Obama In Jordan, Meeting With King Abdullah

Bloomberg news recaps Obama's Mideast trip so far:

Middle Eastern and European leaders are lining up to hear what Barack Obama has to say on his seven- country tour this week. For his presidential campaign, what he says on the trip may not be as important as the photos and videos it produces.

``The visual images will say that he can play in the major leagues, and that will be very important for him,'' said Lee Hamilton, a former Democratic congressman from Indiana and one of Obama's foreign-policy advisers.

Barack Obama is meeting with the monarch of Jordan on Tuesday before holding an availability with his traveling press corps -- the first of his overseas tour. The Jordan Times details the stop.

The King and Obama are expected to discuss the future of Jordan-US ties and developments in the region, especially the Middle East peace process.

The official added that His Majesty would underline Jordan's keenness on a just solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its support for the Palestinians' right to an independent and viable state.

***EARLIER***

Obama Meets With Iraq PM Nouri al-Maliki

Photos And Videos Of The Obama Trip So Far

Comments

[ndolomar]

The King and O

[GuyFawkes]

Man...Seeing McDubya in New Hampshire today, his head literally looks like it's going to explode.

[GuyFawkes]

The King of Jordan reportedly drove Obama to the airport himself. I hope we can get to see some footage of these two guys getting out of the car. That's a photo op.

I know it's too early to be giddy, but it really seems like its been ages since the world has felt this good, that there might be a chance to have open dialogue and cooperation with countries again, despite our differences.

[reliant1]

(CNN) " Running for president, Obama is used to getting driven around " but perhaps not by royalty.

Following his meeting with Jordan"s King Abdullah II, the Democratic presidential nominee got a lift to the airport from none other than the monarch himself, in a royal Mercedes.

The airport drive followed a meeting between the two men during which the king reportedly repeated his long-standing view that a Palestinian state is vital to ending the Arab-Israeli conflict.

I haven't found any film yet...

[okayigive]

Today Sen. Obama's confirmed my beliefs that he is the Statesman of our times. He showed not only the world, but the American people the art of understanding foreign affairs and foreign relationships, besides knowing his geography and history of its people. He spoke with understanding, compassion and candor by answering question after question with thoughtfully well formed and precise answers. I think that the press was shocked that they didn't have to ask could you clarify your answer/position, even though a few tried to reframe the question thinking there would be a different response. I must praise him for holding fast on his stance to withdraw troops by defining the role of the President goes beyond just being CIC; a president must look not only at the needs or will of the military, but also determine the needs of the people. Although many will overllok the respect he showed Sen. Mcc by stating that he respect his judgment, but explained his position without berating or belittlng him; and his willingness to share the stage by interjecting "we talked about' and offered a bipartisan hand to have Sen. Hagel speak if he wished. My only regret is that many of the low information voters will only get snippets and not see the brillance in this man who has the potential to not only change the thinking and doing of America, but the world.

[GuyFawkes]

Even a right wing slug like Jonah Goldberg said today in the LA TIMES that McDubya constantly pimping the surge is a losing argument. I agree with Goldberg on this: Just as voters no longer care why we went into Iraq, they also no longer care why it's more secure. They just want to get out.

[gladys46]

Andrea Mitchell decides to say that O said he would not listen to the generals on the ground!! That is not what I heard O say ... I heard O say that when he is president, he would "factor" in what the generals on the ground say with his own good judgment!!

Andrea ought to know better ... she ought to know that words can change completely what has factually been said!

Shame on you Andrea ... you who is always wanting to be 1st in the media madness line .. well, when you get there report the news and stop injecting your own perceptions!

[bongogirl]

Andrea is very selective in what she conveys to the public. She often presents OBAMA negatively just to confirm what the republicans (her party) wants Americans to believe. Andrea is dishonest and she should not be a representative for NBC news. She is extremely devisive in her reporting of facts. She wants McCain go win this election.

OBAMA '08

[Citizen08]

I heard her say that too! She always twists things around like that but, at the end of the show her and Chris from the Washington post were talking about what command Obama had in that press conference and how Presidential he was!!! And I agree, look at what great press America is getting because of our future Commander-in-Chief!!

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

Andrea is married to Alen Greenspan. She obviously has a fetish for wrinkly old men.

[Viewfromtheporch]

I couldn't agree more. Andrea Mitchell and so many others in the media do not seem to realize they are locked into an old way of reporting --- and I must say even supporters and opponents of Senator Obama --are still locked into the old Left- vs- Right, US- vs- THEM mentality at times: 'how can he possibly vote for the FISA bill"! Obama is so pragmatic, so nuanced, and so strategic in what he sees (and says) I believe it is difficult for many of us, including the media, to come to terms with this different kind of vision. During his press conference in Jordan today he talked about dealing with reality rather than seeing issues through the policy prism of political ideology.

We are all - supporters, newsmedia - so accustomed to politicians and stories about politicians being formulaic --- each side can ONLY operate within the confines of political ideology (most do and that's why we are in so much trouble).

As many of us know, Senator Obama, does not fit that old mold - that is why he seems confounding to many and so hopeful for the rest of us.

[ebanks84]

Andrea is NOT a democrat. She is a republican and speaks for them.

[philosopherkingtomas]

Montana loves Obama !

[jeun28]

What impressed me is when he was able to state Pakistan's issue is 1. internal strife and 2. external strife from relationship between india and pakistan. I was impressed on his geopolitical knowledge and not just yelling rhetoric. Like he said the next president will have to deal with reality and fall in line with what he suggested even though he was scorn for it.

