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From: White House Press Office <noreply@messages.whitehouse.gov>
To: Owens, Missy
Sent: Wed Nov 30 05:06:06 2011
Subject: Fw: VPOTUS pool report #1


----- Original Message -----
From: Lee, Carol [mailto:Carol.Lee@wsj.com]
Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2011 04:27 AM
To: Allen, Elizabeth M.; Barkoff, Kendra; Dudley, Amy
Subject: VPOTUS pool report #1

Baghdad
Nov. 30, 2011

Vice President Biden and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki delivered remarks at the start of a meeting of the US-Iraq Higher Coordinating Committee.

Key VPOTUS quote:

"We are embarking on a new path together, a new phase in this relationship," Mr. Biden said. "That partnership includes a robust security relationship based on what you decide - what you decide - you think that relationship should be. We will continue our discussions with your government over the substance of our security arrangements, including areas of training, intelligence and counterterrorism."

The meeting was held in a large room at the governmental palace. Pool was brought in around 10:15 am and ushered out at 10:40 am. Messrs. Biden and Maliki sat next to each other at the head of the a long, rectangular conference room. The Iraqi delegation sat to Mr. Maliki's left - there were 20 of them; no women. The US delegation sat to Mr. Biden's right - there were 15 of them; 3 women. US delegation included Gen. Austin, Amb. Jeffrey, Tony Blinken and two individuals Mr. Biden pointed out: assistant secretary of State Jeff Feltman and deputy secretary of Energy Dan Poneman.

Mr. Maliki spoke first. Some of his remarks as translated into English are coming shortly.

VPOTUS then spoke for roughly 10 minutes. There will be a transcript.

"This is marking a new beginning of a relationship that will not only benefit the United States and Iraq, I believe will benefit the region and, in turn, the world," Mr. Biden said.

VPOTUS said he and Mr. Maliki "have become good friends." He said Iraq has suffered over the last decade - "from the tyranny of Saddam Hussein" and then by being "victimized by terror" - and that the Iraqi people, for their resilience and resolve, are the country's best "natural resource."

"Few nations have gone through what you've gone through," Mr. Biden said. "But now Iraq is poised to join the community of nations who are the great contributors to the world."

Iraq is a "great example" of a nation that has worked its way through travails and is expressing the people's will, Mr. Biden said.

On US-Iraq relationship: "We realize we are one relationships you will have. We feel a particular kinship to you because our people - our military in particular has made sacrifices."

Mr. Biden said Wednesday's meeting was the most symbolic and that it represents "a shift" in US-Iraq relations.

"Iraq and the United States are two nations bound together by many things but particularly bound together by the more than eight years of shared sacrifice and struggle," Mr. Biden said

Mr. Biden stressed multiple times that the US "keeps its promises."

"We are keeping our promise we made back in 2008 to remove our troops from Iraq by the end of this year. And they will be removed."

Mr. Biden said the drawdown is in the best interest of both countries. "And it's in the best interest of the relationship."

Mr. Biden said the Higher Coordinating Committee will be the venue for security discussions.

Pool is holding before next spray. Cell and internet service is spotty in the palace, so will update as able.

Carol Lee
The Wall Street Journal

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