Vice President Joe Biden (left) meets with Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki (right) in Baghdad. AP

POLITICO 44

BAGHDAD – Vice President Joe Biden is using his political capital with Iraq’s leaders to urge them in starkly personal terms to break the four-month stalemate that followed their parliamentary elections. 

In detailed talks that accompanied feel-good photo ops during his surprise Fourth of July visit to the war zone, Biden was unyielding on U.S. plans for a dramatic drawdown, but promised not to abandon Iraq and even to step up non-military engagement with the struggling democracy.

“I’m not lecturing, I’m not imparting any great wisdom that you don’t already know,” Biden said at an Independence Day reception at the U.S. embassy. “But the concept of subordinating your individual interest is fundamental to the success of any nation. … So my plea to you is, finish what you started — a truly legitimate and representative government that meets the needs and aspirations of all Iraqi people.” 

Biden drew laughter when he added: “As a piece of American history, when our Founders did it, when they signed that Declaration, many of them did not even like one another. You think I’m joking; I’m not. … I’m absolutely confident you will do it.” 

The vice president’s trip was designed partly to showcase progress. During a citizenship ceremony for U.S. military members at the Al Faw Palace on Fourth of July morning, Biden said: “Here we are in the hunting lodge of a dictator who subjugated a people; who, in fact, stood for everything that we don’t stand for. And we’re in the middle of this marble palace, making a lie of everything that he stood for. I find it delicious that that’s happening.” 

But as a reminder of how dangerous Iraq remains, a huge explosion could be heard Sunday night inside the $700 million, 100-acre U.S. embassy compound, where Biden’s press corps was staying. Police said at least five mortar rounds had been fired in the Green Zone, which includes the embassy. No one was hurt, but three “duck and cover” sirens within a few hours – one at 4:46 a.m. — rattled even the locals. 

Administration officials traveling with Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, made it clear throughout the visit that they have no plans to deviate from President Barack Obama’s plan to end the U.S. “combat mission” in Iraq on Aug. 31. 

There’s always been a catch: About 50,000 U.S. troops are staying behind as a sort of insurance policy – with combat capability, but a primary mission of training, advising and supporting the Iraqi military. 

And now there’s a hitch: The Iraqi government is not where U.S. officials hoped it would be at this stage. 

Enter Biden, whose main purpose on the trip was to nudge Iraqi leaders toward forming a new government – but without, his aides repeatedly insisted, putting his thumb on the scale for any particular solution. 

In back-to-back meetings at regal but heavily fortified residences, Biden and his advisers sat down with the two front-runners for prime minister – Iyad Allawi, whose Sunni-backed coalition Iraqiya won the most seats in the March 7 election but fell short of gaining control, and the current prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki.

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