Joe Biden update: Iraq one of Obama's 'great achievements'

Who knew?

Thank goodness, Vice President Joe Biden went on CNN to chat with Larry King Wednesday night. So many think things are not going so well for the Democrat administration, as The Ticket chronicled here.

Many Americans recall the ex-Sen. Biden's Democratic primary plans to give in to Iraq's fractious factions and carve the country into three territories. And even more probably recall Biden's boss' plan to halt the Iraq war years ago. As long as it got started anyway without the permission of the then state senator.

Plus, of course, the vehement opposition of the Nobel Prize winner to the 2007 American troop surge of you-know-who from Texas that Obama knew for certain was only going to worsen sectarian strife there. (See 2007 video here.)....

Well, of course, it didn't turn out that way, thanks in large measure to the brave service of hundreds of thousands of U.S. troops who served in that war-torn land and helped peace to break out despite the loud political acrimony back home over their role.

Now, the Obama-Biden pair that opposed the Iraq war and its tactics and predicted their failure is prepared to accept credit for its success.

It seems that Biden, who's from Delaware when he's in Delaware and Pennsylvania when in Pennsylvania, is certain now that Iraq will turn out to be one of the Obama-Biden administration's greatest achievements.

No, really.

Here's how Biden put it to Lar:

I am very optimistic about -- about Iraq. I mean, this could be one of the great achievements of this administration. You're going to see 90,000 American troops come marching home by the end of the summer. You're going to see a stable government in Iraq that is actually moving toward a representative government. 

I spent -- I've been there 17 times now. I go about every two months -- three months. I know every one of the major players in all the segments of that society. It's impressed me. I've been impressed how they have been deciding to use the political process rather than guns to settle their differences.

Biden did not elaborate on what all the administration's other "great achievements" were so far.

No doubt, Iraqis too are very thankful for that 2008 U.S. election. (Full King transcript here.)

-- Andrew Malcolm

Talk about success, openly click here to receive Twitter alerts of each new Ticket item all day every day. Or follow us @latimestot. You can also go to our new Facebook fan page here.

Photo: Lorenzo Bevilaqua / CNN

Comments

[Jerry]

Is it April 1st already?
I must have snoozed off. LOL

[Soul Leister]

Classic democrat nonsense... take credit for something Joe and Barry complained about (arguably aiding our enemies along the way) voted against and belittled as something that would not work... viola, it worked dispite their best efforts to the contrary. HOW STUPID ARE YOU PEOPLE?
------------------------
According to these clowns, they invented walking upright, the written word, giving us laws by which to live and everything good in the world comes from them alone... there isn't anything they haven't done or thought of first... feel free to throw rose pedals at their feet thank god we have the shadows of their gigantic heads to protect us from the sun... flavor of the week/weak is once again Joe and Barry... buffoons at large.

[Dennis]

The freedom of Iraq belongs to one man................Ex-President Bush!

Please Joe Biden you and your Boss President Obama was AGAINST EVERYTHING that President try to do. If there is freedom in Iraq........maybe joe and president obama Should Thank god for president Bush! he is the REAL Man of action!

[Soul Leister]

I will bet cash money (all bets welcome) that after this failed social experiment (curtesy of the DNC), we will not have another black president for a very long time... if ever (I want to thank all you spineless easily fooled voters and the media that propped up little Barrack for proving once again... beyond the shadow of a doubt... most of the people can be fooled some of the time). Steve Martin (aka the jerk) said it best, "this hand holds shinola and in the other hand is..." what you voted for... or words to that affect.

[Craig]

We should also include the New Orleans Saints winning the super bowl and Sully saving the USairaways jet as Obama achievements. By the way the underwear bomber is Bushes fault.

[OldOllie]

Is he so stupid that he believes this, or is he so stupid that he believes we'll believe it?

[Robert in Tulsa]

The sum of this game is really quite simple ...

This administration has no morals and no shame. Typical progressive mindset - the ends (a transformation of America into their marxist utopia) justify the means.

