Biden questions fitness of Iraqi security force (rummy 95k - Biden 0)

[Nambe]

WASHINGTON (CNN)

The top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee challenged the Bush administration Sunday over its assertions about the size and capability of the Iraqi security forces.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Friday that 95,000 trained Iraqi forces were taking part in security operations -- less than half the number the administration had been publicizing.

"In fact, to the best of my knowledge -- in my trips there recently, my staff trips there just a couple weeks ago, talking with General Petraeus -- not one single, solitary Iraqi policeman has completed the 24- week training course on the ground," Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware said on CBS's "Face the Nation." ..

Biden, a frequent critic of the Bush administration, said officials "continue to mislead the American people about the state of affairs. And it's incredibly, incredibly, incredibly dangerous."

Ride Don’t Drive * * It’s Global Cool

[Cocoa]

1. Vietnam-style misinformation

how long have they been promising these Iraqi security forces? Since early last summer at least, lots of rosy forecasts, lots of big numbers from Wolfowitz and Rummy.

[Bush was AWOL]

2. Hopefully Biden replaces Rummy in January

[KoKo]

4. Good God...I hope not! (n/t)

[Bush was AWOL]

6. I like Biden

I take it you don't. What's the matter, is he too hawkish for you?

[Voltaire99]

7. Biden's another Empire man

We hardly need such an imperial asshole in the party, let alone as SecDef.

[krkaufman]

3. The NYTimes should be spearheading the effort...

... against all this misinformation, since they were duped into facilitating the start of the war. I was just thinking earlier today that their "mea kinda culpa" from a number of weeks back falls far short of making up for their complicity.

[number6]

5. Rumfool speaks ....

:(