Some Of His Best Friends Are Hebes

It seems Joe Biden takes issue with the story we cited yesterday from Israeli Army Radio accusing him of telling Israeli officials "behind closed doors" that they would have to "come to terms" with a nuclear Iran because the U.S. was not going to do a damn thing to prevent that nightmare scenario if he had anything to say about it:

Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden is denying a report that he secretly told Israeli officials they would have to accept the idea that Iran will acquire nuclear weapons....

Biden spokesman David Wade declared in comments reported by ABC News: “This is a lie peddled by partisan opponents of Senators Obama and Biden, and we will not tolerate anyone questioning Senator Biden’s thirty-five-year record of standing up for the security of Israel.

“Joe Biden’s first trip as a Senator was to Israel, he has worked with every Israeli leader from Golda Meir to Prime Minister Olmert, and he takes a back seat to no one when it comes to protecting the relationship between Israel and the U.S.

"Senator Biden has consistently stated – publicly and privately — that a nuclear Iran would pose a grave threat to Israel and the United States and that we must prevent a nuclear Iran.”

Alright, Senator.  Though the original story sounds just like something you'd blurt out "publicly or privately," and is your party's explicit and avowed public stance, let's do something really silly and take your denial at face value.  What, then, do you, as the less qualified of the two individuals seeking to be a heartbeat away from the Big Chair, propose that we do to stop the mullahs from going nuclear?  What is your threshold for failure of our years-long efforts at a "diplomatic solution"?  What would convince you of the need to take military action to "disarm" Iran?  Would you support Israel if they decide they can't wait any longer to eliminate this mortal threat between now and the end of the year, particularly if you and your "young ward" win in November?

But then how valuable is the national security judgment of a man who really doesn't know the difference between a brigade and a battalion?  Or the claims to integrity of a running mate who keeps making freudian slips about the order of the ticket on which he is situated?

At least he's observing the campaign's "no Palin-bashing" PR meme.  But how long can Slow Joe's Niagra Falls-ian verbal incontinence be held back?

Just ask those Israeli officials he told we were going to as much as abandon to their enemies.  Bet they can tell a tale or two.