 | Joe Biden Democratic Candidate
Delaware | Vision for World - "There’s a short list of the forces shaping the 21st Century. No one country can control these forces, but more than any other country, we have an ability to affect them – if we use the totality of our strength. That means maintaining the finest fighting force in the world – not pushing it to the breaking point… rebuilding our alliances, partnerships and international institutions – not disparaging them… strengthening our diplomacy -- not disdaining it… and using our economic might, not putting it in jeopardy." National Security Speech: September 24, 2008
- "Clarity. Prevention, not preemption. An absolute repudiation of this president’s doctrine which has only three legs on the stool. One, push the mute button, don’t talk to anybody. Two, preemption. And three, regime change…I would reject all three. We need a doctrine of prevention. The role of a great power is to prevent the crises." NPR Debate: December 4, 2007
- "And we don’t have to imagine any of the crises. We know what’s going to happen on day one when you’re president. You have Pakistan, Russia, China, the subcontinent of India. You have Afghanistan. You have Darfur. And it requires engagement, engagement and prevention. That does not rule out the use of force. It incorporates the notion of prevention. Prevention." NPR Debate: December 4, 2007
- "Barack Obama offered a clear plan. Shift responsibility to Iraqis over the next 16 months. Draw down our combat troops. Ironically the same plan that (Nouri al-) Maliki, the prime minister of Iraq and George Bush are now negotiating. The only odd man out here, only one left out is John McCain, number one. Number two, with regard to Barack Obama not quote funding the troops, John McCain voted the exact same way. John McCain voted against funding the troops because of an amendment he voted against had a timeline in it to draw down American troops." Vice presidential debate quotes from Biden, Palin, Thursday, October 2 | 9:20 p.m., By The Associated Press
- "#1, Barack Obama did not say sit down with Ahmadinejad. #2 five secretaries of state did say we should talk with and sit down. Now, John and Gov. Palin now say we have to bring our friends and allies along. Our friends and allies have been saying, "Sit down. Talk. Talk. Talk." Our friends and allies have been saying that, 5 secretaries of state, 3 of them Republicans. And John McCain has said he would go along with an agreement, but he wouldn't sit down. Now, how do you do that when you don't have your administration sit down and talk with the adversary?" Source: 2008 Vice Presidential debate against Gov. Sarah Palin Oct 2, 2008
- "Clarity. Prevention, not preemption. An absolute repudiation of this president's doctrine, which has only three legs in the stool: 1) don't talk to anybody; 2) preemption; & 3) regime change. I would reject all three. We need a doctrine of prevention. The role of a great power is to prevent crises. And we don't have to imagine any of the crises. You have Pakistan, Russia, China, Darfur." Source: 2007 Des Moines Register Democratic debate Dec 13, 2007
Global Development & Health - "We need to make global development and diplomacy a priority in our international lives because when your grandchildren are writing their senior thesis at some great university about what the greatest threats to humanity in this nation were at the turn of the 21st century, none of them that they will list lend themselves to a military solution. Not a single solitary one lends themselves [sic] to a purely military solution…Military power is necessary, but it is not sufficient. It is not sufficient to ensure our security." Remarks at Annual Conference of Center for US Global Engagement: July 15
- "In 2003, we launched the largest public health program the world had ever seen and it had a dramatic impact, saving millions of lives… We’ve made tremendous strides, but our work is not nearly finished. Two million people died last year of HIV/AIDS. Over two and a half million people died of malaria and TB. That’s over 10,000 people killed per day – per day – because of these diseases. These are mothers and fathers and sisters and brothers – whole families have been devastated, whole communities have been affected. It is our moral obligation to lead this global fight against these diseases. This legislation is a product of bipartisan and bicameral compromise and shared commitment to saving lives worldwide. We are proud to send this bill to the President’s desk." Applauds House Passage of Global HIV/AIDS Bill: June 24, 2008
- "In the longer term, we need a new ‘green revolution.’ We must renew our investment in agriculture research and development, and increase support for rural infrastructure and institutions – from agriculture extension services and seed banks to irrigation and roads. Developed countries must work to eliminate barriers facing poor countries that have drastically reduced their food production and agricultural capacity… The world must come together to boldly and decisively address the global food crisis." Statement on Global Food Crisis: June 2, 2008
Selected Countries - "When Congress reconvenes, I intend to work with the Administration to seek Congressional approval for $1 billion in emergency assistance for Georgia, with a substantial down payment on that aid to be included in the Congress' next supplemental spending bill. This money will help the people of Georgia recover from the damage that has been inflicted on their economy and send a clear message that the United States will not abandon this young democracy. I hope this $1 billion commitment will be matched by others in the international community." Statement Upon Return from Georgia: August 18, 2008
- "We're hearing reports that the death toll in Burma may reach over 100,000 – making it one of the most fatal disasters in modern history… The United States and the international community have a moral obligation to step up and offer immediate humanitarian assistance to the region." Statement on Kerry Resolution on Humanitarian Aid for Burma: May 8, 2008
- "It is time for a new approach. We should triple non-security aid, to $1.5 billion annually, for at least a decade, without conditions. That sounds like a lot, but it is what we spend in Iraq every week. Instead of funding military hardware, it would build schools, clinics and roads. I would provide an additional $1 billion in nonmilitary assistance - a democracy dividend - in the first year after democratic rule is restored. Nothing is more important than helping Pakistan's democratic leaders demonstrate that they can do better than the generals and the fundamentalists in delivering real change for the country." Baltimore Sun op-ed: November 12, 2007
