Obama To Kick Off Mideast Trip

* Scroll down for a slideshow

President Obama leaves tonight for his third major international trip, stopping first in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a recently announced addition. From Riyadh, he will travel to Cairo, where he'll give a major speech on U.S.-Middle East relations, a talk he promised to stage from a Middle East capital sometime in his first hundred days in office (he's a little late). After just twelve hours in Egypt, Obama is headed to Germany, where he'll visit wounded vets and Buchenwald concentration camp. Then it's off to France to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the D-Day invasion.

Obama's decision to stop in Riyadh came just last week, and signals his desire to improve perceptions of the U.S. in the Muslim world. According to Sabria Jawhar, a Huffington Post contributor and journalist in Saudi Arabia, Obama is on the right track, but needs to back up the photo-ops with substance:

This potential glad-handing makes Arabs nervous and annoyed. It's fine to engage in this protocol and unite the Ummah with an emotional speech. Saudis also appreciate that Obama has chosen Saudi Arabia, the land of the two holy mosques and the heart of Islam, to discuss the Arab agenda before speaking in Cairo. It's a positive step towards reconciling with Muslims.

But Arabs expect substance right out of the gate. The primary issues of Middle East peace, as far as the U.S. is concerned, seem to be shifting away from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and moving towards dealing with Iran's nuclear ambitions, routing the Taliban and stabilizing Iraq.

Although the president won't be making any public appearances in Riyadh, journalists have already been caught in a debate over what they can and cannot report on while in the country. Time's Micheal Scherer reported that the Obama Administration struck a deal with the Saudi government to curtail the movements of the White House press corps; the Saudi government denied the report.

Cairo is the most anxiously awaited stop on the trip. Obama met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas last week, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the week before, to discuss Israeli-Palestinian peace plans. The speech on Wednesday is not expected to include major policy decisions, according to White House press secretary Robert Gibbs, and is instead intended to indicate to Muslim populations "his personal commitment to engagement, based upon mutual interests and mutual respect". HuffPost contributor Ayman Nour, who ran against Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in the 2005 presidential elections and was then imprisoned, worries that expectations for the speech are too high in the region, writing:

The war against extremism, hatred and exclusion is everyone's war. Obama should engage Muslims everywhere to side with peace, freedom and tolerance. During his campaign, Obama enjoyed tremendous support in this part of the world. People placed very high hopes on Obama to deliver the change he promised and fix what they see as decades-long problems. Upon his historic victory, most Muslims cheered and celebrated. The biggest challenge facing Obama is this image of a Superhero-Obama who can fix all problems and solve all complex issues.

Obama has already faced criticism for choosing Cairo for the speech, as Egypt has been condemned for its human rights record. However, Cairo University, the site of the speech as well as a historical setting for pro-democracy protests - including those in favor of the outlawed but extremely popular Muslim Brotherhood party - is seen as symbolic of a confluence of East and West.

From Cairo, Obama is destined for Germany on Friday for a meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel. Afterwards, Obama will visit wounded vets at the Landstuhl medical facility, a stop he failed to make last year during a campaign trip, drawing harsh attacks from rival John McCain. He will also visit Buchenwald concentration camp, which his great uncle helped to liberate (not Auschwitz, as Obama once said on the campaign trail.)

Finally, on Saturday Obama will stop in France to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the Normandy invasion. While he will make a speech at the American cemetery in Coleville, preparations have been overshadowed by French President Sarkozy's royal faux pas. Sarkozy, a fan of the U.S., invited Obama, but not the Queen of England, despite the fact that British troops also participated in the attack. Although Sarkozy attempted to rectify the snub, it's been announced that Prince Charles will be coming instead.

