John Kerry leaves for 12-day trip to Mideast, Asia and Europe

In late December I posted that John Kerry was scheduled to make a trip to the Middle East this month. AP News reports that Kerry left today.

Sen. John Kerry left Monday for a 12-day overseas trip to the Middle East, Asia and Europe where he will focus on issues ranging from the war in Iraq to global health problems.

His stops will include Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Jordan, Kuwait, Israel, England and India.

Kerry will meet in Iraq next week with Gen. George Casey, commander of coalition forces. He will also visit with Iraqi government officials and Massachusetts troops who are stationed near Ramadi.

His first stop is Tuesday in London to meet with British intelligence officials and Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown. Kerry will spend most of this week in India where he hopes to meet with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as well as business leaders and AIDS patients.

The senator will tour earthquake devastation in Balakot, Pakistan on Saturday before heading to Afghanistan on Monday to meet with U.S. troops and government officials.

Kerry has a meeting planned next week with Israel's Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as well as former prime minister Simon Peres before he travel on to Iraq.

John Kerry was last in Iraq during Hurricane Katrina.