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From: White House Press Office [mailto:noreply@messages.whitehouse.gov]
Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2011 12:26 PM
To: Owens, Missy
Subject: Fw: VPOTUS pool report #6a


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From: Carol Lee2 <clee2@politico.com>
To: Allen, Elizabeth M.; Carney, Jay
Sent: Thu Jan 13 10:41:21 2011
Subject: VPOTUS pool report #6a

Speech at Camp Victory - check quotes against transcript:

Vice President Biden apologized to troops for being late for his speech to troops, joking that he didn't know why they'd stand on a marble floor for an hour waiting for a vice president.

Biden spoke for under 15 minutes at a podium on a small stage in the rotunda of the palace. He said his main reason for stopping by was to say thank you and to let them know that he and President Obama understand that their job "is not a normal day in the office."

VPOTUS spoke about the transition in Iraq - the end of the combat mission last summer and the complete drawdown scheduled for the end of this year.

"The fact of the matter is there is a lot that is changing. There is transition," Biden said. "Our mission has now fundamentally shifted."

At the end of the year, he said, "We'll probably be in position to still maintain in some specific areas having to do with training and equipment.

He talked about needing to care of troops after they come home, which he called a "sacred obligation."

VPOTUS got choked up when he talked about visiting wounded troops.

"The thing that amazes me," he said, choking up. "The thing that amazes me about you all is no matter where I go in these hospitals," he said, every time he asks a wounded service member what do you need, the reply is
"Almost without exception is Mr. Vice President can you get me back to my unit?"

"I apologize - I didn't plan on getting emotional - I apologize for keeping you waiting," he said, adding: "We owe you."

VPOTUS said for the first time Iraqis are "on the verge of creating a country that will be democratic, sustainable and God willing prosperous," something he said "could have a dramatic impact" on the region.

Before he walked down from the stage and waded into the crowd to shake hands and pose for pictures, VPOTUS made a joke, saying why would you stand on a marble floor for an hour waiting for a vice president.

Also, General Austin introduced VPOTUS. VPOTUS called Austin one of the greatest generals of all time.

The mood of the speech and overall event was pretty somber. When VPOTUS and Austin were announced, they stepped onto the stage to no applause. They stood there for a moment and VPOTUS led the crowd in applause for Austin.

The troops were silent during VPOTUS's speech, and his tone was somber.

Carol Lee
POLITICO

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