Pool Report: Biden in Baghdad, Day 2

VPOTUS POOL REPORT

7/3/09

BAGHDAD

First, deepest apologies to the pool for the tardiness of the pool report containing the vice president's interview. Your pooler made a good-faith effort to send by e-mail as quickly as possible, and was under the mistaken impression that it had been transmitted to the press corps last night.

Now, on to the business of the day: No news so far.

A bad sandstorm grounded the vice president, who was supposed to chopper from his overnight location to a breakfast meeting with General Odierno and Ambassador Chris Hill . The vice president and some aides briefly boarded his Black Hawk helicopter; the aides donned protective gear (vests and helmets), but your pooler did not see the vice president. The helicopter briefly took off, but visibility was too poor and General Odierno insisted the chopper turn back.

Instead, the meeting was held at General Odierno's home on a military base near the city. The home, with soaring ceilings and massive sparkling chandelier in the entryway, is one of the many grand marble palaces that once belonged to Saddam Hussein. This one is rumored to have been built for Saddam's mother, though your pooler could not confirm that. Odierno does not live here in splendor by himself; he shares it with other officials.

The vice president appeared briefly before the cameras, with the general on his right and the ambassador on his left and other aides arrayed in a U. They took no questions.

A sartorial note for the day: the vice president is wearing tan suede urban combat boots, of the sort ordinarily worn by special response teams and EMTs. They are said to be as light and comfortable as tennis shoes. They laced up and were quite a close match for his khaki suit. After taking a brief walk outside with Stephanopolous to shoot some footage for ABC, the vice president walked in the front door wearing a camouflage ball cap.

We have now left Odierno's home and are on the move to another meeting with non-governmental officials and representatives of the United States embassy.