Anyone who has been to Japan KNOWS if you do bow (which no US head of State should EVER do) as a sign of respect, you NEVER touch the other person while bowing.
In the picture, Obama bows AND shakes the hand at the same time, which is a total breech of protocol on the two levels I pointed out above. As such, it is obvious this buffoon either has not solicited the advice of the State Dept protocol officers, or, they have told him the proper way to behavem and he has ignored it. Either way it is inexcusable.
Someone here with more knowledge than I should confirm or deny what I learned at a dojo decades ago, namely that the angle of bow is of significance. I was taught that exposing the nape of the neck (in essence offering the neck to a sword blow) was to affirm obeisance to the master, who had the power of life and death over you. I was taught to always keep my forehead up.
As I recall, Mr. Miyagi made the same point (in a physical way) to Daniel-San.
Someone here with more knowledge than I should confirm or deny what I learned at a dojo decades ago, namely that the angle of bow is of significance. I was taught that exposing the nape of the neck (in essence offering the neck to a sword blow) was to affirm obeisance to the master, who had the power of life and death over you. I was taught to always keep my forehead up.
As I recall, Mr. Miyagi made the same point (in a physical way) to Daniel-San.
Don't blow their cover. The protocol officers are secretly in the pay of Karl Rove. Their mission is to make Captain Zero a laughingstock. Mission accomplished.