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Biden escalates his attacks on Trump over Iran, saying the president has made the U.S. less safe Biden, facing scrutiny of his foreign policy record, sharpens criticism of Trump’s ‘incompetence’ on Iran
(about 5 hours later)
NEW YORK — Joe Biden on Tuesday significantly escalated his criticism of President Trump's decision to authorize the killing of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani, saying that his words and actions are exacerbating tensions in the Middle East. NEW YORK — Joe Biden stood before a row of American flags on Tuesday and did something that hasn't always been his first instinct: He warned against American military engagement.
“Make no mistake,” Biden said in a 20-minute speech. “This outcome of strategic setbacks, heightened threats, chants of ‘Death to America’ once more echoing across the Middle East, Iran and its allies vowing revenge — this was avoidable.” Biden, blasting President Trump as "dangerously incompetent" for his handling of the crisis with Iran, said Trump's "impulsive decision" to order the killing of a top military official from that country put the United States at risk of greater international conflict.
Calling Trump “dangerously incompetent,” he said that “his constant mistakes and poor decision-making have left the United States with a severely limited slate of options left to take. And most of those options are bad.” “A president who says he wants to end endless war in the Middle East is bringing us dangerously close to starting a new one,” said the former vice president, who is among the top contenders battling for the Democratic presidential nomination. He added, “This outcome of strategic setbacks, heightened threats, chants of ‘Death to America’ once more echoing across the Middle East, Iran and its allies vowing revenge — this was avoidable.”
The former vice president also called on Trump to explain his decision to the American public, saying, “If there was an imminent threat that required this extraordinary action, we’re owed an explanation and the facts to back it up.” Live updates: More than 12 Iranian missiles launched at two U.S. bases in Iraq, Pentagon confirms
Biden said the seeds of the problems were rooted in Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal, which was crafted under the Obama administration and provided sanctions relief in return for Iran curbing its nuclear ambitions. Biden's comments were striking for someone who has spent much of his political career with a reputation as a foreign policy expert who has often embraced American use of power in the world. As a senator, he voted in 2002 to authorize the use of force in Iraq — a vote that has become a point of contention in the Democratic race as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) presents himself as the true antiwar candidate in tune with rising public skepticism of drawn-out military intervention.
“A president who says he wants to end endless war in the Middle East is bringing us dangerously close to starting a new one,” Biden said. “An administration that claims its actions have made Americans safer in the same breath urges them to leave Iraq because of increased danger.” Sanders has been among the most aggressive critics of Trump's Iran strike, declaring the killing an "assassination" and referring to it as "a dangerous escalation that brings us closer to another disastrous war in the Middle East." He has also seized on the moment to step up his criticism of Biden's Iraq vote, needling him Monday night on CNN for his role in the "most dangerous foreign policy blunder in the modern history of this country."
Biden said that he was deeply familiar with Soleimani but suggested that authorizing his killing was not the correct course of action. Biden's toughened rhetoric on Trump and Iran on Tuesday seemed designed to present Biden with a more nuanced position — more sharply critical of Trump's decision than his previous comments but not as black-and-white as Sanders's stance.
“I have no illusions about Iran — I never have. The regime has long sponsored terrorism and threatened our interests,” he said. “They’ve ruthlessly killed hundreds of protesters, and they should be held accountable for their actions. But there is a smart way to counter Iran — and a self-defeating way.” Biden stopped short of saying that the killing of Iran's Qasem Soleimani was the wrong decision, saying that he was deeply skeptical but holding out the possibility that he would agree with Trump's call if given more information. Instead, the former vice president called on Trump to explain his decision to the American public, saying, "If there was an imminent threat that required this extraordinary action, we're owed an explanation and the facts to back it up."
As he campaigns for president, Joe Biden tells a moving but false war story Biden referred to this as “possibly the most dangerous time in recent American history” and accused Trump of creating the conditions.
“Trump’s approach, in my view, is demonstrably the latter,” he added. “Trump’s impulsive decision may well do more to strengthen Iran’s position in the region than any of Soleimani’s plots would have ever accomplished,” he said.
In the midst of a speech meant to remind voters of his significant foreign policy experience, Biden stumbled in referring to a vote by the “Iran parliament” to reject U.S. troops, when he meant to reference the parliament in neighboring Iraq. Biden’s remarks Tuesday offered some contrasts in what has emerged as a burgeoning foreign policy debate between him and Sanders.
Biden said the current turmoil was triggered by Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal, which was crafted under the Obama administration and provided sanctions relief in return for Iran curbing its nuclear ambitions. Sanders has said the turmoil is rooted much earlier — in the U.S. decision to invade Iraq.
