Here’s the entire exchange from the ABC debate where Biden says Obama isn’t ready to be President:
STEPHANOPOULOS: Senator Biden, it seems like your colleagues here don’t want to reach the judgment that you’ve made. Why isn’t Senator Obama ready?
BIDEN: Look, I think he’s a wonderful guy, to start off, number one. It was about Pakistan we were talking about. The fact of the matter is, Pakistan is the most dangerous, potentially the most dangerous country in the world. A significant minority of jihadists with nuclear weapons. We have — and I disagree with all three of my friends — we have a Pakistan — we have no Pakistan policy; we have a Musharraf policy. That’s a bad policy. The policy should be based upon a long-term relationship with Pakistan and stability.
We should be encouraging free elections. There is an overwhelming majority of moderates in that country. They should have their day. Otherwise, they’re going to go underground.
STEPHANOPOULOS: But Senator Biden, you did go beyond talking about Pakistan. You were asked: Is he ready? You said, “I think he can be ready, but right now I don’t believe he is. The presidency is not something that lends itself to on-the-job training.”
BIDEN: I think I stand by the statement.
And here’s some of that foreign policy judgment on display. . .
BIDEN: Look, the fundamental disagreement I have with my colleagues up here is that they seem to cling to the fundamental strategic mistake that everyone on both sides plays to, and that is that there is any possibility in the lifetime of anyone here of having the Iraqis get together, have a unity government in Baghdad that pulls the country together.
That will not happen, George. It will not happen in the lifetime of anyone here.
Secondly, the point is that you have to separate the parties to give them breathing room. You have to get them out of each other’s face, just like we did in the Balkans, the same exact thing.
Third piece I’d make to you is that there’s much more at stake here. This war must end, but there’s much more at stake as to how it ends.
BIDEN: If it ends with this country splintering, we will have, for a generation, our grandchildren, engaged in a regional war that will be consequential far beyond — far beyond Iraq.
America’s security interests are at stake. You will see Turkey move in and take on the Kurds. You will see the Iranians move in and pick sides among the Shias. You will see Saudi Arabia and Syria continue to fund the most radical extreme elements of the jihadis.
So, how’s that working for you, Joe?