[Loudooo]

"Oh that's Joe just being Joe" give the guy a break!! LOL

[Pattieb]

Are you kidding me? These morons in the Obama administration think that the American public are all a bunch of ignorant fools. George W. and the United States Military won this war and they got absolutely no help at all from the Obama idiots, what a joke. Makes me want to scream, what jackasses.

[Marine]

I remember very clearly the lack of support for the cause. I served as an adviser to 1st Iraqi Army Division in '06 and had to deal with the Iraqis Officers in the midst of it all. There we were, trying to foster a sense of nationalism to supersede tribal and religious affiliations. Thank you for making our job harder than it had to be. Many of my Iraqis would ask what the point of working with the coalition was if we were just going to leave before the job was finished. When I was back in '07 and '08 I had Iraqi Generals and Colonels praying that McCain would win. Completely understandable... the fear was that Obama would abandon the fledgling government and then they(and their families) would be left to fend for themselves. Iraqis working for the coalition in Iraq still carry the risk of being targeted by anti-government forces... their families share that risk. It not hard to imagine why those Colonels and Generals were praying for a McCain win. In summary, Obama will NEVER be able to claim Iraq as HIS accomplishment short of the country descending into chaos and then our military with his support brings Iraq back from the brink.

Also, there is a misconception that Obama has been hawkish in Pakistan with the uptick in drone strikes. This does not reflect reality... When Iraq began to stabilize and the sunnis kicked al qaeda out of an bar they fled to Afgan/Pak border. That is why you are seeing the rise in violence and that is also why the drones have a more target rich environment.

[Dennis]

Please I have had Enough of this Democrap.....They want credit for anything good and anything Bad It's the Evil GW

I cannot count the # of Gaffs Obamma has Made and he is still the Intellectual and GW is Stupid. Please spare me
any more BS this whole Administration would be Laughable
except for it is at the expense of our Country what a shame

[Eric]

Now THAT is hubris.

[Steve]

AJ Rey:
Obama's opposition to the war and surge doesn't disqualify him from assessing the status of Iraq. It disqualifies him from taking credit for the success.

[bobby liguori]

Notice how they point the finger at Bush when there liberal socialist policies fail and blame him for there failures,but if something was successful even if they had nothing to do with it they take full credit...and the media says nothing...there disgraceful.

[arlene]

this administration...they're all crazy....they exist in some alternate universe...

[Simplemind]

It is unreal how this administration is unraveling more and more everyday.

Bush may have made his share of mistakes. There were times when Bush made me angry (increasing size of government, record highway bill with thousands of ear marks, bailouts, excessive spending).. But at least during the Bush Administration our household income increased every year.
We were able to have a taste of the good life and could live the American dream.

It wasn't until March and April of 2009 when our incomes were decreased. Never EVER in my life was I ever forced to take a pay cut. My wife got hit as well. Our household income went from nearly 6 figures down to about 55 grand a year. I guess it could be much worse my wife and I still have jobs.

Either way.. Biden and Obama ought to be ashamed of themselves. Quickly playing the blame game when things go wrong.. but quicking taking credit when things go right. Obama never accomplished anything while in office. The 9.6 unemployment rate claiming only 20,000 jobs were lost. When it was published that Verizon laid off 13,000, Walmart (Sams Club) laid off 11,200, UPS 1,800, Johnson and Johnson 8,000, Macy's 1,500.. Sony 1,500.. That's already 36,000 that I can immediately think of.. From the layoffs published in January I counted something like 360,000 jobs lost.. While the government figures show 20,000?

[Kliner]

Biden, as well as Obama, is a clown, without any honest and concious. They forgot that this is a success of American army and of Bush and his administration. we have the first almost democratic state in the Arab world.
shame on Obama and Biden, americans are not mobs.

Mick

[chris b]

Joe, I never had an original idea/thought, Biden, well what ever he is smoking, I want some. Life is good.

