Latest Breaking News

PoliticAverse

(26,366 posts) Sat Jan 24, 2015, 06:15 AM Jan 2015

Obama will travel to Saudi Arabia after King Abdullah's death [View all]

Last edited Sat Jan 24, 2015, 01:29 PM - Edit history (4)

Source: The Hill

President Obama will forego a visit to the Taj Mahal during his visit to India in order to pay respects in Saudi Arabia after the death of King Abdullah, the White House announced early Saturday morning.

Vice President Biden was initially scheduled to lead the U.S. delegation, but he will instead now remain in Washington and Obama will add the stop onto his return from India, where the president is embarking on a three-day trip to foster economic ties with the nation.

“President Obama and the First Lady will travel to Riyadh on Tuesday, January 27 in order to pay respects to King Salman bin Abdulaziz and the family of the late King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest said in a statement.

Read more: http://thehill.com/policy/international/230625-obama-will-travel-to-saudi-arabia-for-king-abdullahs-funeral

CNN article on the story:
http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/24/middleeast/saudi-arabia-royals-obama/

===============================================
Post edited for updated text and headline:
"Obama will travel to Saudi Arabia after King Abdullah's death"

70 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Obama will travel to Saudi Arabia after King Abdullah's death [View all] PoliticAverse Jan 2015 OP

WTF joshcryer Jan 2015 #1

I don't believe this was to keep gas prices JonLP24 Jan 2015 #64

Now thats a bad idea. imo. elehhhhna Jan 2015 #2

Maybe he can talk them out of beheading any LuvNewcastle Jan 2015 #3

It's called diplomacy. OKNancy Jan 2015 #4

And the voice of sanity is heard in the land. ColesCountyDem Jan 2015 #5

Completely agree with you...... RationalMan Jan 2015 #22

We must deal with the world as it is. ColesCountyDem Jan 2015 #24

Yemen, the Iran negotiations... A lot going right now... 4139 Jan 2015 #6

+1 treestar Jan 2015 #37

I agree 100%. His attendance is probably required as a political necessity. branford Jan 2015 #40

Diplomacy? TM99 Jan 2015 #54

So the stuff about supporting democracy and human rights is BS? oberliner Jan 2015 #61

He should blog about it while there and comment on Ichingcarpenter Jan 2015 #7

Mistake, big one, especially after failing to go to Paris. Shrike47 Jan 2015 #8

My first thought was he goes there but not to Paris. Arcadiasix Jan 2015 #10

Mine too. Don't like it. n/t Yo_Mama Jan 2015 #52

Agree. 840high Jan 2015 #27

it's about political strategy JI7 Jan 2015 #57

Will he call for an election? RandiFan1290 Jan 2015 #9

While I do not in any way support the Saudi's form of Gov. awake Jan 2015 #26

I agree that the president should attend the funeral, but . . . branford Jan 2015 #41

Agree England is no Saudi Arabia that was not my point awake Jan 2015 #43

Well, praising war criminals as "patriots" is nothing new to him. Scuba Jan 2015 #11

Praising ALL criminals is nothing new to him. SamKnause Jan 2015 #13

I posted this back in December, and it covers this situation Algernon Moncrieff Jan 2015 #16

+1 Sad how the media allows the claim that corporate intersts and American interest are the same. Scuba Jan 2015 #19

Let the whining commence!!!! JoePhilly Jan 2015 #12

I am not liking this....some questions need to be asked of Obama...I am not liking this at all, Fred Sanders Jan 2015 #14

The hypocrisy is indeed nauseating branford Jan 2015 #42

I'm thinking we pay John Kerry to do this kind of thing Algernon Moncrieff Jan 2015 #15

Why would it annoy Bibi? branford Jan 2015 #44

That's disgraceful. Warren Stupidity Jan 2015 #17

He should go to Ernie Banks's funeral instead malthaussen Jan 2015 #18

^^^ THIS!!! Algernon Moncrieff Jan 2015 #23

Talk about security nightmares. B-a-d idea. leveymg Jan 2015 #20

What were the reasons he didn't go to France again? oberliner Jan 2015 #21

Why doesn't he just send the Shrub over there? Frank Cannon Jan 2015 #25

Shrub is too scared to leave the country TexasTowelie Jan 2015 #38

This keeps on being posted. former9thward Jan 2015 #55

Saudi Arabia is an ally, like them or not davidn3600 Jan 2015 #65

This means the 28 pages won't be declassified soon. earthside Jan 2015 #28

It's the right thing to do gwheezie Jan 2015 #29

allies!? WTF? wildbilln864 Jan 2015 #35

It usually bites us in the ass gwheezie Jan 2015 #45

I would rather he didn't.. mountain grammy Jan 2015 #30

They can't send W TexasTowelie Jan 2015 #39

He's ok in Saudi Arabia... they're cut from the same robe.. mountain grammy Jan 2015 #47

Thie headline is a lie oberliner Jan 2015 #31

They've now corrected their headline and I've updated my post. n/t PoliticAverse Jan 2015 #32

Thanks oberliner Jan 2015 #46

True, but it doesn't really change the politics or perceptions of Obama's attendance. nt branford Jan 2015 #50

Why the sudden change in plans? TwilightGardener Jan 2015 #33

security. nt hopemountain Jan 2015 #62

Do those who think he shouldn't meet the new king also think he shouldn't negotiate with Iran onenote Jan 2015 #34

"The United States supports a set of universal rights." oberliner Jan 2015 #48

Meeting with them doesn't mean with agree with them onenote Jan 2015 #51

Not saying it does oberliner Jan 2015 #56

I don't think we should engage much with Saudi Arabia, Israel, or Iran Algernon Moncrieff Jan 2015 #68

"Hemispheres" don't mean that much anymore onenote Jan 2015 #69

No, actually, I think that's a myth Algernon Moncrieff Jan 2015 #70

As Leader Of The Free World,President Obama Should Pay His Respects To An Ally Of The United States Corey_Baker08 Jan 2015 #36

The US is very hypocritical with respect to Saudi Arabia oberliner Jan 2015 #49

I'd never make a good President aint_no_life_nowhere Jan 2015 #53

Smarmy GeorgeGist Jan 2015 #58

Good move. Like it or not, Saudi Arabia is an important ally. nt. Hosnon Jan 2015 #59

So we shouldn't pretend to support democracy or human rights oberliner Jan 2015 #60

Since when has the U.S. only supported countries that support democracy and human rights? nt. Hosnon Jan 2015 #66

"The United States supports a set of universal rights." oberliner Jan 2015 #67

After France this makes sense marshall Jan 2015 #63