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More after the jump...
This is what you've always wanted -- a one-of-a-kind opportunity to challenge the candidates on the most important issues of our time.
Poll after poll shows Iraq is the number one issue in the election, but do you really think that it has been given the attention it deserves? When the leading candidates were invited to a debate at Johns Hopkins devoted exclusively to Iraq last month, they declined. Only Joe Biden accepted and answered the tough questions on his political solution to the war in Iraq.
As we prepare for the debate in South Carolina, we need your help to bring the Iraq question to the rest of the candidates. The candidates may be able to duck an Iraq debate, but they can't duck the question: Then What?
Visit JoeBiden.com/youtube for details on how you can submit a question on Iraq to YouTube.
With your help, we can get the other candidates to finally be straightforward on their strategy for Iraq with a critical mass of videos asking the same vital question:
Hi, my name is ____________ and I'm from ___________.
Every Democrat wants to get our troops out of Iraq as soon as possible. But other than Joe Biden, none of you seem to have a plan for what we leave behind so we don't trade a dictator for chaos and wind up having to send another generation of Americans back to fight in the Middle East. Every Democrat talks about the need for a political settlement in Iraq, but only Joe Biden has a plan for a political settlement. So my question is: then what? Beyond getting our troops out of Iraq, what's your plan to ensure we don't leave a mess behind?
To find out how to submit a video, visit our website and watch our short "How To" video.
Visit JoeBiden.com/youtube for details on how you can submit the "Then What?" question to YouTube.
Thank you. We look forward to your videos!
The Biden for President Online team
"what's your plan to ensure we don't leave a mess behind?" , if honestly answered, would have only one response.... There is no plan, even mine, that will ensure anything, much less the lack of a mess.
Better questions would be:
You all have various plans to bring troops home from Iraq. What sort of mess do you foresee will be left behind and how will that drive your decisions about re-deploying troops? Please be specific as to the number of forces you expect to remain in Iraq, for what period you expect them to remain, and for what missions would they be employed. Are you willing to pledge to the American people that you will not seek to establish permanent military bases in Iraq? If not, why not?
Or how about this question?
All of the leading Republican candidates for president are still saying that the Democrats have given up on the war and want to surrender to our enemies. They all say that this would leave such a power vaccuum that Al Qaeda would inevitably take over and become so powerful that our very existence is threatened. To what extent do you think our leaving Iraq would embolden Al Qaeda to attack the US, and what would you do to minimize the threat? Do you believe that keeping some troops in Iraq would significantly decrease the number or magnitude of any future terrorist attack on US soil? If so, why? What if the Iraqi's don't want any US troops to stay?
I personally believe that Iraq will inevitably be partitioned but before that happens, the sectarian violence will certainly escalate. Iran will continue to benefit from the chaos. But regardless of which faction gains the advantage, or even if Iraq somehow stays in tact as a loose federation, they will never be an ally of the US nor will they ever agree with our policy to protect Israel. On the other hand, no matter who has the most influence in Iraq after we leave, there is no national security interest that would be enhanced by basing uniformed troops there unless specifically sanctioned by and with proportionate representation with all western allies. If the mess in Iraq is such a threat to us, it certainly threatens Germany, France, UK, etc.
Good luck in the debate, Senator Biden. I concur with the jist of your post that candidates should be clear and specififc on Iraq so voters know what they are getting.
I just don't like spoon-fed questions for CNN-Utube debate. And I thought the question was poorly worded....that's all... And I proposed questions that I think are better. I don't expect people to agree with my assessments. But what about the questions above. If any of the candidates had spoon fed me something to ask in a debate, I would have posted this to their positions. I am sorry if my original comment are unclear. I may well choose Biden over the others, but since I do not have a video camera, I can't record anthing to send in myself, except for my words. Sorry and let me be clear....Go Joe and good luck in the debates. I just want all candidate to be askrd questions that they can't give stump speech answers to.