[peter james]

Joe Biden says that Iraq is one of Obama's 'great achievements'
GOD says that it is an atrocity and soon HE will use the Northen Armt to punish USA, UK and Israel

Read: The Northern Army And Its Allies Used To Punish The English Speaking World & Israel

[Dave]

Joe's been to Iraq 17 times - every time he goes, the people living in the embassy "brace for impact" literally - the rockets and mortars rain down immediately upon his arrival and stop as soon as he leaves - I can't believe the unmitigated gall of this guy!

[Chris]

Obama/Biden happens because of the failure of government run schools. Love your kids and country, remove your kids from the government school system.

[mo]

this administration must think people are stupid.I am so disappointed
with what has happened I thought change was coming to washington. it the same old thing . when do we the public really get spoken for on capital hill.can we start are own lobby?

[Richard]

All I can say to this is, that both biden&bo are two sick individuals.

[Tom Jefferson]

I understand Biden also gave the agministration credit for the USA defeating the Martians in Mars Attacks. Apparently it was Obama yodeling, not Slim Pickens.

[Patriotic Chicagolander]

And we all thought Franken was the comedian!

[Xdem]

Has Biden finally jumped the shark? I can't image the LA Times calling him on one of his many stupid remarks.

During the VP debate, live on TV with millions of viewers, he said that he and Obama had called for Nato to insert troops into Lebanon to prevent the return of Hezbollah after the French had kicked them out.

1. Western troops in a Muslin/Arab country, isn't that starting a third Islamic war?
2. He was Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee but seemed oblivious to European sentiment or the mass demonstrations in the streets of NATO countries against the existing wars.
3. Hasn't the US had to do most of the heavy lifting for NATO conflicts? Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan - Virtually all the air power and most of the troops came from US.
4. Obama was a schoolboy the last time France was involved in Lebanon.
5. Hezbolah has never been kicked out of Lebanon by anyone.
6. There is a sovereign government in Lebanon that has not invited foreign troops into their country since the US pulled out after the Marine Barracks bombing. After Nuremberg isn't invading a sovereign a war crime except for a few circumstances?

I was shocked by the statement and checked the reportage. NYT - no, LAT - no, CBS, NBC,ABC - no, WP - no, MSNBC - no, CNN - no, even Fox - no. The fact checkers delved into some trivial and arcane issues but not one of the major fact checking organizations touched this. Apparently no reporter asked Obama if he had done what Biden said.

[Mark]

Joe blow is at it again. Both him and Ba rock are fools trying to fool everyone foolish enough to fall for their foolishness.

Makes me want to puke.

[Chuck]

Now i think i am going to go into the restroom and lose my lunch.

[Colonel Flagg]

I see the pattern, if it is going well, the O'drama administration is taking credit, if it is not going so well, Bush's fault. Lame. Can't wait 'til 2012 for "the experiment" to be over. Hopefully by then China won't be claiming both Taiwan & The US as their own.

[Flurmf]

Asteroid misses Earth. Waters recede. Drought ends.... World thanks Obama. Telekinesis vindicated.

[Whitt]

Joe Biden, The Village Idiot. Enough said.

[Mary Jane]

Well, that pretty much say's it all, doesn't it!

[john galt]

Nice job Andrew Malcolm! A piece of real reporting and in of all places-The LA Times???

Maybe the mainstream media is realizing that their death spiral can be corrected by reporting with honesty and integrity rather than by partisanship propoganda.

I believe that Mr. Malcolm's parting shot was one of sarcasm.

[Kerplonk]

Obama admitted he was wrong about the troop surge in an interview during the 2008 campaign. I would gladly place a wager that despite the current successes the magority of people both in America and around the world believe we would have been better off staying out of Iraq in the first place. They might be better off but I can't really see how we are. That being said I don't really think any politician in America can claim credit for success in Iraq. Bush fucked up for 4 years before he finally did something that worked. Obama just kept the momentum going.

[Freddy]

Wow, after reading about 30 comments I find ONE with a positive tone. Actually it thanks Biden for his comic relief.

Let me tell you, as a guy who lived in Chicago for over 54 years, this administration is the pinnacle of fraud and incompetence. Obama, empty suit, always was - always will. Axelrod, Duncan, Emanuel, ALL CHICAGO TRASH.

