by Mark Silva and updated
Vice President Joe Biden made an unannounced landing in Iraq today for a two-day series of meetings with Iraqi leaders and U.S. troops.
The traveling pool report from the ground says that Biden "will try to reestablish contact with Iraqi leaders and try to help foster efforts at political reconciliation.''
More to come from that front.
The White House sayys Biden will meet with President Jalal Talabani, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Speaker of the Council of Representatives Ayad al-Samarrai.
"The vice president will reiterate the United States' commitment to fully implement the Security Agreement and the Strategic Framework Agreement and to carry out President Obama's plan to draw down U.S. forces,'' the vice president's office said in a statement issued today. "He will discuss with Iraq's leaders the importance of achieving the political progress that is necessary to ensure the nation's long-term stability.''
This is Biden's second trip to Iraq this year but his first as vice president. It comes as the U.S. has withdrawn its forces from Iraq's cities, leaving defenses there to Iraqi forces.
Biden was greeted at Baghdad International Airport by Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, Deputy Foreign Minister Labid Abbawi and Gen. Ray Odierno, commander of American forces there.
Friday morning, the vice president will meet and have coffee with Odierno and Ambassador Chris Hill, and get a private briefing.
Biden will meet with the United Nations assistance mission to Iraq and some representatives of non-governmental organizations as well, before meeting with the two vice presidents, Tariq al-Hashimi and Adil Mehdi, Shiite presidents, and then the speaker, Dr. Samaraie.
Then Biden will meet with prime minister al Maliki .
Comments
Obama is doing a good job of implementing the Bush/Gates draw down plan, including withdrawing troops from major cities by June 30, 2009. This is consistent with the SOF Agreement signed in late 2008. Also under the SOF Agreement, if Iraq chooses, they can request US troops be completely out of Iraq in 2010. An ambitious goal, but hopefully one that can be met. Obama made a wise choice in following this plan and keeping Gates as SOD. Not sure where along the line it happened, but someone obviously told Obama that his silly rhetoric about withdrawing "1 to 2 brigades a month" may be effective in hoodwinking the anti-war left, but now that you have their votes in your pocket, you can renege on that and take a more realistic approach to Iraq.
Posted by: Herbie H. | July 2, 2009 4:07 PM
What BO forgot to tell Joe is that he will be staying there the next 42 months.
Posted by: Terry | July 2, 2009 5:30 PM
Way to go, Joe. It is good to see our Vice-President, out and about, not trying to grab headlines, with snarling and telling whoppers about our successes in Iraq, like Lon Cheney used to do !! President Obama and Vice-President Biden are a great contrast to the two previous holders of those offices. I don't think we have to worry about either of them, President Obama or Vice-President Biden, of outing an Intelligence Officer, Ms Plame, like Bush&Cheney did, because of the lies they were telling the American public, concerning Iraq !! No, President Obama is promoting the reform of our broken healthcare system and Vice-President Biden, representing President Obama, and America, is in Iraq, trying to encourage the Iraqis, to get back on their feet, in spite of the nightmare, Bush and Cheney visited on their devastated nation !! That is the difference, between the two administrations; one lied and tried to hide things from our nation and the other is in the process of undoing the incompetence of the Bush&Cheney administrations !
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | July 2, 2009 6:59 PM
Lon Cheney a/k/a Dr. Szell still is doing it.
Posted by: ornery | July 3, 2009 12:17 AM
Delighted to see good old Joe ("5-deferment") Biden is visiting a combat zone - something he was scared sh**less to do in his youth when his country asked him. This COWARD is the reason every American should pray each night for Obama's good health! He will go down in history as the dumbest and most inept vice president of all times; by contrast he makes Palin look smart and Dan Quayle absolutely brilliant.
Of course, President Obama has placed managing our two Wars in "5-Deferment" Joe's portfolio because of his demonstrated Military Expertise as evidenced by the way he deftly avoided any brush with armed conflict during his youth when he successfully dodged the Vietnam draft (he and Dick Cheney did everything short of maiming themselves which neither had the guts to do – I guess it’s a prerequisite for VP). Again, by contrast here Biden makes "W" look like a war hero! (For the record, Bush flying antique Air National Guard Convair F-102s was probably in more danger than I was during an extended CIB-earning tour in Vietnam!).
It appears President Obama has also assigned Biden the role of designated "butt of jokes" for the late night comedians -- another role for which he is eminently well qualified and ideally suited.
Posted by: A_COL | July 3, 2009 10:24 AM