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Biden gave a sweeping survey of US policy toward Iraq, a responsibility handed to him by President Barack Obama at the annual issues conference of the Democratic caucus in the House of Representatives on Maryland's eastern shore.
The vice president said that months of anxiety and uncertainty in Iraq following inconclusive elections in March had shown that genuine politics had broken out in the country's fledgling public life.
"I'm hopeful Iraqis' vast natural wealth can and will fully finance its security and its investment with ease," Biden said, looking ahead to Iraq's efforts to sustain its new political system.
"When civilian institutions no longer require our... support -- which has not yet occurred... there's at least an even chance -- Iraq will be, God willing... in very good shape."
But the vice president, who voted to authorize Bush to use force in Iraq after a 2002 Senate debate, also said the long years of bloodshed and pain in Iraq may have been too costly and perhaps should never have happened.
"Is this worth 4,439 fallen angels? Is this worth 32,000 wounded, 16,000 needing care the rest of their lives as long as they live, life expectancies over 30 years?" Biden asked.
"Only history will answer that. But I tell you what -- if we could go back and do it all over again maybe we wouldn't do it.
"I wouldn't do it, anyway, the way we did it, starting with Bush."
Biden said, however, that he and Obama would make good on their campaign pledge to get American troops out of Iraq.
US forces ended combat missions in the country last August, but some 50,000 American soldiers still remain, all of which are due to be withdrawn by the end of this year.
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The vice president said that months of anxiety and uncertainty in Iraq following inconclusive elections in March had shown that genuine politics had broken out in the country's fledgling public life.
"I'm hopeful Iraqis' vast natural wealth can and will fully finance its security and its investment with ease," Biden said, looking ahead to Iraq's efforts to sustain its new political system.
"When civilian institutions no longer require our... support -- which has not yet occurred... there's at least an even chance -- Iraq will be, God willing... in very good shape."
But the vice president, who voted to authorize Bush to use force in Iraq after a 2002 Senate debate, also said the long years of bloodshed and pain in Iraq may have been too costly and perhaps should never have happened.
"Is this worth 4,439 fallen angels? Is this worth 32,000 wounded, 16,000 needing care the rest of their lives as long as they live, life expectancies over 30 years?" Biden asked.
"Only history will answer that. But I tell you what -- if we could go back and do it all over again maybe we wouldn't do it.
"I wouldn't do it, anyway, the way we did it, starting with Bush."
Biden said, however, that he and Obama would make good on their campaign pledge to get American troops out of Iraq.
US forces ended combat missions in the country last August, but some 50,000 American soldiers still remain, all of which are due to be withdrawn by the end of this year.
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