I hope he wins. However, God forbid if he does not win, he has showed me that there intelligent leaders yet to come from our nation and they are not in congress or the senate. They live in each of us no matter your political strife. I say again this is a man who understands international relations to the tee because he studied it.

The press need to get to work. I find that O's camp is pushing them to be better but they are resisting. He is not making it easy for them, he wants them to work and create an intellectual challenge which they still don't understand.
In my life time, just got to say thanks to O

[roshni]

O is the best. The state of our journalism leaves a lot to be desired, however. I have wanted to shoot my TV on numerous occasions. Sound bites are not a solution to complex issues. Low information viewers have destroyed the MSM.
If I want to really figure out what is going on, I need to access the blogs.

[gladys46]

Well said!! If the journalist who are reporting would remember that they are as investigative journalist to report the news not their own perceptions or discernments ... even that would be an intellectual advance!

[ebanks84]

Oh how right you are my friend. And if he doesn't make it to the presidency for any reason whatsoever, our country will be completely lost because there's no one else with his intellect on world and domestic issues as he. God forbid that anything should happen to him.

And what's even more extraordinary is the fact that his intelligence seems to be emanating to the people, who are in turn, seeing his views and good sense as being over and above that which we have been accustomed to receiving from our past governments. He is change that we NEED to evolve further into what we are meant to be.

And his calling for the MEDIA to be better than they are is a long distance call, I must say. Because they are so stuck in their own DUMBED DOWN world that they can't see the forest for the B u s h trees all in the way. WAKE UP MEDIA and do what you're supposed to do. INFORM THE PEOPLE, NOT DELUDE THEM.

[abby4ever]

I missed it, where can I view ir? Damn!

I mean the press conf. of course.

[gladys46]

The talking "POINT" (a point) for Mc's repub supporters is the fact that Mc put in jeopardy and risked his "political career" by endorsing 'THE SURGE' ... you'd think that one of them would recognize who was really in jeopardy and who actually put more than a "political career" on the line ... our troops! They fail to mention the fact that the "surge" is not just a slogan or an idea ... people died!!

[pupnyny]

Why is it called a surge? Another focus group word.... It is a TROOP ESCALATION.... And of course it worked we have more troops.

McCain is focused on the words Surge and Win..... Both are non-starters.... What is a WIN in Iraq? Can anyone define a WIN?

You cannot Put Iraq back togeather again.... tell the people the truth McBush "Obama and Saddam" hated each other.... Tell them....

[repearwo]

Thank you. The dead are just a footnote, except to their families and friends.

A person placing their politcal career on the line pales in the comparison and McCain should know that.

[jlc0426]

I missed the press conference! Does anyone know where I can watch it online?

[reliant1]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQ8-93_XLtM

the whole thing...

[PAposter]

CNN.com or MSNBC.com probably have the video loaded.

[gladys46]

It may be up soon ... [e-mail] ... check there.

[isla989]

THE SURGE - please!!!! - what the 'surge' basically accomplished was only to put more American soldiers between the shias and sunnis so it would be our men and women getting killed instead of them - and less we forget, the whole 'necesssity' for it was that Bush and his cadre so botched the initial invasion (do you remember, we were looking for WMD's children :) by shortchanging troop numbers Against the militarys advice...

And of course we had to then lock the troops behind gigantic barriers and keep them off the streets whenever possible; which hasn't halted the violence, it's just choked it off, (for the moment).

"The Mistake Was Being There In The First Place People" not who supported or failed to support increasing troop numbers - Dubya and his cronies HAD to do something to avoid turning this whole disaster into a complete quagmire, which it nevertheless is -

The IRAQUIS want us out, and we NEED to be in AFGANISTAN - jebus!!!!

[November2008]

The Senator from Illinois must be doing an outstanding job because Rush Limbaugh is irate or in his words "infuriated." That is always a good sign if you really want to know how Senator Obama is doing at anytime.

[isla989]

THE SURGE - please - what the surge basically accomplished was to put more American soldiers between the shias and sunnis so it would be our men and women getting killed instead - and the whole 'necesssity' for it was that Bush and his cadre so botched the initial invasion (remember, we were looking for WMD's kids) by shortchanging troop numbers Against the militarys advice...

And of course, lock the troops behind gigantic barriers and keep them off the streets whenever possible, hasn't halted the violence, it's just choked it off, for the moment.

The Mistake Was Being There In The First Place People, not who supported or failed to support increasing troop numbers - Dubya and his cronies HAD to do something to avoid turning this whole frigging disaster into a complete quagmire, which it nevertheless is - The IRAQUIS want us out, and we NEED to be in AFGANISTAN, jesus!!!!

[theMightyT]

The level of self-delusion here is simply astounding. I have been reading on this thread that America invaded Iraq for regime change. This carefully constructed lie has been so completely debunked that only a desperate fool would still attempt to use it in some misguided justification for the disaster that has ensued...

And the complete dishonesty of trying to argue that the "job" has to be finished in Afghanistan - that there' somehow and achievable "victory" to be had - just underlines the desperation to distract from the fact that finally, with the policies that Obama is espousing and that have been embraced by the leadership in the Middle East and elsewhere, they may finally be an end to the nightmare in Iraq.

I am at a loss to explain why anyone would want the debacles in Iraq and Afghanistan to continue as they are with no end in sight. I guess those arguing against Obama and the leadership in Iraq must be the true America haters... willing to spend even more blood and treasure for, ultimately, the worst foreign policy decision in a generation.