God help us...

[norman dean]

biden is nothing more that the punch line to a joke. he is shameless, disingenuous, and has done absolutely nothing for the country. he is interested in his own self promotion and self interest and every time he opens his mouth his brain falls out.
i'm so ashamed he is our vice president.

[gillie]

Talk about gall (not Gault). Short memory - Bush was already bringing troops home before he left office. The credit should be given to him. Have to give kudos to Biden (and Lieberman) for actually visiting Iraq frequently, though. But, with that as a given, you'd think he'd know what he was talking about!

[BobNatlanta]

Biden should have his own late night talk show. These gags are way better than the amateurs on now.

[TIRV]

This administration is a running SICK-COM. Just sit back and laugh for the next 3 years and don't worry it will be cancelled in 2012

[More CommonSense]

Obama is smart enough to know its best compare oneself to the dumbest and lowest standards available. Compared to Biden, everyone is a foreign policy genius. Why else would one have picked the Biden???

[Keith]

See the windmill was actually Napoleon's idea...

[really?]

Don't forget bush created the surge before leaving office, which these guys opposed and said afganistan was where the war on terror needed to continue. At the time afganistan was virtually quiet. Then obama took office as the surge was working and afganistan became way more violent. Then obama took 4 months to send 10,000 less troops than what his appointed general begged for. I'm sure history will show that obama was the wisest military mind in this matter and either 4 months or 10,000 will become one of the most significant numbers in military history. These guys are beyond a bad joke. It was getting really old the day they started. The only thing they do well is sit around think of things to say they did well. They don't even have to think about blame any more because that comes naturally to them.

[mogar]

Politics is the art of being able to swallow your own vomit and smile all the while.

[JeffroeBodine]

Michael Savage didn't quite get it right--Illiberalism isn't a mental illness but it sure, apparently, leads to it. They "think outside the box." My parents used to tell me to quit acting stupid. With these people, I wish it was an act.

[Dan from Texas]

Excuse me?
Vice President Joe Biden is a good representation of an ass.
Yes, an Ass.
A loudly braying Jackass that only brays to hear himself bray.

How can anyone take him or his boss serious anymore?

[parkerjbp]

To Frank Burns. The last point is an ironic remark. He is saying that since the whole Iraq victory is now being claimed by Obama/Biden, then the 2008 election is what caused it and so they must be happy that those terrible people who were messing it up got kicked out. Even though the current administration has the exactly same policy that the previous one did.

[jim]

typical..they have acheived nothing so they have to claim responsibility for others success.

[Edward Collins]

Obama Admin. did ZERO to help. It's funny how they blame Bush when things go wrong and take all credite for things that the Bush Admin did goes right. If we do not stop Obama all our freedom will be gone forever. This situation can only hurt our freedom. We may have a civel War in America again to stop the injustic done by the Government. Just be ready because this time it will be worse then the first time. All Obama did was to hurt America. We will see the next election if there is one how much the American people believe Obama. People were stupid to vote for him the first time. If they do it again heaven forbid.

[Dklien]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!

[ShamrockJim]

Looks like the human gaff machine is at it again. Maybe Obama should give this guy one of his teleprompters. I know he's got a few to spare. Speaking as an Iraq vet let me explain to you that Obama DOES NOT deserve the credit for this and niether does Bush. Victory in Iraq belongs only to THE TROOPS. The men and women of the armed forces are the ones out there working hard to make this happen. I give respect to Bush for the troop surge. I was part of that surge and in that time frame we saw attacks on civilians and IED emplacements decline. We saw free elections, the execution of Sadam Hussien, and a free country begin to grow from the rubble of a dictatorship. I know because unlike so many arm chair generals and tv talking heads I WAS THERE. If Obama is going to claim credit for the victory he "was left with" then he also has to take the blame for the crappy economy he was blaming Bush for less than 2 minutes into the state of the union. GOD BLESS THE TROOP and keep a special painful place in Hell open for politicians.