Biden Meets with Key U.S. Leaders in Iraq

In 1st Baghdad Trip as VP, Will Press Iraqis to Make More Progress Toward Political Reconciliation

(AP)  Vice President Joe Biden met with the top American military commander and diplomat on Friday as he made his first visit to Iraq after being appointed to oversee the administration's Iraq policy.

Biden's arrival in Baghdad late Thursday came just came days after all U.S. combat troops were pulled out of Iraq's cities and towns on June 30, as part of a security agreement that will see all American soldiers out of the country by the end of 2011.

The U.S. will gradually begin drawing down forces over the coming months until there are no combat troops left in Iraq by next August.

During his visit, Biden will meet with President Jalal Talabani and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Wearing a tan suit and suede combat boots, he had breakfast with Gen. Ray Odierno and Ambassador Christopher Hill, America's top soldier and diplomat in Iraq.

A White House statement said that during the visit, Biden will reiterate the U.S. commitment to carry out President Barack Obama's plan to withdraw combat forces. He also will press Iraqi leaders to make more progress toward political reconciliation. It was his first trip to Iraq as vice president.

Al-Maliki named the day U.S. combat troops withdrew, June 30, as "National Sovereignty Day" and declared it a public holiday.

On that same day, the White House said that Biden will oversee and work with its government to overcoming their political differences and achieve reconciliation.

Biden arrived as violence flared in the Iraqi capital, which has seen scores of bombing in the past two weeks.

At least 447 Iraqi civilians were killed in June, double the toll from the previous month, according to an Associated Press tally.

[didserve]

*** is going on in the business section....??

every day in Iraq is one more day in the life of the bush cheney lie!

start war crimes trials now...

[TryTakingMyMoney]

He's such a dork...everyone knows he's just there to see his son. Probably just to say...son...I promise to get you home, my chocolate jesus said so. Cry me a handful. What a wimp and a waste of money.

[iam4honesty]

specialty8, IThoughtItWasFunny2



HEY Larry and Curly, where's Mo?

[specialty8]

Poor ole Joe Reminds me of that guy that played in the airport movie and the Naked gun! Can't think of his name but he sure was funny. Just look at Biden in the picture, he is hillarious. What a administration full of winners.

[hermitdave]

What a excellent descriptive headline this would be if you change the word "IN" to "OF". This is part of the whole sordid story of the Cheney Bush illegal invasion of Iraq. Only a fool would believe America is going to allow anyone in power in that country that understands what America did to the country. The people like the guy who threw the shoe at the Coward Crusader will have to remain quiet for several years. But as the history of that part of the world shows, the people have very long memories and grudges. Western big oil is back now, but you can bet if the foreign troops leave, things will change and the work of Dick Cheney for big oil just might not be that wonderful. That is why I doubt if American forces will ever leave Iraq. This will be unlike Korea, permanent occupation for control of oil.

[rafterman1]

because the usurper president is too stupid to deal with the problems he created there by emboldening the insurgents who know Obama is going to do NOTHING to stop them.
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screeched by Rowdy


Hey Rowdy, Obama has a law degree from Harvard. And you graduated from...where? Did you graduate from ANYWHERE?

Of course, we all know that Bush emboldened the terrorists by invading Iraq in the first place. Which is of course why Obama and other Dems have won so easily in the last few elections. The fact that you are too stupid to see that makes you calling Obama stupid even more ironic. Like Jessica Simpson calling Einstein stupid. LOL.

[zamorin44]

This is really a unique experiment in international relations-a person with the kind of history like that of Biden trying to get a grip on a situation as volatile and unpredictable and unmanageable as that of Iraq.Biden's mission could also be a reflection of the Obama administration's dim view of Iraq's future.The veep must have been admonished by his boss "Do no harm ".

[specialty8]

Look at the two guys in the picture behind ole foot in his mouth Biden, they look like they just met Maxwell Smart. Obamie should have sent Geithner along with him in case they have any problems of robing from the treasure. What a crew!

[iam4honesty]

That's pretty wild! you support Bush and Cheney and joke about SOMEONE ELSE robbing the treasury?? ROFLMMFAO!!

