VP-Elect Biden visits Kuwait on World Tour

[elleng]

Source: NYT/AP

"Vice President-elect Joe Biden met Thursday with leaders in Kuwait on his way to southwest Asia, according to aides.

Biden and South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham met with the Middle East emirate's prime minister and foreign minister to discuss Iraq, Iran and international relations. Their next stop was not disclosed for security reasons, but the public descriptions of the trip suggest destinations such as Afghanistan, Pakistan or India.

Biden traveled in his role as a U.S. senator from Delaware. He takes office as vice president on Jan. 20 but has not yet resigned his Senate seat.

Aides said Biden took the trip now because an official White House trip would take months organize.

Biden's trip just days before becoming vice president was a clear signal that President-elect Barack Obama's new administration plans to make the troubled region an immediate priority. Obama's national security team suggested the move to help the new administration get an on-the-ground sense of the situation in those countries."



Read more: http://nytimes.com/aponline/2009/01/08/washington/AP-Biden.html

[PatSeg]

1. Thanks

"Aides said Biden took the trip now because an official White House trip would take months to organize." Someone needs to explain that to Chris Matthews!

[Muttocracy]

2. K&R

[Tashca]

3. On his way to Pakistan and India...

Now this is the way to make a statement about priorities on foreign policy....
I realize Biden is doing this as a Senator, but I would love to hear the message...

I wonder if he could lose Graham somewhere over there....wouldn't that be a shame...

[elleng]

4. Isn't THIS the message?

"an official White House trip would take months organize.

Biden's trip just days before becoming vice president was a clear signal that President-elect Barack Obama's new administration plans to make the troubled region an immediate priority. Obama's national security team suggested the move to help the new administration get an on-the-ground sense of the situation in those countries."

[Tashca]

5. Absolutely

I guess I didn't make myself clear.

I see this as a wonderful thing......in fact I've very impressed.

[WheelWalker]

6. How

ya DU'n, ya big-nosed insect?

[Tashca]

7. DU'n just fine....

Had to rebuild one antennae and had a thorax tuck...other than that....things are great!!

[WheelWalker]

8. I'm leav'n Saturday night for a week in

Wahpeton, ND. Gonn'a inspect a plant that makes cow candy and try to settle a dispute over intellectual property/royalties. Will I need gloves?

[Tashca]

9. cow candy??

I have no idea what the heck that is???

But...if your going from Oregon to North Dakota you'll need more than gloves....maybe all your clothes. Early next week is suppose to be some of the coldest temps we have seen in 5 years and I'm purty sure it will be coming down through ND first. Good luck with that!!!

[WheelWalker]

10. Opps, Wyndmere,

not Wapeton. Here's the link to the plant we're visit'n.

http://www.tublicks.com/

My client developed the process they use, and built their plant. Hmmm, I see there's a weather advisory. You weren't kid'n. Yikes! I better buy some pantyhose!

[MaineDem]

11. Collins and Kerry were suppossed to go too

Wonder why their Senate schedule made it impossible for them to go but it's okay for Graham?

[karynnj]

12. Easy question - we might need to fight a filibuster

Then Kerry, Reed (who was also supposed to go) and Collins are likely votes to get to the 60 needed. (We need some Republicans and on many things your state's Senators are the likely ones.) In a filibuster "not Voting" and a "no" end up being functionally the same thing - so Graham, who would filibuster, isn't needed. (Graham just went to many of those countries with McCain and Lieberman - where McCain demonstrated why it was good he lost - almost encouraging India to attack Pakistan.)

Kerry's office commented, but I don't think the others did. I had been surprised that he was originally going as he was just in all those countries less than a month ago and things haven't changed radically since then. (Israel/Palestine was not included) From reports, he seemed successful in somewhat calming the situation. It is very likely that he has continued to stay in contact with the people he met. Before he went, it was said that he would report his opinions to Obama (and very likely Biden). He is said to have been very busy working on taking over the SFRC and he has hearings next week for HRC and Rice.

[elleng]

13. Mebbe they VOTE!

Actually, they didn't want to miss resolution telling Israel its just hunky-dory ;-( and graham didn't care?