U.S. Vice President Biden visits Baghdad

[cal04]

Source: Reuters

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, on a previously unannounced visit to Baghdad on Thursday to meet Iraqi leaders, U.S. military commanders and troops, said he was optimistic about Iraq's future but much work remained.

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N02524456.htm

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White House: VP Biden has traveled to Iraq
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090702/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bide...

[PatSeg]

1. And from Newsweek

Vice President Joe Biden's official portfolio is expanding. NEWSWEEK has learned that President Obama has asked Biden to take the lead role on Iraq as the U.S. begins its scheduled drawdown of combat troops, a move that comes as administration officials are expressing concerns about the uptick in violence and political instability in the region.

"Biden's role will be something of an unofficial envoy to Iraq, though he won't handle day-to-day dealings with officials on the ground. The goal is to "raise the level" in hopes that Biden's stature encourages Iraqi officials to bridge their political differences, says a senior administration official who didn't want to be named talking about high-level personnel decisions. "He knows the players," White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel tells NEWSWEEK. "He brings a lot of experience and expertise on this issue to the table, and the president trusts him."

As chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Biden visited the region nearly a dozen times and has been an active player in policy discussions. Speaking about Iraq last February, he said, "We're going to have to get in there and be much more aggressive in forcing them to deal with these issues."

http://www.newsweek.com/id/204214?from=rss

[Jennicut]

2. Wow, they sure kept that a secret. I had no idea he was going there.

[3waygeek]

3. Wonder if Biden got to see his son...

wasn't he shipped off to Iraq right after the election?

[jillan]

5. That would be great if he got to see Beau!

[Muttocracy]

6. NYTimes said they might cross paths

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/03/world/middleeast/03ir...

[jillan]

4. I heard this mentioned yesterday morning on msnbc, but wasn't mentioned again.

Interesting that he went since he knows many of the leaders there from his old job as chair of the sfrc.