Should Obama have canceled the trip to South Africa given the reality

[malaise]

Mandela's imminent death;
should he cancel his trade speech or is the timing of the visit going to make it possible for him to attend the funeral.
Word is that Mandela is only alive before of the life support (which I find offensive given his age).

[GoCubsGo]

1. Sounds to me like...

...they're hoping he can see Mandela one last time. I agree that the trade speech should probably be canceled, but I do think he should go to South Africa, regardless.

I don't get the life support thing, either--unless it's his choice.

[malaise]

2. No they have already said he cannot see him

http://mg.co.za/

[roody]

3. No.

[Are_grits_groceries]

4. I have to believe he is in contact

with Zuma and others. Graca Machel may even have been consulted.She would certainly have a good idea about how all the interrelated issues work and what would be best.
I think PBO would take that advice very seriously.

[malaise]

9. Yes indeed

http://mg.co.za/article/2013-06-27-obama-my-thoughts-are-with-madiba
<snip>

US President Barack Obama has lauded Mandela's legacy, saying his thoughts and prayers are with the former president, his family and South Africans.
Obama also confirmed on Thursday that he still planned to travel to South Africa in the coming days. He said that if Madiba died, his legacy would live on.

The US president was due to fly into South Africa on Friday. He is currently in Senegal, the first leg of his trip to Africa.

Obama's South African schedule does not include a visit to Mandela.

Obama will take part in bilateral talks, preside over a Young African Leaders initiative meeting and visit Robben Island, where Mandela was imprisoned, according to an outline of his planned activities released by the international relations and co-operation department on Tuesday.

He arrives in Johannesburg on Friday and will visit Soweto on Saturday. He will also visit various sites in Cape Town, and deliver an address at the University of Cape Town.

[backscatter712]

5. IIRC, Obama said he'd defer to the wishes of Mandela's family.

He understands perfectly well that a Presidential visit would turn into a circus that could be harmful to Nelson Mandela, and will stay out of the way if that's what's necessary.

[malaise]

6. Obama will but what about the Secret Service et al

Anyway I'm glad to hear this - I love Obama but this seems distracting to me.

[backscatter712]

7. Sounds like the right thing to do is not visit Mandela.

That way, the Secret Service & such won't have to bother him.

[geek tragedy]

8. The relationship between the two countries is larger than two men.

Even these two men.