Biden will set US tone in European trip

[Turborama]

Source: AP

By LOLITA C. BALDOR – 33 minutes ago

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (AP) — En route to a security conference in Germany, Vice President Joe Biden warned Friday that the United States faces daunting economic and security problems in Afghanistan and will need help from allies to deal with them.

"We've got to make Afghanistan the world's responsibility, not just the United States' responsibility," Biden told a House Democratic retreat before heading to Munich as the new administration's first envoy to Europe.

Afghanistan will be high on Biden's priority list at the security conference, where he will speak to the gathering of world leaders on Saturday and hold bilateral meetings with Russia, Georgia, Germany, France and Britain. He will be joined by retired Marine Corps Gen. James Jones, President Barack Obama's national security adviser.

=snip=

Coming just over two weeks after Biden and Obama took office, the trip will allow Biden to begin mapping the role U.S. expects to play in simmering issues across the region, and to set the stage for much anticipated policy shifts from the Bush administration.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hcSCyP6ovt4w3Jd0nv3Mh7B31CGgD966933O0

[LSparkle]

1. Wait -- Joe decided to go abroad after all?

I thought he was returning to D.C. to help with the JOBS BILL
and postponing his trip (even for a few days) ... Guess not (?).

[Muttocracy]

3. MSNBC had conflicting info earlier today and Biden had said maybe in a speech this morning

:shrug:

[jillan]

6. I guess Obama wanted him to go represent the US.

It's kind of a big deal meeting. Leaders from all over the world will be there.

[bikebloke]

2. Joe...while you're over there....

Can you pick me up some strop wafel in Holland and Maribou chocolate in Sweden.

Ta

[Jennicut]

7. LOL. Chocalate.....MMMM

[AspenRose]

9. Swedish chocolate ROCKS supreme

:9

[ProgressIn2008]

4. Why are Biden and Obama a couple of clowns pushing this Afghanistan shit?

Perma-war. Elites love it.

[CHIMO]

5. You Can't

Make someone responsible!

They accept the responsibility when they have the authority.

So much for Afghanistan now, with the war on drugs. NATO is moving in for serious trouble.

[dipsydoodle]

8. Biden set for first major speech

US Vice-President Joe Biden is expected to give the first clear indication of the new US government's foreign policy direction in a speech in Germany.

Mr Biden will address a security forum in Munich, with Iraq and Afghanistan likely to be high on the agenda.

He will also meet Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov, amid cool relations between the two nations.

Iranian delegate Ali Larijani welcomed the new US government, saying it was a "golden opportunity" to improve ties.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7876184.stm