[PGR88]

It’s very American to believe that a bow is just a casual way of showing friendliness/respect and doesn’t mean much. True.

But the fact that the President doesn’t consider what his actions mean in other countries, just assumes his casual American customs are OK everwhere, or didn’t have anyone advising him otherwise - is all rather scary. Kind of makes Obama the “ugly American” doesn’t it?

[expatpat]

assumes his casual American customs are OK everywhere

Uh???? Where in the US is such bowing a casual American custom?