Obama Visiting Saudi Arabia June 3

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama plans to visit Saudi Arabia next week.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Tuesday that Obama will meet with King Abdullah in Riyadh on June 3 to discuss a range of issues, including peace in the Middle East, Iran and terrorism.

The president will not have any public events while in the country.

The stop in Saudi Arabia was added to the beginning of Obama's previously announced trip to Egypt, Germany and France.

Obama plans to deliver a speech in Egypt on U.S. relations with the Muslim world. He plans to visit the Buchenwald concentration camp in Germany and help commemorate the 65th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy, France.

Comments

[Baghooli]

President checking on her golden goose in Riyadh rather than on a black hole gander in Tel Aviv, what's he, a capitalists!

[Mollabaji]

In all of the Middle East the President needs to visit Tehran, Gaza and Beirut and meet with the real representatives of the Muslim World in the Middle East: Iranians, Hamas, Hizbollah only then he can talk peace not meeting with corrupt dictators like King Abdullah of Arabia and Jordan, Mubarak of Egypt.

[Lahonda]

How would it be seen in the Muslim world if he were to visit the places you mention before going through some of these more moderate "proper channels"? These nations' leaders aren't pure and totally upright, that is certain... but at least they're opening their hands to the US, in in a modest gesture of welcome.

I believe the "direct to the problem states" approach would prove to alienate some of the more moderate destinations he has in mind for this trip. That would also serve to communicate that we have a president that continues to fail to listen and consult with neighbors, which would compare photographically with the prior administration's disastrous approach.

President Obama must not appear to be a messianic symbol, but more of a healing one, in my view. We have a long way to go here, don't we?

[loki]

Wonder if Obama will play Kissie Kissie and skip through the rose garden frolicking and holding hands like Bush did..?

[Lahonda]

I wonder who punched this one in? Perhaps the folks in Riyadh were feeling left out?

[dem 01]

It is not about SA !

They, Saudis, do not own US of A anything.
They have never ever received any kind of AID from US of A or any other nation.
Actually, they borrow "your" gov. money and selling you "cheap" oil - even though it is only 10 % of the total US import

They could/should invest their money somewhere else - you hate them and they do not see it.

[netzwerg]

They own the Chrysler Building in NYC.

[TJCole]

Deja Vous...!

[mat3]

No, Obama knows his place. He will bow and then walk six paces behind the King.

[dogman44]

I hope he doesn't play kissy-face, huggy-hug, walk through the garden holding hands like the
shrubs like to do.

[gladiator777]

Perhaps this time his diplomatic team will let him know he's not supposed to bow.

[mommadona]

"NO KISSING-NO BOWING-NO HAND HOLDING-NO WEARING SILLY ROBE & DANCING 'ROUND W/BIG SWORD, OK MR. POTUS?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoRHLrXmqbc

[Khirad]

It would be funny, since King Abdullah dislikes obsequiousness, to do a little bow or something to Obama as a joke. And then we'd watch the Repuglican spin machine turn that around to one Muslim bowing to another!

[TJCole]

Deja Vous....!