Sanders on Friday introduced legislation that would block funding for any military actions against Iran without congressional authorization. A Biden aide would not say whether Biden supported that measure but noted that he did back a war-powers resolution sponsored by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). That legislation would mandate military hostilities to cease within 30 days if no congressional action is taken.
Foreign policy observers said that Sanders and Biden are still promoting distinctly different worldviews — but that, in the heat of the primary, Biden appeared to be trying to showcase his ability to appeal to those wary of U.S. involvement abroad.
While some see him as a hawk, Biden has also held dovish positions in the past, opposing the Persian Gulf War under President George H.W. Bush and counseling his boss, President Barack Obama, against a surge of troops in Afghanistan.
“Biden is a believer in American leadership and engagement, no question. He comes from that school,” said Aaron David Miller, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and a former State Department Middle East analyst. “But these remarks also suggest he’s trying to appeal to the noninterventionists in the party, too, by suggesting we need to be smarter and more disciplined in how and when America engages.”
“It’s finding a balance,” Miller added. “It’s the Goldilocks approach. It’s not too hot, not too cold.”
Michael O’Hanlon, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, said Sanders remains to the left of Biden when it comes to the broader debate about the United States’ role in the world.
“I don’t really sense Biden is moving toward Sanders — he sees an opportunity to hit hard against Trump,” O’Hanlon said. “I still think Sanders leans more toward pacifism, Biden more toward engagement.”
Biden delivered his remarks in a banquet hall on a pier in Chelsea, standing in front of a large blue curtain and four American flags, an attempt to re-create the tapestry of a presidential speech in front of dozens of journalists and a handful of advisers.Biden delivered his remarks in a banquet hall on a pier in Chelsea, standing in front of a large blue curtain and four American flags, an attempt to re-create the tapestry of a presidential speech in front of dozens of journalists and a handful of advisers.
He spoke in between fundraisers in New York, where he also talked extensively about the situation in Iran. He spoke after a morning fundraiser in New York in which he also talked extensively about the situation in Iran.
“He has to understand that he cannot take this nation to war with Iran without the informed consent of the American people,” Biden said during a morning fundraiser held on the 37th floor of a Manhattan office that houses the Skadden law firm. Trump “has to understand that he cannot take this nation to war with Iran without the informed consent of the American people,” Biden said during a morning fundraiser on the 37th floor of a Manhattan office building that houses the Skadden law firm.
He said he arrived late because he was on a phone call with his national security team.He said he arrived late because he was on a phone call with his national security team.
“The idea that he can take us into a conflict potentially with a country of 80 million people in the Middle East, without the consent of American people — and doing it by tweet — is just preposterous,” he added.“The idea that he can take us into a conflict potentially with a country of 80 million people in the Middle East, without the consent of American people — and doing it by tweet — is just preposterous,” he added.
In his speech, Biden also accused Trump of getting closer to an overreach of presidential power.In his speech, Biden also accused Trump of getting closer to an overreach of presidential power.
“The American people do not want, and our Constitution will not abide, a president who rules by fiat and demands obedience,” Biden said.“The American people do not want, and our Constitution will not abide, a president who rules by fiat and demands obedience,” Biden said.
“We need to restore the balance of powers between the branches of government,” he added. “We need checks and balances that actually serve to check and balance the worst instincts of our leaders, in either of the branches. We need to use our system to bring us together as a nation, not abuse it to rip us apart.” “We need to restore the balance of powers between the branches of government,” he added.
Biden has in the past, however, been supportive of limited military action that did not require congressional approval. He sponsored legislation in 1995 that would authorize the president to use force in the absence of congressional approval to “forestall an imminent act of international terrorism directed at US citizens or nationals or to retaliate against the perpetrators of such an act.” Biden has in the past been supportive of limited military action that did not require congressional approval. He sponsored legislation in 1995 that would authorize the president to use force in the absence of congressional approval to “forestall an imminent act of international terrorism directed at US citizens or nationals or to retaliate against the perpetrators of such an act.”
His presidential campaign website in 2008 said, specifically about Iran, that the Founding Fathers were clear that a president needs congressional approval “to initiate war, except to repel an imminent attack on the United States or its citizens.”His presidential campaign website in 2008 said, specifically about Iran, that the Founding Fathers were clear that a president needs congressional approval “to initiate war, except to repel an imminent attack on the United States or its citizens.”
It also noted: “If the President takes us to war with Iran without Congressional approval, I will call for his impeachment. I do not say this lightly or to be provocative. I am dead serious.”It also noted: “If the President takes us to war with Iran without Congressional approval, I will call for his impeachment. I do not say this lightly or to be provocative. I am dead serious.”