Obama Plans Trip to Mideast, Europe

[DeepModem Mom]

Source: New York Times

By Jeff Zeleny

WASHINGTON – Senator Barack Obama will make his first foreign trip as a presidential candidate next month when he travels to the Middle East and Europe, his campaign announced today.

Mr. Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee, will visit Jordan, Israel, Germany, France and the United Kingdom. On a separate trip, he is also planning to visit American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, but aides declined to disclose those details for security reasons.

It will be Mr. Obama’s second tour of Iraq and his fourth international trip since being elected to the United States Senate four years ago. His Republican rival, Senator John McCain of Arizona, has sought to make foreign policy experience a central issue in the presidential race and has criticized Mr. Obama for not visiting Iraq in more than two years....

“This trip will be an important opportunity for me to assess the situation in countries that are critical to American national security,” Mr. Obama said in a statement, “and to consult with some of our closest friends and allies about the common challenges we face.”...

Read more: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/28/obama-plans-trip-to-mideast-europe/

[Cirque du So-What]

1. Be safe!

I don't trust the BFEE as far as I can throw them.

[L. Coyote]

2. Has McCain asked if he can go along? LOL.

[Inuca]

3. Great!

I like that he is going to Europe + friendly Middle East countries. I wonder if maybe RUssia should have been included in the list... Also wonder if he is going alone or will have any big name tagging along, and if so who...

[legin]

4. As per normal for u.s. politicians

e.g. Mayor Blomberg, Arnie

first thing they do after getting elected, off to israel to do some quality arse kissing.

with Jordan thrown in for apperances sake.

[LeftishBrit]

5. He is visiting us too, you know!

Not everything is just about Israel.

[LeftishBrit]

6. Well, I'd definitely rather have him as a visitor than bloody idiot McCain....

who came to the UK twice and showed what a complete fool he is.

I imagine most Europaeans would agree with me!

Much nicer to have a visitor with a brain.

[ladjf]

7. I don't think that he should go. It's too risky. He won't have the level

of security necessary to cover all dangerous contingencies. He will not have the kind of security that heads of state have.

[ohio2007]

8. SO what you are saying is he shoudn't be running for president either ?

You think a target is on his head now , just wait until he becomes the man.

I hope he gets a good handle on the situation over there and shoots straight on foreign policy issues beyond Germany and Jordan for example.



http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/War_Terror/2008/06/26/pf-5996761.html

[ladjf]

9. I was saying that he should wait until after he is elected to travel

out of the country. Then he would have the full head of state security force.

The profits from the trip don't seem to be worth taking the risk.

I was concerned yesterday when I saw Obama and Hilary standing for about 20 minutes right in the middle of a large crowd. I thought the situation wasn't good.

America seems to be getting dumber, crazier and meaner. That's not good.

[ohio2007]

10. Stay home nt