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Mitt Romney heads to the Middle East in his first official trip as senator

Washington • Sen. Mitt Romney is making his first official foray abroad to visit the Middle East this week, his office announced.

The Utah Republican, who took office in January, will visit Israel and Jordan, though it wasn’t clear whether the senator would also stop in Iraq or Afghanistan. For safety reasons, trips to war zones often are not announced until after an official visits.

Romney is chairman of the subcommittee On Near East, South Asia, Central Asia and Counterterrorism of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Romney is joining Sen.