John Kerry leaves for 12-day trip to Mideast, Asia and Europe

[kerrygoddess]

John Kerry leaves for 12-day trip to Mideast, Asia and Europe
January 9, 2006

In late December I posted that John Kerry was scheduled to make a trip to the Middle East this month. AP News reports that Kerry left today.

Sen. John Kerry left Monday for a 12-day overseas trip to the Middle East, Asia and Europe where he will focus on issues ranging from the war in Iraq to global health problems.

His stops will include Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Jordan, Kuwait, Israel, England and India.

Kerry will meet in Iraq next week with Gen. George Casey, commander of coalition forces. He will also visit with Iraqi government officials and Massachusetts troops who are stationed near Ramadi.

MORE - http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=1604

[sasha031]

1. will he back in time for Alito?

[Rainscents]

3. I'm wondering bout that too.

[wisteria]

5. I think he will be back in time and in the mean

time he can get updated on daily statements. I have a feeling the Repubs want to drag this out so that attention is diverted from "other" damning Republican issues.

[LittleClarkie]

6. How long to the hearing generally take anyway?

He won't be needed until the debate reaches the full Senate. But when is that normally?

Geez, you'd think that just having gone through Roberts, I'd remember how long that took.

[wisteria]

9. Towards the end of the month.3rd or so. Nothing scientific about this

though, just based on a couple of other controversial hearings.

[karynnj]

12. He's not on the Judiciary committee

so until the hearings are over, there would be nothing he could do - other than to pass questions to a committee member (and I bet he has Kennedy's phone number)

[redstateblues]

2. delete

[wisteria]

4. Interesting that he have made more trips to Iraq than Bush has.

I think it is wonderful that he is doing this and covering so much ground too. I wish him a safe and educational trip.

[LittleClarkie]

7. May he have a safe journey, and return to us in one piece

Amen.

[wisteria]

8. Amen. n/t

[karynnj]

14. Amen

It really sounds like a very difficult trip.

[IndianaGreen]

10. Why is he ignoring Latin America?

I don't mind Kerry not including Latin America in his travels. I do mind when he makes solemn pronouncements about a region of the world of which he knows nothing about, as he did in 2004.

[karynnj]

13. The people on the SFRC seem to have divided the world

Kerry seems to be dealing with the middle east and I think he's on the Asia sub-committee. Last year 3 of the committee members went to Latin America.

[UrbScotty]

11. Godspeed, Senator. May you be safe.

:toast: