Biden Heading To Southwest Asia Before Taking Office

Vice President-elect Joseph Biden will head out on a "fact-finding trip" to Southwest Asia before taking office, his office announced on Monday.

The details of the trip were kept secret for security purposes. But Biden's participation was designed to be a passing of the torch of sorts. The outgoing Senate Foreign Relations Chair will be accompanied by the incoming one, Democratic Sen. John Kerry. Also on the CODEL will be Sens. Jack Reed (D-R.I), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Lindsey Graham (R-SC).

Aides, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the trip would be a week-long and would be at a foreign-policy-significant area of the region. It will conclude before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee takes up the confirmation hearings for Secretary of State nominee Hillary Clinton. Biden, they reminded, would be going in his capacity as outgoing SFRC chair and not as the incoming vice president.

"The fact-finding delegation will make it clear to foreign leaders that they are not there to speak on behalf of the U.S. government, or convey policy positions for the incoming administration," read an official statement from Biden spokesperson Elizabeth Alexander. "The delegation extends its thanks to the Bush Administration for their cooperation in making this trip possible."