Biden Makes Surprise Stop in Iraq

In Afghanistan, meanwhile, Petraeus calls for unity

By John Johnson, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 3, 2010 10:10 AM CDT

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Biden Makes Surprise Stop in Iraq — Gen. David Petraeus, the new commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan looks on during the Independence Day celebrations Saturday in Kabul. (AP Photo/Dusan Vranic)

Joe Biden and his wife will be spending the Fourth of July weekend with the troops in Iraq. The vice president landed in Baghdad today for the surprise visit, where he will also meet with Iraqi leaders. It's likely an attempt to reassure Iraqis that the US is still engaged, despite the growing attention to the war in Afghanistan, reports the Washington Post.

On that front, Gen. David Petraeus made his first public comments since arriving in Kabul last night, and he used them to call for a united front from civilian and military commanders, reports the BBC. "This is an effort in which we must achieve unity of effort and common purpose," he said. "Civilian and military, Afghan and international, we are part of one team with one mission."
(More Joe Biden stories.)

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