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By Mark Memmott

Vice President Joe Biden, who had a mysterious gap in his public calendar today, has turned up in Baghdad. The White House just released this statement:

Vice President Biden has arrived in Iraq to visit U.S. troops and to meet with Iraqi leaders, including 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. 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 Vice President Biden's second trip to Iraq this year and his first as Vice President.

Reuters reports that in Baghdad a short time ago, Biden "said he was optimistic about Iraq's future but much work remained."


categories: Foreign News

12:45 - July 2, 2009

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