Four days, four countries, four foreign leaders to woo. For a visual breakdown, watch a slideshow of the week abroad:

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US President Barack Obama (L) shakes hands with Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud after he was presented with the King Abdul Aziz Order of Merit. (Getty)

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Comments

[sababa]

I agree with Sabria Jawhar; add substance to that handshake!
Anyways... how will the Muslim community deal with this... http://www.governmentalityblog.com/my_weblog/2009/06/uhoh-gay-muslim-story-to-appear-on-british-soap.html

[arvay]

A modest proposal:

President Obama announces in Egypt that the US has dispatched several large and unarmed cargo ships to Gaza with humanitarian supplies -- food, water, medicine, building materials etc.

There would be many, many press people aboard to instantly transmit any hostile Israeli actions. Obviously, we wouldn't be giving the Gazans any weapons.

That would be a real action, far better than high-sounding words.

[AJ Alsingace]

Mr President-We have a dream too;

In a visit to the area early 2008, Mr. Bush passed by Bahrain, a tiny country in the Gulf of official population then just over 750 thousand people. A copy of 82000 signatories petition was passed to him through the US Embassy in Manamathat to say that "Bahrain is not a beacon of democracy", as he and his State Secretary kept iterating. This petition is calling for recognition of the indigenous people of Bahrain and their right to draft a democratic constitution. The current 2002 constitution was tailor-made by the ruler to focus all powers at his hands. His family of Al-Khalifa are represented in more than half of the ministerial cabinets, while his Uncle, presided as the only prime minister in the history of Bahrain since 1969.

The people of Bahrain, not only have no right to elect their Government but have ben subjected to a demographic engineering program lead by the ruler himself to ensure loyalty and perpetual reign. This involves importing thousands of nationalities selected carefully from areas of known extreme behavior and culture. Those imported nationals are planted in Bahrain to alter its historic culture and identity as well as employed in the security establishments to face grass root democratic movement. Moreover, they are exploited to manipulate the outcome of any election process.

Bahrainis, striving since the early twenties of the last century, have petitioned for democratically electing their own government. That has always been a dream.

[impik]

Be safe, you brave leader.

[Paul Blain]

God please keep Pres. Obama safe, we can't afford to lose him

[smchp]

I feel the same way. I get nervous on these trips.

[TJCole]

Let's hope he doesn't raise expectations as he did here, they might not be as docile and sheep like as we Americans are...

[AlexFTW]

Or bitter and impatient?

[BankerTee]

Is it me, or has Stephen Harper gained a bit of weight? He looks like he's carrying a bit of neck face and a bit of gut. Must be working too hard and not time to exercise.

Safe trip all!

[sysmgr1345]

I know it isn't in Websters dictionary or in our fathers or grandfathers basic knowledge of life or common sense...but isn't what he is doing common sense?

[Crissy Patters]

I hope the president arrives to all his destinations safely and returns home safely. I'm thrilled we are reaching out to our Middle East neighbors because until we try we never know if old wounds and stereotypes can be held and replaced with who we each really are.

I look forward to MO joining PO on the last leg of his trip:)

[sysmgr1345]

Thanks. I think we should fight their stupid ideas at the same time fight their psychopaths.

[hotwire]

Everybody sing," were off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of oz". And when we find him we're going to invite him to our 4th of July picnic.

[ClearingtheAir2010]

It is your, mine, America's and the world's interests that America reconcile and build relations with the Middle East.

You my friend, are blinded by ignorance.

[hotwire]

Cry me a river, will ya. Where are ya Rosie I can't see ya.

[NevaforLeadership]

Mr. President, Yes You Can.

[tippydog11]

God Bless Pres Obama and give Pres Obama the Wisdom and strength needed to do your will and desire dear God...God Bless Pres Obama in his coming and going..

[Mscharizmaa]

Good luck Mr. President!!

[nana4g]

May God protect this man, our President, and bless his efforts.

Frankly, though proud of his trip, I will be glad when he gets home.

[janpradder]

I'm proud to be (one of the) first to comment on this post. Obama is fulfilling his promise to reach out to the middle east. The fundamentalists will spew hate, but he will reach some of the people and will help to heal some of the wounds between east and west.

Bless you Mr. President, and good luck!

[ZimboChick]

i feel u....ditto on everything