VP Biden makes third visit to Iraq in 2009

The Vice President is in Iraq for what will likely be his last visit in the country while his son Beau is there serving with the DE National Guard.

Since taking office in January, President Obama has given Vice President Joe Biden the task of maintaining a high level of focus on Iraq.  Biden’s latest trip to the country is part of that mission.

The visit will also likely be Biden’s last trip to Iraq while his son is there serving with the Delaware National Guard.  Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden is due to return from a yearlong tour in Iraq around the end of September or beginning of October.  The younger Biden and the more than 100 other members of the 261st Signal Brigade have been in Iraq providing military communications support throughout the country.  The Vice President’s last trip to Iraq coincided with Independence Day in early July.

In addition to visiting with U.S. troops, Vice President Biden is expected to  meet with Iraqi leaders including President Jalal Talabani.  He’ll also meet with representatives from the UN mission in Iraq.

President Obama has announced plans to reduce U.S. troops by the end of next summer.  The current plan is for two-thirds of U.S. troops to leave Iraq by August 2010.  All American troops would be out of Iraq by the end of 2011.