The United States Senate passed the Biden-Brownback resolution advocating a partition of Iraq with semi-autonomous regions. Their stupidity is exceeded only by their arrogance. Anne Flaherty reports for the Associated Press:
The Senate passed a resolution Wednesday suggesting Baghdad limit the power of its federal government and give more control to Iraq's ethnically divided regions.The 75-23 vote marked the first agreement on Iraq among lawmakers in months, although it would have little practical effect. Republicans agreed to swing behind the nonbinding measure after it was amended to make clear that Bush should press for a new federalized system only if the Iraqis want it.
Still, the resolution underscores a bipartisan longing in Congress for a fresh diplomatic approach in Iraq. It also was a victory for presidential hopeful Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., a primary sponsor of the resolution along with Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan.
Biden advocates establishing a power-sharing agreement among ethnic factions similar to the one established in Bosnia in the 1990s. The U.S. has focused too much on trying to prop up a strong, central unified government in Baghdad, he said.
Read the whole story at the link provided above. The Senate would have better spent their time in recommending the creation of a Ministry of Silly Walks - at least we would have had a chuckle over that one, which is more than we gain from the resolution passed.
How Rare Is A Meaningful Day In Washington? Let me count the ways:
- The Senate lacks any authority over the details of our foreign policy. They could refuse funding for certain things, but chose not to take the only course which might actually have an effect. Instead, they pass a "Sense of the Senate" resolution, which the President is fully free to ignore, and will. Meanwhile, of the 12 budget authorization bills they need to pass before Monday, they have passed . . . None. Not a single one. Nice work, Bozos!
- A "Sense of the Senate" resolution would carry far more weight if the Senate exhibited more sense.
- As the Administration has already voiced its opposition, the resolution will be received by the White House, given full due consideration, and placed in the nearest trash receptacle.
- Their resolution proposes to enforce a political solution on a sovereign nation. The Iraqis are now in charge in Iraq. They don't give a rat's patootie what a bunch of ignorant millionaires in Washington think about their governmental structure.
Perhaps the biggest practical effect of this futile gesture is giving a boost to Joe Biden's campaign. He's running for President, you know. Of the United States. No, really!
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Filed under:
Iraq, Politicians, Senate
Tags: dumbasses, Iraq, policy, resolution, Senate
Comments (13)
Funny, isn't one of the man... (Below threshold)1. Posted by marc | September 28, 2007 4:06 AM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Funny, isn't one of the mantras of the loony-left Bush interfered into the internal affairs of Iraq by invading the country?
That ChimpyMcBushCoHalliburton set-up a puppet gov in Iraq when we "hand delivered" their constitution to them?
So NOW some of the loony-left that reside in the Senate, along with a few idiot Repubs, are doing just what they accused Bush of.
Ho-hum... they are politicians. Who haven't done jack-shit since January. (accept earn a 11% approval rating)
1. Posted by marc | September 28, 2007 4:06 AM |
Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Posted on September 28, 2007 04:06
2. Posted by rick kennerly | September 28, 2007 6:26 AM | Score: 0 (2 votes cast)
Actually, if you look at the latest stats and maps supplied by the military, the country is pretty much working its way toward partition anyway. Many of the Baghdad neighborhoods that used to be mixed or exclusively Sunni or are now deserted by the Sunnis and have been taken over by Shiites.
The remaining Sunni communities have become armed ghettos, ringed and defended by --mostly--American troops trying to staunch the flow and build confidence. In fact, the Iraqi Government is offering monetary rewards to Sunnis who will move back to Baghdad. So far, the ones who take the cash don't stay long.
The Kurds have a pretty stable life on their side of their partition.
As usual, Congress is a day late and a dollar short in coming to the reality of the situation and their vote is a reaction to the reality on the ground instead of a prescription.
2. Posted by rick kennerly | September 28, 2007 6:26 AM |
Score: 0 (2 votes cast)
Posted on September 28, 2007 06:26
3. Posted by kim | September 28, 2007 6:45 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Partition is what I expect to happen eventually, but there are good arguments for holding it together, some of them being made by Iraqis.
