It’s cool — I got this one. (afp photo)
Vice President Joe Biden landed in Iraq today for a surprise, two-day visit to meet Iraqi officials and troops. According to a pool report from the NYT, Biden is working on reestablishing contact with Iraqi leaders and will try to help foster political reconciliation there. It’s unclear where exactly Biden is in Iraq.
President Obama recently shifted Iraq into Biden’s portfolio — which also includes overseeing stimulus spending, a task force on the middle class and smoothing Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor’s path in the Senate, among other topics. Notes ABC News:
White House officials were careful to define Biden’s role – he is not an envoy and this is not a full-time position. U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Christopher Hill and Gen. Ray Odierno do not report to the vice president, but because of Biden’s foreign policy background, the president wanted him to take a more active role on Iraq policy.
So, more of a go-between and a facilitator. It’s unclear who is in Biden’s entourage for this trip (other than the NYT). It’s also worth noting that while officials continue to tout progress being made in Iraq, the security is still so bad that they have to make these trips secret.
