Thursday, November 13, 2008

44: A Transition to Power -- The Obama Presidency

November, 13th 2008
44: A Transition to Power -- The Obama Presidency:
Biden Talks with Israeli and Jordanian Leaders
Updated 6:13 p.m.
By Glenn Kessler

Vice President-elect Joe Biden has been holding calls with world leaders to express 'his thanks and appreciation for their congratulations on the election,' the Obama-Biden transition office said this afternoon.

Tuesday, the future No. 2 spoke with King Abdullah of Jordan, according to the transition team. On Monday day he held calls with:

Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak

Israeli Likud Leader Binyamin (Bibi) Netanyahu

Polish President Lech Kaczynski

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair

Afghan President Hamid Karzai

Biden has frequently described himself as one of Israel's best friends in Washington. During the vice presidential debate, for instance, he said, 'Gwen, no one in the United States Senate has been a better friend to Israel than Joe Biden. I would have never, ever joined this ticket were I not absolutely sure Barack Obama shared my passion.'

In this case, he managed to make sure he spoke to the leaders of three key parties competing in Israeli's elections in February -- Livni of Kadima, Barak of Labor and Netanyahu of Likud -- apparently making sure that no matter who wins, that person will be a friend"

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