But just as Bush is finding his way, Biden's role as Foreign Relations Committee chairman is going to take a little bit of time to figure out as well. He obviously wants to fight for the foreign policies in which he believes; the question is how best to do so while also preparing to run for the White House. In his quintessential style -- sometimes candid, at times self-contradictory, often ponderous, clearly well informed, always long-winded -- Biden reveals a bit of this confusion about his plans.

"I'm kind of in limbo here," Biden acknowledges. "I'm not sure where the administration is going, in part not because I think I'm slow to be able to read, but I also think I'm not sure they're certain."

That said, he thinks that Bush's foreign policy mind is up for grabs. Not just between Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Secretary of State Colin Powell, but also among world leaders and even himself. Bush is now paying attention, he says. "I really do think we underestimate the president in terms of how bright he is and -- not withstanding his lack of inquisitiveness, which he's famous for -- it's an occupational responsibility now.

"I don't think -- I don't know -- but I don't think they have come to know exactly where they are," Biden says. He wonders, though. In its renewed negotiations with North Korea, the Bush administration is demanding a reduction in conventional forces as part of an overall agreement. "Is it a poison pill to make sure we don't get an agreement on missiles so they have a rationale for the urgency of a national missile defense?" Biden asks. "I don't know. I hope not, I hope not. The president assures me no, that's a separate track."

But it is clear that Biden, like Bush, is negotiating confusing terrain.

Biden says that he doesn't want to be seen as obstructionist or reactive, or as "the shadow foreign minister where every mistake the administration makes you hold a hearing and focus on it, ... demonstrate that they are not in control, they made a mistake or whatever. I don't view that as the appropriate role." But Biden also hopes to hold hearings this summer that are almost tailor-made to enrage the Bush administration by poking holes in the arguments and momentum behind a national missile defense, focusing instead on "significantly greater threats to American security" than a long-range missile attack.

Foreign Relations Committee hearings will not be a stacked deck, loaded with testimony from those with whom he agrees, Biden insists. But "it should be a forum for serious discussion. We don't have much legislative authority." The Senate ratifies treaties and confirms nominees, but otherwise foreign policy is dictated by the White House. Biden will attempt to change that by educating the press, the public and his colleagues on the issues, he says, and alternately working with, agitating, pushing, pulling, criticizing and cooperating with the Bush administration as he sees fit.

His hearing last week on Macedonia got the administration to pay some attention to the matter, he believes. Biden hopes to continue "bringing the best people in the country in to litigate the issue as to 'What should our policy be?'

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