Biden talks about success withdrawing troops

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Vice President Joe Biden came to Indianapolis Monday to talk about the success of combat troops in Iraq, and the continuing challenges in Afghanistan. He addressed the national convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars that’s underway downtown.

Mainly he wanted to assure veterans that they will get the support they need despite the economy.

Biden received a warm, if measured welcome, from the VFW crowd.

He took the opportunity to take credit on behalf of the Obama Administration for the conclusion of combat operations in Iraq prior to the President's goal of August 31st.

"More than 140-thousand troops were in Iraq on Inauguration day," he said. "By the end of August, 50,000 will remain."

Just prior to the Vice President's speech, the convention got a report by satellite from General David Patreus in Afghanistan. Combat there is far from over.

"Indeed, the tough fighting and elevated levels of violence will likely continue for some time," said Patreus, "as our troopers and their Afghan partners clear more insurgent strongholds."

Then Biden offered his analysis. "Don't buy into: we have failed in Afghanistan," he said. "We now are only beginning with the right general and the right number of forces to seek our objective.

More than anything Biden wanted veterans to know they are not forgotten.

"Whether or not we keep the promise to our veterans will say more about who we are as a nation than anything else we will do."

It was a speech without political overtones and the only high ranking Democrat in sight was Congressman André Carson. Even so, some people in the audience believe that the Vice President had political motivation for some of today's remarks.

"They said what I thought I wanted to hear," said VFW member Rusty Meek. "That was it. It's an election year. Everybody wants a veteran."

But John Biedrzycki counted that by saying, "The current administration has been very positive and supportive of our veterans."