[diogy]

Please keep him there!

[mcintoshlou]

WHAT! WHY?

THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION IS DOING WHATS BEST FOR THE COUNTRY,

SURLY EVEN A REPUBLI'CON' CAN SEE THAT.

[specialty8]

Sure they are. Three generations of debt, another "historical" moment for Obungler,highest unemployment in history, no plan to fix anything but keep on printing and China is getting tired of that. Hyper inflation is just around the corner and this new Al Gore bill will only make things worse. Make more for Gore. Queen Pelosi and King Harry get their dinky railroad at the expense of the tax payer, Obama says he is creating jobs, to bad they are all goverment jobs to strain the working people even more.Yes they are doing quite a job.

[rafterman1]

highest unemployment in history,
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screeched by specialy8

Highest unemployment in history was 30+ percent during the Great Depression. Are the rest of your Obama "facts" as accurate? LOL.

[specialty8]

Hey Rafterman, at the rate he is going just give it time. He said it would not happen overnight. Takes alot of messups to make things this big to happen. He is working on so be patient.

[1notrub11]

Actually, the unemployment numbers being reported don't really reflect the true impact. The so-called 9.5% or so is short of the real number which is in the teens now. That "real unemployment" number(apologies, I have forgotten the label used for it) also takes into account things like the fact that part timers are out of jobs in increasing numbers, along with other work force contributors, that are not reported in the core unemployment number.

[mcintoshlou]

Truthout Original

Eager to Tap Iraq's Vast Oil Reserves, Industry Execs Suggested Invasion
Friday 03 July 2009

by: Jason Leopold, t r u t h o u t | Report



Two years before the invasion of Iraq, reports suggested invading to end Saddam Hussein's control of the oil. (Photo: Getty Images)

Two years before the invasion of Iraq, oil executives and foreign policy advisers told the Bush administration that the United States would remain "a prisoner of its energy dilemma" as long as Saddam Hussein was in power.

That April 2001 report, "Strategic Policy Challenges for the 21st Century," was prepared by the James A. Baker Institute for Public Policy and the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations at the request of then-Vice President Dick Cheney.

In retrospect, it appears that the report helped focus administration thinking on why it made geopolitical sense to oust Hussein, whose country sat on the world's second largest oil reserves.


ITS ALL ABOUT THE OIL, GREED DRIVEN REPUBLICON'S SHOULD BE ASHAMED

[iam4honesty]

Biden arrived as violence flared in the Iraqi capital, which has seen scores of bombing in the past two weeks.

At least 447 Iraqi civilians were killed in June, double the toll from the previous month, according to an Associated Press tally.



If American troops leave Iraq today, next year or ten years from now we will see the same results. The meanest and baddest SOB in the country will rise up and take over. You cannot change a thousand year old mindset and culture with a single war, these people know war better than anyone. They have been warring with one another for over a thousand years. And, you cannot bring democracy to a nation at the barrel of a gun.

This whole neocon Iraq plan is nothing more than a dream in the mind of a madman.

The three warring factions in Iraq all hate America, but they hate one another more! The only sane voice we have heard throughout this insane debacle was Joe Biden. He has said constantly that the only hope (slim hope at that) of stabilizing the region is to give each of those factions their own province.

[gravyboat4000]

The three province idea won't work, because of the oil.

[Thalia-9]

by iam4honesty July 3, 2009 6:23 AM PDT

If American troops leave Iraq today, next year or ten years from now we will see the same results. The meanest and baddest SOB in the country will rise up and take over. You cannot change a thousand year old mindset and culture with a single war, these people know war better than anyone. They have been warring with one another for over a thousand years. And, you cannot bring democracy to a nation at the barrel of a gun.

which is exactly why it will never work - these people have been killing each other for thousands of years over religion and control and will never stop - It truly is a lost cause and a waste of $. Unfortunately, the innocent people of their country are the ones who pay -

[xlib]

Why is this in the Business section? My God, cbs, you run the same stories over and over.
How about one on ole helen thomas taking on the ms butterworth's gibbs?
Now, that's a story.