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3. Posted by kim | September 28, 2007 6:45 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on September 28, 2007 06:45
4. Posted by rick kennerly | September 28, 2007 7:52 AM | Score: -1 (1 votes cast)
Indeed. Odd that the largest sect would end up with the least amount of oil in a "natural" partition, while at the same time inheriting all the crumbling infrastructure, the poverty stricken and the pretty palaces.
4. Posted by rick kennerly | September 28, 2007 7:52 AM |
Score: -1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on September 28, 2007 07:52
5. Posted by sean nyc/aa | September 28, 2007 8:04 AM | Score: 0 (2 votes cast)
Odd that the largest sect would end up with the least amount of oil in a "natural" partition, while at the same time inheriting all the crumbling infrastructure, the poverty stricken and the pretty palaces.
rick kennerly
I think you're mistaken about this. The largest sect is the Shi'ites, who in a natural partition would control most of the east and south of Iraq (and now Baghdad). There are large reserves of oil in the south.
The sect which would not control any oil reserves would be the Sunnis, who would control the western part of Iraq which is pretty large but for the most part completely barren. That's why the Sunnis are the most fervent about keeping a unified country which they control, otherwise they'd be left with the scraps.
5. Posted by sean nyc/aa | September 28, 2007 8:04 AM |
Score: 0 (2 votes cast)
Posted on September 28, 2007 08:04
6. Posted by kim | September 28, 2007 8:48 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Right sean, and, as I've said for years, the Sunni will accept a payoff to function as a border state. If they are not in a unified Iraq, they may constantly bite at it. There are good arguments for keeping it together, some of which even the Kurds subscribe to.
The differences culturally, religiously, ethically, may ultimately separate them, hopefully bloodlessly.
The petroleum in Saudi Arabia also mostly underlies Shia populated land. Put that in your hat and try it on, Rick.
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6. Posted by kim | September 28, 2007 8:48 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on September 28, 2007 08:48
7. Posted by kim | September 28, 2007 8:50 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Uh, ethnically.
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7. Posted by kim | September 28, 2007 8:50 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on September 28, 2007 08:50
8. Posted by ODA315 | September 28, 2007 11:10 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Yup, doing the people's bidness.
Too busy to handle such things as social security, immigration, etc.
8. Posted by ODA315 | September 28, 2007 11:10 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on September 28, 2007 11:10
9. Posted by kim | September 28, 2007 11:37 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Assuming the authority of division without the validation of representation is tyranny and an absurdity.
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9. Posted by kim | September 28, 2007 11:37 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on September 28, 2007 11:37
10. Posted by Veeshir | September 28, 2007 1:03 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
What I want to know is, why can't they do something important? Like making pi=3. That's what they need to do.
10. Posted by Veeshir | September 28, 2007 1:03 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on September 28, 2007 13:03
11. Posted by kim | September 28, 2007 4:25 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
That would take an act of God; which may be required to get any useful work out of this Congress. It's all earmarks and blows to the body politic. Bunch a cheap thugs. Who coulda been contenduhs.
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11. Posted by kim | September 28, 2007 4:25 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on September 28, 2007 16:25
12. Posted by Spurwing Plover | September 28, 2007 5:47 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
More from our imperial senate when will the WICKED WITCH OF DC COME TO GRAB IT ALL?
12. Posted by Spurwing Plover | September 28, 2007 5:47 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on September 28, 2007 17:47
13. Posted by Wayne | September 28, 2007 6:22 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
To partition Iraq similar to the State partitions in the U.S. has always made since to me. Some make it sound like they want to partitions into separate countries, which isn't true. Decisions on Oils revenues sharing and the main military would need to stay with the Federal government. Other state like powers could go to the new partitions.
The Senate resolution does little except make it harder for them to complain if Iraq actually does it. Of course many still will.
13. Posted by Wayne | September 28, 2007 6:22 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on September 28, 2007 18:22