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Vice-president nominee Biden sharpens attack on McCain

By Sheldon Alberts / Canwest News Service

DENVER - Senator Joe Biden, the Democratic vice-presidential nominee, on Wednesday night led a sustained Democratic attack on Republican John McCain, questioning his political judgment on the war in Iraq and the value of his experience as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War.

"These times require more than a good soldier - they require a wise leader," Biden, 65, said in a keynote speech to the Democratic National Convention.

"Should we trust John McCain's judgment when he says there can be no timelines to draw down our troops from Iraq - that we must stay indefinitely?"

Biden's convention debut as Barack Obama's running mate capped a day devoted to boosting confidence in their presidential candidate's national security credentials - a traditional weak spot for Democratic candidates.

Biden, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, contrasted Obama's long-held opposition to the Iraq war to McCain's support for the invasion and rejection of a timetable for troop withdrawal.

"Now, after six long years, the Bush administration and the Iraqi government are on the verge of setting a date to bring our troops home," Biden said, citing the recent U.S.-Iraqi agreement that would see American troops leave the country by 2011.

"John McCain was wrong. Barack Obama was right."

A CNN/Opinion Research poll released Wednesday highlighted the challenge Obama faces trumping McCain on national security. The survey found 52 per cent of voters believed McCain would have the best judgment in an international crisis, compared to 43 per cent for Obama.

The Democratic convention's evening program featured a parade of images and individuals meant to underscore Democratic strength, including Obama's great uncle, Charlie Payne, a Second World War veteran who helped liberate Jews from the concentration camp in Buchenwald, Germany.

The speakers included Iraq war veteran Patrick Murphy, now a Pennsylvania congressman, and Biden's son, Beau, who is set to be deployed to Iraq in October with the Delaware National Guard.

Biden accused McCain of "being complicit in a catastrophic foreign policy" that - because of the Iraq war - has diverted U.S. military resources from Afghanistan and allowed the resurgence of the Taliban.

Obama has said he would urge NATO allies like Canada to send more troops to Afghanistan only after the U.S. deploys two additional army brigades to the country.

"Canadian forces have done a remarkable job there. They have been in the thick of the fight, and they have suffered," said Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed, who has travelled to Afghanistan with Obama.

Asked how Obama would convince Canada's government to send more troops, Reed said the Democratic candidate would bring "clarity" to U.S. policy by stressing to allies that America considers Afghanistan the key battlefield in the war on terror.

"That level of communication hasn't been forthcoming from President Bush and the administration. They have been preoccupied with Iraq," Reed said. Obama has "the ability to reach out not just to government leaders but to the people of our allies," he said.

One of the toughest attacks on McCain came from Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, who drew attention to the Republican nominee's age.

McCain, who will turn 72 on Friday, would be the oldest president to take office if he wins in November.

"So remember, when we choose a commander-in-chief this November, we are electing judgment and character, not years in the Senate or years on this earth," Kerry said.

Kerry, who briefly considered asking McCain to be his running mate, said the Republican had embraced the politics of GOP "fear merchants" who question the patriotism of anyone who takes a different approach on national security.

"How pathetic to suggest that those who question a failed policy doubt America itself," Kerry said, citing McCain's recent claim Obama opposed the Iraq war to advance his presidential ambitions.

"How desperate to tell the son of a single mother who chose community service over money and privilege that he doesn't put America first."

In a bid to counter the Democratic message, Republicans produced a new TV ad challenging Obama's judgment on foreign policy and security matters.

The ad claimed Obama did not believe that Iran was a serious threat to national security, recalling the Illinois senator once described the Islamic nation "tiny" while explaining why he would meet with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

"Iran. Radical Islamic government. Known sponsors of terrorism. Developing nuclear capabilities to 'generate power' but threatening to eliminate Israel," says the ad.

"Obama says Iran is a 'tiny' country, 'doesn't pose a serious threat.' Terrorism, destroying Israel - those aren't 'serious threats.' Obama - dangerously unprepared to be president."

Obama's campaign said the Republican ad badly distorted the Democratic candidate's statement, which was made in May. He had been talking about the need for "strong countries and strong presidents" to talk to their enemies, citing how Republican president Ronald Reagan's engagement with the Soviet Union helped end the Cold War.

"I mean think about it. Iran, Cuba, Venezuela - these countries are tiny compared to the Soviet Union," he said at the time.