Joe Biden Arrives in Baghdad

Vice President Joe Biden made a surprise visit to Baghdad on Tuesday, just weeks before the planned exit of the last American troops, in an effort to start a new relationship with Iraq after nearly 10 years of war. The vice president will meet with Iraqi leaders and the U.S.-Iraq Higher Coordinating Committee in an effort to facilitate functioning diplomacy in the future. Biden has become an expert on Iraq and its tribal politics, having made a total of eight visits while in office that have allowed him to develop close relationships with political leaders and a deep understanding of tribal politics. While all American troops are scheduled to leave Iraq, more than 40,000 will remain in the Gulf region to try to preserve stability.