Obama goes back to Indonesia

[impik]

The first family will travel to Indonesia and Australia in March, the White House announced Monday. The trip will take them to the Southeast Asian country where President Obama lived for four years during his childhood. It also will be Obama's first visit to Australia as president.

Noting that Indonesia is the world's third-largest democracy and is home to the largest Muslim population, press secretary Robert Gibbs said the trip "is an important part of the president's continued effort to broaden and strengthen the partnerships that are necessary to advance our security and prosperity."

Obama will begin the U.S.-Indonesia Comprehensive Partnership, aimed at building relations to “tackle important regional and global issues,” Gibbs said. He also will commemorate the 70th anniversary of U.S.-Australian relations, Gibbs told reporters at the daily briefing, and meet with Prime Minister Rudd of Australia "on ways that we can build on the strong relationship between our two countries and discuss issues such as global economic recovery, clean energy and climate change, non-proliferation and Afghanistan."

The president will travel to Asia in mid-March with Michelle Obama and their daughters, Sasha and Malia. On his way there, he will stop in Guam to meet with members of the military.

An exact itinerary is being worked out, but Obama is expected to visit some of the sites of his childhood while in Indonesia.

http://www.politico.com/politico44/perm/0210/obamas_to_indonesia_a663c9e2-1e10-465b-85a2-160e110cd137.html

[HopeOverFear]

1. Very cool. Can't wait for pics from that trip.

[thunder rising]

2. I guess his participation in the Dem interest is done for the year. Back to the international stage

[babylonsister]

3. Wow, you sound bitter. And did you eat baloney today, because you

sound like you're full of it. :fistbump:

[Cha]

4. Oh, is that what you guess.

oh.

[Cha]

5. How fantastic for our country,

Australia(Kevin Rudd), and Indonesia!