Why Obama's Saudi Bow was Not a Kow-Tow (MSM admits he bowed, but it's Okay!)

Time Magazine ^ | April 10, 2009 | Scott MacLeod

[2ndDivisionVet]

President Obama definitely bowed down when he shook the hand of Saudi Arabian King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud at the G-20 in London last week. Despite the continuing outrage of conservatives and Arab-bashers, what Obama did was entirely appropriate, too. Here's my guide to Arabian royal protocol and American common sense.

In the videotape zapping around the Internet, Obama looks slightly awkward, as if he wasn't quite sure whether to bow, shake hands or do both. It turned out to be a deep bow- cum-handshake, it was certainly more than the nod-handshake he gave Queen Elizabeth II, but it was not quite a formal diplomatic bow from the waist. Maybe that's why the White House is, unofficially, denying the Obama bow.

A simple handshake would have sufficed. Obama certainly did not need to bow at all, as far as Saudi royal protocol is concerned. I have attended Abdullah's majlis in Riyadh a few times and witnessed his own personal distaste for obsequious shows of respect. In the context of a tribal society, Abdullah is a sheikh, indeed the sheikh of sheikhs, and as such his subjects would typically greet him at his Saudi-style town meetings with a kiss on the shoulder and a kiss on the hand.

-snip-

The Saudi leads a society that is steeped in custom, even if he himself is trying to loosen tradition a bit. As a much younger man, even if he is president of the world's most powerful country, Obama is entirely proper in showing pointed respect for an elder counterpart. Moreover, Abdullah holds a variety of positions that deserve and require recognition-king; custodian of the holy mosques of Mecca and Medina; elder statesman of the Arab world; son of the founder of his country.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Yes, since he's the custodian of the Muslim holy cities, I see why a "Christian" like Mr. Obama would wish to show him fealty ... it's all making sense to me, now.

[Libloather]

President Obama definitely bowed down when he shook the hand of Saudi Arabian King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud...

So he wasn't really looking for his lost contact lens? Now THAT would be news...

[BunnySlippers]

Ah, we need the MSM to parse these issues for us, the lowly ... /sarc

[toddausauras]

Yes Time Magazine, the Saudis are “Steeped” in traditions such as letting women be raped and not letting them drive.

I just can’t even take the msm anymore, it’s just criminal.

[Star Traveler]

Actually, Obama was heard to say..., “Don’t anybody move! I just dropped my contacts...”

LOL...

[Ancient Drive]

so he was not looking at the floor-level teleprompter?

[Doogle]

...every time I hear one of these pundits say Americans don't care, I find myself yelling at the TV but 900 MILLION MUSLIMS DO.
I swear it's as stupid as what they don't get about “illegal”

[PhilDragoo]

[Talisker]

As a much younger man, even if he is president of the world's most powerful country, Obama is entirely proper in showing pointed respect for an elder counterpart.

No.

[Nooseman]

AWW HE WAS JUST LOOKIN FOR CHANGE,CAPS FOR DUMMIES.

[Semper Mark]

...”awkward”? He made a bee line line for the King, like he had been holding a pee and just saw the sign for the restrooms.

He couldn't wait to assume the position, and he did so as if if he'd done it a thousand times before.

This my fellow FReepers, was a Muslim “thang”, plain and simple.

[kenth]

Damn Internet! How is the LSM going to keep things covered up for 0 if they can’t control what people watch??!!

[eclecticEel]

He bowed, but the fact that he didn’t get down on the ground and grovel makes it all OK!

[Ingtar]

He bowed like a slave to his master. This is something that if it got out amongst his purported peer group, would destroy his appeal. So, to his accomplices, it is no big thing.

[lainie]

Interesting footage. Thanks for posting it.

[what's up]

The London encounter is the latest in an unbroken string of meetings between U.S. and Saudi heads of state dating back to the meeting between President Roosevelt and Ibn Saud, Abdullah's father, aboard the USS Quincy.

Uh...there's LOTS of unbroken strings of meeting with most of the countries of the world, bud.

Doesn't mean that's reason to bow. If that logic held, the US President would be bowing to every leader he met...

Oshama, if representing the US, should be bowing to NO INDIVIDUAL in the world.

[tacticalogic]

Now that they’ve explained the bow, let’s see them explain the White House lying about it.

[giotto]

I have attended Abdullah's majlis in Riyadh a few times and witnessed his own personal distaste for obsequious shows of respect.

So the author admits that the bow was obsequious. What is a bow, if not obsequious? The question is, why did he feel the need to show obeisance to this man?

[Wil H]

President Obama definitely bowed down when he shook the hand of Saudi Arabian King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud

Time Magazine calls the White House LIARS!

[Wil H]

The question is, why did he feel the need to show obeisance to this man?

Because he sponsored and payed for his Harvard education..

Plus of course, he is 0bama's King.