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View Full Version : Marco Rubio embarks on Middle East trip, will meet Israeli, Palestinian, Jordanian leaders




compromise
02-16-2013, 10:50 AM
http://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/fighting-for-florida?ID=8e932d57-587e-4296-817e-e189714f3612

Today, I am departing to the Middle East on an official trip in my capacities as a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee and Foreign Relations Committee. I will be visiting Jordan and Israel. This will be my first visit to Jordan and my second to Israel.

In Jordan, I look forward to meeting with King Abdullah as well as other members of the Jordanian government, which remains among our most loyal allies in the region in trade, cultural exchanges and especially in combatting terrorism. I am also interested in learning more firsthand about the impact the Syrian civil war and how the humanitarian crisis that has resulted is impacting Jordan and the region.

As is customary in each country I visit on official business, I will visit America's embassy to meet with the brave men and women stationed there from our foreign service, military and intelligence services and receive a country briefing from each.

In Israel, I look forward to meeting with our embassy, military and intelligence personnel as well, followed by visits with Israeli political, defense, intelligence and business leaders. I am especially looking forward to meeting with President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss various areas of mutual interest, including the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. I also look forward to meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Fayyad.

America's friendship with Israel is a truly special one, and we must continue to do all we can to support this beacon of democracy, religious freedom and free enterprise in the heart of an unstable region. As Iran continues its pursuit of a nuclear weapon, we must continue to apply pressure through every possible means in order to prevent a nuclear Iran. And I look forward to assessing the impact American security assistance is having and discussing the importance of the peace treaty between Israel and Egypt and how we can maintain it during this time of great uncertainty and tumult in Egypt.

I am also pleased that my wife Jeanette has joined me on this trip (at no taxpayer expense), which concludes next Friday when we return to Miami. As the trip proceeds, I look forward to providing updates as time and security sensitivities allow.

compromise
02-18-2013, 03:38 AM
He's in Jordan now:

https://twitter.com/marcorubio/status/303351065464672256

Good morning from Amman, Jordan. #sayfie
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BDW4L9OCEAE27cF.jpg

bolil
02-18-2013, 03:47 AM
I hope he brings plenty of water.

compromise
02-18-2013, 03:28 PM
http://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2013/2/photo-release-rubio-visits-jordan

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), a member of the Senate's Select Committee on Intelligence and Foreign Relation Committee, today met with Jordanian officials as part of an official trip to the Middle East that will include a stop in Israel later this week.

In Jordan, Rubio met with King Abdullah II as well as other members of the Jordanian government to discuss cooperation between our two nations on economic and security issues. Rubio discussed the impact of the Syrian civil war on Jordan and the region as a whole and also met with former Syrian Prime Minister Hijab, who defected to Jordan.

The following photos are all attributable to Rubio's Senate office:

Rubio meets with His Majesty King Abdullah II and U.S. Ambassador to Jordan, Stuart E. Jones.
http://rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?a=Files.Serve&File_id=2c31d3b3-9db9-41ac-9308-c66ed69722aa

Rubio meets with U.S. Ambassador Jones and Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh.
http://rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?a=Files.Serve&File_id=b194fde0-a6b6-40a7-90c9-0b2b6a8c4804

Rubio meets with former Syrian Prime Minister Riad Hijab, who defected to Jordan.
http://rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?a=Files.Serve&File_id=36a97d8f-43c4-4a69-9307-8e506aa97ef4

As is customary in each country visited on official business, Rubio meets with brave men and women from America's military, diplomatic, and intelligence services stationed in the U.S. Embassy.
http://rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?a=Files.Serve&File_id=1a0d89af-1dcc-41b2-920d-6889d8bd0314

Senator and Mrs. Rubio outside al-Hummar Palace in Amman, Jordan.
http://rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?a=Files.Serve&File_id=93cc6b93-5a9f-4b47-8e3e-4d2cf5ef7a7c

This trip is taxpayer-funded, btw, unlike Rand's Middle-East trip.

itshappening
02-18-2013, 03:43 PM
Jordan is an officially approved dictatorship, Syria and Assad isn't so lucky