[Marxism] Biden: Impeachment if Bush bombs Iran

[Greg McDonald]

Biden: Impeachment if Bush bombs Iran
By Adam Leech
aleech at seacoastonline.com
November 29, 2007 5:03 PM

PORTSMOUTH — Presidential hopeful Delaware Sen. Joe Biden stated  
unequivocally that he will move to impeach President Bush if he bombs  
Iran without first gaining congressional approval.

Biden spoke in front of a crowd of approximately 100 at a candidate  
forum held Thursday at Seacoast Media Group. The forum focused on the  
Iraq war and foreign policy. When an audience member expressed fear  
of a war with Iran, Biden said he does not typically engage in  
threats, but had no qualms about issuing a direct warning to the Oval  
Office.

"The president has no authority to unilaterally attack Iran, and if  
he does, as Foreign Relations Committee chairman, I will move to  
impeach," said Biden, whose words were followed by a raucous applause  
from the local audience.

Biden said he is in the process of meeting with constitutional law  
experts to prepare a legal memorandum saying as much and intends to  
send it to the president.

When local resident Joel Carp asked Biden why not impeach now, given  
what has already been done, Biden said it was a valid point, but  
might not be constitutionally valid and potentially  
counterproductive. A case for impeachment must have clear evidence,  
Biden said, and blame should be directed at the right parties.

"If you're going to impeach George Bush, you better impeach (Vice  
President Dick) Cheney first," said Biden, again drawing applause.

Biden said the best deterrent to prevent pre-emptive military action  
in Iran is to make it clear, even if it is at the end of his final  
term, action will be taken against Bush to ensure "his legacy will be  
marred for all time."

Biden took shots at the Bush administration's idea to centralize  
government in Baghdad and called his decentralized plan the only way  
to political settlement. The recent decline in violence in Iraq,  
which some have credited to the surge, is the result of the military  
doing its job.

President Bush, he said, has not done his job in using the relative  
peace to find a political compromise as he promised.

"There's no evidence it has happened and no evidence it will happen,"  
he said.

Throughout the forum, Biden stressed the need to improve foreign  
relations throughout the world and pointed to his 29-year resumé as  
proof that he can make that happen.

Biden joked about his low poll numbers, how the national media does  
not cover him and the lack of funds compared to the coffers of fellow  
hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

"This is why I'm in New Hampshire and Iowa," he said. "It's the last  
level playing field."

Biden went to the next appearance knowing he had at least one more  
vote. As the forum was coming to and end, Byrl Short stood up and  
announced his support.

"I came here an undecided voter," he said. "And you are the man."

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