Posted on 01/24/2015 3:05:36 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
President Obama will forego a visit to the Taj Mahal during his visit to India in order to travel to Saudi Arabia for King Abdullah’s funeral, the White House announced early Saturday morning.
Vice President Biden was initially scheduled to lead the U.S. delegation, but he will instead now remain in Washington and Obama will add the stop onto his return from India, where the president is embarking on a three-day trip to foster economic ties with the nation.
“President Obama and the First Lady will travel to Riyadh on Tuesday, January 27 in order to pay respects to King Salman bin Abdulaziz and the family of the late King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest said in a statement.
“As the President’s and Vice President’s travel schedules became clearer, we determined that the window when the Vice President would be on the ground in Riyadh coincided with the President’s departure from India,” Earnest continued. “Accordingly, we adjusted the schedule in coordination with the Indian Government so that the President would be able to depart India following his speech on Tuesday to stop in Riyadh during the return trip to meet with King Salman and other Saudi officials and offer his condolences on behalf of the American people.”
King Abdullah, who died Thursday at the age of 90, was a key ally for the United States during his reign. The ruler invested the nation’s oil revenues into the country’s infrastructure and education, while also proving to be a critical partner with the U.S. against al Qaeda. However, he was also criticized by many for his nation’s slow advancement of progress for women.
Will they keep him?
Everything going according to plan, right on schedule.
Such allies are a modern conundrum.
We know they do wicked things. But they do other things that profit our country (and sometimes, greater humankind).
There could always be the Jimmy Carter approach, topple that “horrible” shah. But that is to strain out gnats and swallow camels.
I don’t know all the answers, but we should attempt, at least, to “first, do no harm.”
Couldn’t Barack skip a golf outing and at least come back to the place later?
On the other hand, some folks in India are grateful for this. They feel that such a monument deserves respect. The environs were getting pretty decrepit.
Skip Paris go directly to the one who supports, finances and encourages it and bow with praise. The 911 scumbags where saudi’s lest we forget
Instead of visiting an old dead muslim he’ll be visiting a newly dead muslim that he has bowed down before.
I haven’t seen anyone claim that the Saudi government prepared the 9/11 fanatics to carry on that murderous mission. Or that they did not cooperate in cracking down on such schemes afterwards.
Anyhow, Islam comes in 2 flavors, Shiite and Sunni, and both have their fanatics.
This split is fortuitous for the West because frequently the fanatics become so occupied with fighting one another that they have little time left to fight the West.
Reminds me of the time he had one of his princesses executed for adultery. She was 19 years old.
Obola the Undocumented is going “to represent women”.
There is no way that WE can provide him the security he will need. NO WAY should he rely on SAUDI security. The man is delusional at the least and placing himself in harms way For what?
Hey, he owes the guy. He paid for all his college tuition at every stage of the way, paid off Harvard with cash so they would pass him and hand him a degree he didn't earn, paid off officials to hide all of his records, gave him millions in cash on the side, helped illegally finance his State Senate, US Senate, and Presidential campaigns, and God knows what else.
Of course this president will suck up to any Muslim, but he has absolutely no time for Bibi. When are we going to realize that we elected a Muslim as president, and at the most crucial time in our history. The next two years will have us and Israel in very deep danger, unless this congress begin to grow a pair of very big COJONES and defy this imperial president.
BINGO. Think you nailed it. It’s a reaction to the congressional visit.
So if the Mooch goes, does she have to wear a burqa? That would be presenting an interesting conundrum about “representing women.”
Ah, I was hoping one of those vicious thieving little monkeys who hang around in packs near the Taj Mahal would bolt past the security cordon. All captured for enjoyable YouTube viewing. Maybe instead the visiting party will take in a nice Saudi flogging exhibition.
“I haven’t seen anyone claim that the Saudi government prepared the 9/11 fanatics to carry on that murderous mission. Or that they did not cooperate in cracking down on such schemes afterwards.”
Of course you haven’t. Those 28 pages were immediately redacted from the 9/11 commission’s report, and they sure as hell won’t be made public during this administration.
Look for Barry to genuflect again...
!!!
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