Vice President Joe Biden appeared to become briefly overcome with emotion during a speech in Iraq Thursday as he praised the dedication to duty of wounded service personnel.
Biden, who held talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, began his speech to some 400 soldiers at the U.S. Forces-Iraq headquarters in Baghdad's Al Faw Palace by saying the armed forces had made "incredible sacrifices."
He spoke of the 32,000 Americans who have been wounded in the conflict, but said he had noticed personally that the casualty rate had fallen.
"The good news is every time I ride home now, I'm not riding home with a coffin strapped to the floor of the aircraft as we take off," Biden said.
He said President Barack Obama had promised "we're going to end this war, but we're going to do it responsibly."
"By that we meant we were going to end this by bringing you all home within a time certain, but leaving behind a country that was worthy of all the sacrifices that so many of your brothers and sisters have made," Biden told the troops.
More than 4,400 U.S. troops have died since the 2003 invasion.
Biden's trip marks the first visit by a top U.S. official since Iraq approved a new Cabinet last month, breaking a political deadlock and jump-starting its stalled government after March's inconclusive elections. But lingering security challenges remain: On Thursday, three bombings in the capital killed two people.
The address to U.S. troops capped a daylong series of meetings in Baghdad, including a session with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Biden then traveled to Irbil in northern Iraq to meet with Kurdish President Massoud Barzani.
Under a security agreement between Washington and Baghdad that was hammered out in 2008, all American troops are to leave Iraq by the end of the year. However, Iraq's top military commander, Gen. Babaker Shawkat Zebari, has said U.S. troops should stay until Iraq's security forces can defend its borders — which he said could take until 2020.
'Sacred obligation'
In his speech, Biden said that when the service personnel were grandparents they would be able to "look and see that this country is taking care of the basic needs of this country and you played a part in that."
He said there was "one truly sacred obligation," which was to prepare and equip those who were sent into harm's way and to look after those who needed "extended care for the rest of their lives."
Biden then began to talk about visits he had made to veterans' hospitals, such as Brooke Army Medical Center.
"The thing that amazes me ..." he said, before pausing and appearing choked with emotion. "... The thing that amazes me about you all is no matter where I go in these hospitals, I always ask the family that's there or the soldier, sailor, Marine, airman that's there who is the one injured, 'What can I do for you?' and almost without exception the only request I ever get is 'Mr. Vice President, can you help me get back to my unit?'" he continued.
The troops were "incredible patriots ... working as one incredible unit to protect the interests of the United States," he added.
Biden apologized later in the speech, saying he "didn't plan on getting emotional."
"I apologize for having kept you waiting, but I do not apologize for the intensity of the feeling that I and so many more Americans have for the sacrifices you and your comrades have made for your country," he said.
He was on his way back to the United States early Friday.
Under a security agreement between Washington and Baghdad, all American troops are to leave Iraq by the end of the year.
About 47,000 U.S. forces remain in Iraq, and American military leaders have said privately they will need to start planning by early spring on how to get them home unless told otherwise.
Iraq's top military commander Gen. Babaker Shawkat Zebari, has said U.S. troops should stay until Iraq's security forces can defend its borders — which he said could take until 2020.
Al-Maliki, under pressure from hardline Shiite Muslims, has signaled he wants American troops to leave on schedule. Last weekend, the influential and anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr returned to Iraq after nearly four years of exile in Iran, in part to insist that the U.S. "occupiers" must leave on time or face retribution among his followers "by all the means of resistance."
Ali al-Moussawi, a media adviser to al-Maliki, told Reuters the departure of U.S. troops from Iraq had not come up in talks.
"The issue of the withdrawal has been clearly stated in the security pact, this is why it hasn't been discussed," he said, adding that talks had been centered around cooperation between the United States and Iraq on trade and industry.
A statement on al-Maliki's website said the premier had called for meetings between ministers from the two states in order to set up a working agenda for the strategic framework agreement.
Last weekend, the influential and anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr returned to Iraq after nearly four years of exile in neighboring Iran, in part to insist that the U.S. "occupiers" must leave on time or face retribution among his followers "by all the means of resistance."
Talabani emphasized the importance Iraq puts on its relationship with the United States.
"We remain grateful to you ... and we know you are one of our best friends," he said.
