ace]

"I never expected Biden to be an expert in Middle Eastern or foreign affairs. The VP job is to go to funerals and mall openings! The Biden ad about his expertise is just that; a marketing ploy to the geographically challenged American voters."

Joe Biden is the head of the Foreign Relations Committee in the US Senate. He has been a member of that committee for dozens of years. I agree that it's a "marketing ploy", but that "ploy" is supposed to convince US voters that Obama will have someone at his side who actually knows something about Foreign relations. The "in the Obama tank" American media is ignoring this of course.

Biden fails - there is no excuse for the what he said in the debate. At the very least he should know what NATO troops do and don't do - he didn't even get that part correct.

Here's a prediction for you - If Syria wants to take over Lebanon again (and we know they do) Obama will think that is just hunky-dory. He has a lot of Syrian friends and long associations. He is very likely to agree with Israel/Iran/Syria that it will bring "stability" to Lebanon.

[AK]

Ace, if Syria invades and the US does nothing, it won't be because of Obama, Biden or McCain.

[danny]

Ace,

You just proved my point re: Biden.

Jeha,

Correct. As I said the US foreign policy re Middle East is seen through the Israeli prism!!

[Ace]

"Ace, if Syria invades and the US does nothing, it won't be because of Obama, Biden or McCain."

AK -- you know my thoughts on this. It's my feeling that Lebanon is pretty much lost to Hezbollah after the Government declared a day of celebration and holiday for Kuntar's return to Lebanon.

Other than that ....... you surely don't deny that Biden (the Obama "expert" on Foreign policy) simply does not have a clue about either Lebanon (kicked Hezbollah out) and Iraq (divide into 3 pieces). Obama has no interest in any "foreign affairs" unless they are part of Africa.
It's where all his advisors have both expertise and interest and that works with his agenda. The rest is just "damage control" and "stability". It won't matter whether it makes sense or not. That's the reality.

I've always like Joe Biden - I certainly think he is an American Patriot and a man who tries to do the right thing -- word is that he has a pretty serious drinking problem, what ever he "has" -- you have to admit that he often makes NO sense when it comes to the Mid-East. Almost none of them do, when it comes right down to it - but Biden is worse than most and he is about to move into a major roll in determining US Foreign policy.

I spent a month on Lebanese forums trying to convince posters that the idiot who came up with this "divide Iraq" fairy tale was never going to be in the position to do so ...... he was just blowing hot air. Jokes on me -- he may actually be in such a position. Just goes to show that even the most absurd things can actually happen in this crazy world.

[The Other Tony]

Guys,

Lebanon is not the only foreign policy agenda on the list of the next US Administration. With all due respect to Lebanon and its issues, there are other problem spots in the world such as Georgia/Ukraine/Russia and Pakistan/Afghanistan to name but a few. So when choosing the next US President I'm certain there are many factors (foreign policy and otherwise) to be evaluated to vote the one most worthy (as AK and Jeha have pointed out many times).

Lebanon has had its moment in the sun and although the battle has not been totally lost yet, the Lebanese state will know its true position after parliamentary elections and results from International Tribunal - this will be the time when we know whether the country is heading for all out war or total capitulation to Hezbollah and allies.

Question though on the Biden gaffe - have any groups followed up with the Democratic party to correct this mistake?

[VOR]

Lebanon is a blip on the priority list of US foreign policy. Get over it, no one will lift a finger beyond providing assurances and talk of guarantees.

[Tannourine Warrior]

AK,

I have followed your Blog for quite some time with great fervour, pride and sometimes frustration. As a Lebanese, I am so very proud of your views and of the eloquence in which you express them. While I may not agree with some of your U.S. political opinions, I do respect them.

AK, your views & interpretations on the current affairs of our beloved Lebanon are inspiring - I so look forward to reading them at night while sipping my tea - in fact, I get disappointed when you take some time in posting your next opinion! Also, I must say that it is very refreshing and encouraging to see a Lebanese of Shi'ite faith having such outward and progressive views on Lebanon and abroad. May God Bless you and keep you posting!

From one patriot to another,
Antanios

[Doha]

AK,

I recall when Congress was recommending sending NATO forces into Lebanon after the Hizbullah-Israel war in 06. There was even talk of sending Turkey as a force to oversee the ceasefire, if you recall. I think this is the NATO recommendation Biden was referring to.

But he got the first part of the statement mixed up (HA instead of Syria).

What he meant was that by leaving Lebanon alone after the Syrian withdrawal and the Israeli war, HA took over that power vacuum and now is a legitimate part of the gov't. Yes, I believe that's true. Perhaps we needed a peacekeeping force there that had more teeth that the UNIFIL.

At any rate, think about it this way: In a 15 second soundbite, let's face it, no one can explain Lebanon's twisted political "recent" history and situation. We're messed up guys! Seriously! So much has happened between Hariri's assassination and today. Moreover, the plot only gets utterly complicated for someone who's outside of Lebanon.

Not to be apologetic for this gaffe on part of Biden, but I think that for the sake of being brief, he mixed two events into one (Syrian withdrawal and the Israeli war). Unfortunately, no one really cares here. Not even the analysts nor the pundits perhaps even knew the difference. As someone pointed out earlier, we're a blip on the radar screen now, we're not hot anymore and i think it's our fault no one else's.

[Chris]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6urw_PWHYk - the nuclear codes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reRTXJSyTjo

[Sonya]

Semi-related to your post.

Have you seen this about the Iraq surge:
http://irevolution.wordpress.com/2008/09/19/iraq-surge/

Good stuff, if it's true.
http://technology.newscientist.com/channel/tech/dn14768-satellite-images-cast-doubt-on-success-of-iraq-surge-.html?feedId=online-news_rss20