- "Here are the four elements that I believe should be a new Pakistan policy. First, we should triple non-security aid to 1.5 billion dollars annually, at least for a decade. This aid would be unconditional. It’s our pledge to the Pakistani people. Instead of funding military hardware, we build schools, clinic, roads, provide health care and actually help…underpin the vast moderate majority in that country to establish the democratic instructions and the frameworks to maintaining those institutions. Second, condition security on performance, we should base our security aid on clear results. We are now spending over a billion dollars annually and it’s not clear we are getting our money’s worth. I would spend more if we got results but a whole lot less if we don’t..." Address to the Center for U.S. Global Engagement in New Hampshire: November 8, 2007
- "Because of our efforts, millions of Afghan children are in school today. We’ve built roads and clinics. We’ve got American troops in Provincial Reconstruction Teams showing that the US military can be a wonderful friend as well as a fearsome enemy." Speech at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee: April 8, 2007
- "He's not been a maverick on the (Iraq) war,” Biden said. “He's not been a maverick on virtually anything that genuinely affects the things that people really talk about around their kitchen table." Fri, 03 Oct 2008 Columbus Dispatch
- "the President has no authority to unilaterally attack Iran, and if he does, as Foreign Relations Committee chairman, I will move to impeach’ the President." Tue, 09 Sep 2008 The Public Record
- "With all due respect, I didn't hear a plan. Barack Obama offered a clear plan. Shift responsibility to Iraqis over the next 16 months. Draw down our combat troops. We'll end this war. For John McCain, there's no end in sight." Source: 2008 Vice Presidential debate against Sen. Joe Biden Oct 2, 2008
- "I don't have the stomach for genocide when it comes to Darfur. We can now impose a no-fly zone. It's within our capacity. We can lead NATO if we're willing to take a hard stand." Source: 2008 Vice Presidential debate against Sen. Joe Biden Oct 2, 2008
Counter-Terrorism/Detention - "Waterboarding is by any standard, torture. I called on my colleagues today to support legislation I introduced this summer banning waterboarding and other forms of torture. When we use torture or other cruel and inhumane treatment of detainees, we diminish our ability to argue that the same techniques should not be used against our own troops. We need to send a clear message that torture, inhumane, and degrading treatment of detainees is unacceptable and is not permitted by U.S. law. Period. We cannot have a United States Attorney General who will equivocate and dissemble on this matter. Too much is at stake." Statement on Mukasey Nomination, 10/30/07
- "After September 11, the President, for all intent and purpose, abandoned our historical opposition to torture. The sophistry engaged in by the Justice Department allowed his Administration to establish two new pillars of a policy regarding torture. The first narrowed the definition of torture to conduct that causes 'serious physical injury, such as organ failure, impairment of bodily function, or even death.' It created a wide class of permissible mistreatment that 'though [it] might constitute cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment...failed to rise to the level of torture.' The second exempted the President, as Commander-in-Chief, from these laws and allowed him to use torture, even though illegal, if he deems it necessary. " Speech at Drake University School of Law, 4/3/07
- "Its time for us to stop this [torture] behavior and comply with our international treaty obligations. I call upon the President today to comply with our domestic law and our international treaty obligations. Mr. President, the American people and the world have had enough of the equivocations and loop holes on this subject. It is time for you to state clearly that we will abide by our international obligations and our policy will reflect our national values." Speech at Drake University School of Law, 4/3/07
International Security and Non-Proliferation - "So how do we counter proliferation to rogue states? The apparently successful recent agreement with Libya is a product of international isolation, sanctions and hard-headed diplomacy. Libya will let us see everything and cart it away. This shows that negotiations and agreements are indeed possible with countries of concern, even ones with mercurial leaders who have supported terrorism. Iran recently signed the Additional Protocol letting the IAEA conduct more inspections, which is a vital step. But the IAEA and the developed countries must be firm with Iran on the terms of its suspension of all uranium enrichment and reprocessing activities. And the United States must work with them, rather than picking fights with the IAEA or our allies. We must also address the long-term concern that the nonproliferation regime currently permits countries to manufacture fissile material in their supposedly peaceful nuclear power programs. " Speech, "Avoiding Nuclear Anarchy," published 1/28/04
International Institutions/UN Reform - "The Convention [on the Law of the Sea] is long and complex, but for the United States, I believe the choice is relatively simple. "Do we join a treaty that establishes a framework to advance the rule of law on the oceans, that is clearly in our military, economic, and environmental interests, and that has broad acceptance among the major maritime powers? Or do we remain on the outside, to the detriment of our national interests? I strongly believe that we should become a party to the Convention, and that any risks it poses are far outweighed by the benefits. " Opening statement at the Senate Foreign Relations Business Meeting to Consider the Convention on the Law of the Sea October 31, 2007
- "As we face war and conflicts worldwide, natural disasters, infectious diseases and chronic poverty, the United Nations' mission is more important now than ever. By harnessing the resources and collective expertise of its 191 member states, the United Nations can address global challenges in ways that no single nation can on its own."
"Through UNAIDS, the United Nations coordinates a comprehensive global response to the fight against HIV/AIDS. Through the UN women's fund, UNIFEM, the UN supports women's empowerment, gender equality and bringing an end to violence against women everywhere. And the UN's refugee arm, UNHCR, provided food, shelter and other vital services to 32 million refugees in the last year alone. The list goes on and on."
"Among its many contributions to global security, UN Peacekeeping missions in countries such as Sudan, Haiti, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Kosovo advance our national interests while sharing the human, political and financial costs with other nations. The United States needs to commit to paying our peacekeeping arrears to the United Nations." Press Release on United Nations Day, 10/24/07
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