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From: White House Press Office <noreply@messages.whitehouse.gov>
To: Owens, Missy
Sent: Wed Nov 30 05:54:46 2011
Subject: Fw: VPOTUS pool report #3 - Biden/Maliki bilat


----- Original Message -----
From: Lee, Carol [mailto:Carol.Lee@wsj.com]
Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2011 05:14 AM
To: Allen, Elizabeth M.; Dudley, Amy; Barkoff, Kendra
Subject: VPOTUS pool report #3 - Biden/Maliki bilat

What was supposed to just be a photo-op turned into statements from Vice President Biden and Prime Minister Maliki:

When pool was ushered into a room at the palace around 12:45 pm, Mr. Maliki was talking to Mr. Biden through a translator, who was seated in a chair between them. "We are looking forward to the future of Iraq, which is going to be built on the outcome of this meeting," Mr. Maliki said.

Mr. Biden seemed to feel the need to respond to that notion and pool, which was at first being ushered out, was then held so he could speak.

Mr. Biden began by telling Mr. Maliki, through the same translator, that President Obama looks forward to the prime minister's Dec. 12 visit to Washington. "But to suggest the future of Iraq rests on our personal - our relationship, I think gives us too much credit," Mr. Biden said. "We are absolutely committed to being your partner to the extent you want us to be. And as self-serving as it may sound we believe we can be helpful. But it's the leadership of you and the civilian leadership in Iraq that's going to determine the future in Iraq."

Mr. Biden told Mr. Maliki he remembered their first meeting. Mr. Maliki asked when it was. Mr. Biden said he thought it was in 2008. One of the Iraqis seated near Mr. Maliki leaned in to say it was in 2007 before the surge.

Mr. Biden then said he remembers he and Mr. Maliki's first meeting after he was elected VPOTUS. He said Mr. Maliki looked at him and said they should focus on the strategic framework. VPOTUS remarked that for the most part now they are.

As pool was ushered out, Mr. Biden was saying: the "success of Iraq will rest upon the vision of you and the civilian leadership. We will stand with you."

Gen. Austin, Amb. Jeffrey sat on a small sofa to Mr. Biden's right. Three Iraqi officials crammed into a small sofa to Mr. Maliki's left. Tony Blinken was also in the meeting.

Carol Lee
The Wall Street Journal

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