Also See:
- Profile of Joseph Biden(U.S. Liberal Politics, Deborah White)
In October, 2006, Biden offered a fairly comprehensive position on terrorism, which he outlined in four steps:
- Create Homeland Security Trust Fund;
- Intercept Threats Abroad
- Restore Partnerships and Build Effective Alliances Instead of Alienating Them
- Advance Democracy, Bolster Failing States, Win the War of Ideas.
The first two steps in Biden's outline contain practical, concrete suggestions that include hiring more FBI and police agents, and funding ways to both prevent and respond to attacks on American soil. He approves of most of the technological solutions that are most favored in government today, such as radiological scanners (for use at ports and airports) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for the military, as well as funding to create a more robust intelligence and military community.
Biden's other suggestions fall into the diplomatic arena, and most are unarguable. They indicate an attitude that is both tough and diplomatic: Biden makes several mentions of the need to have sounder nuclear non-proliferation methods. Other proposals are far vaguer, such as the suggestion that the America's "voiced is heard, not silenced."
One of the areas where Biden is clearest and best, is in his recognition that there is no one thing called "terrorism" but rather many groups, requiring different kinds of responses:
The Administration continues to conflate under one label – “the war on terrorism” -- very disparate challenges from very different groups and countries and to use the same limited set of tools – military force and regime change – to fight them.
We must refocus America on the most lethal threat: the possibility radical fundamentalists will acquire weapons of mass destruction and develop strategies for success in Iraq and Afghanistan. That will give America more freedom, flexibility and credibility to engage other challenges, including outlaw states that flout the rules, violence in the Middle East, the struggle for the hearts and minds of tens of millions of Muslims, the emergence of China and India, and energy and environmental security.
Biden calls the Iraq war his number one reason for entering the presidential race, and says that the task of the next president must be to:
…immediately step in and act without hesitation to end our involvement in Iraq without destabilizing the Middle East and the rest of the world. Our safety is literally at stake, our soldiers lives are at stake, our energy supply from the region is now at risk and America's leadership among the world's nations is at stake."
In May, 2006, Biden and Council on Foreign Relations President Emeritus Leslie H. Gelb put forth the outline of a plan to conclude heavy American involvement in Iraq. The plan relies broadly on creating an Iraqi federation of three areas, Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish, joined by a central government. The plan recommends that about 20,000 American troops remain behind in Iraq to combat terrorists.
Biden's plan and statements make it clear that he believes that strife in Iraq is not caused primarily by terrorism, but by sectarian differences underwritten by conflicts over oil resources among the sects.
Also See:
- Biden's website asking for support for his Senate Resolution
- "Sense of Congress" Joint Resolution on Iraq(U.S. Gov Info, Robert Longley)
Biden is deeply critical of the current state of Homeland Security, according to his campaign website. The site offers that for $10 billion a year over the next five years, it would be possible to screen cargo coming into the United States, hire more FBI agents and local police, and create local counter-terrorism units in the states.
For Biden on Other Issues, See:
- Biden and U.S. Foreign Policy (U.S. Foreign Policy, Keith Porter)
- How Should We Interpret Biden's Comments on Obama? (Race Relations, Susan Pizarro-Eckert)
For more 2008 candidates' views, see: 2008 Candidates on Terrorism, Iraq and Homeland Security
