Obama plans Europe and Middle East trip this summer!!

[TheDonkey]

I am surprised this hasn't been posted. There was some chatter a couple weeks ago whether this would be a good idea. I think it could go off very well but the Obama team will have to be extremely talented in advance work to make sure things go off without any glitches. The media will be looking for any gaffe or slip-up to attack him with.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080628/ap_on_el_pr/obama_foreign_travel;_ylt=AnmgUTp48Ca4FHXbRmdafgqs0NUE

WASHINGTON - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama plans to visit the Middle East and Europe this summer, taking time off from campaigning in the United States in an effort to boost his foreign policy credentials.

Obama's campaign said the likely nominee will travel to Jordan, Israel, Germany, France and the United Kingdom. The Illinois senator also has said he intends to visit Iraq and Afghanistan this summer; his campaign would not say whether those stops would be part of the trip to the Mideast and Europe.

"Israel is a strong and close friend of the United States, and is confronting grave threats from Gaza to Tehran," Obama said in his statement. "Jordan has been a close partner in the peace process and a host of other issues of common concern. France, Germany, and the United Kingdom are key anchors of the trans-Atlantic alliance and have contributed to the mission in Afghanistan, and I look forward to discussing how we can strengthen our partnership in the years to come."

The trip is an attempt to address Republican rival John McCain's criticism that the first-term Illinois senator lacks the international experience to be commander in chief. In particular, McCain and the Republican Party have sought to make the case that Obama has not observed conditions in Iraq closely enough to determine whether his plan to remove all combat troops within 16 months is the right course of action.

[Cha]

1. THis sounds like a good idea to

me since the "polls"(whatever meaning they have) have always suggested in the past that repukes are stronger on Foreign Policy even though they let 9/11 happen and freakin' bombed the wrong country.

[TheDonkey]

2. Yes, images of Obama flanked by military officials will do good

and meeting with world leaders. I think Obama has a good boost in the polls to be able to take 1.5 weeks off in Europe but he'll have to come back soon. Man, I would hate to run for president. It has to be stressful.

[retread]

3. If timed right, his welcome will be an eye opener for those just starting to "pay attention."

I don't think McSame has thought this through. The reception he will get from our soldiers in Iraq and Afganistan is not something McSame or any repug should want on the 6 o'clock news.

[Cha]

4. If the m$$$m even put it on

the 6pm news.

But, yeah..Obama should get a great welcome in Iraq and places in Europe where they've gotten the real news all these years.

[TheDonkey]

5. I think the response overseas will be too overwhelming for even the M$M to ignore

unlike when McSame goes to Canada and a few dozen show up to watch him criticize Obama.

[Eurobabe]

6. Oh damn, Germany!

Yea!! :woohoo:

[FrenchieCat]

7. In Italy and France, Obama is as popular if not more so than those Countries' leaders.

This is a wonderful opportunity.

I'm confident that the Obama campaign would get it right.

[CTyankee]

9. I was in Italy in May and was told that many Italians have a bias against Obama

because they view him as a Muslim. My source was an Italian who teaches at an Italian university and worked for Coca Cola in cultural marketing at the 06 winter Olympics in Turin, where he lives. I'm sure he doesn't speak for all Italians, of course, but I was surprised to hear it. He said that Italians love Hillary because they loved Bill. I kinda believed that...

[Cha]

10. Well, those Italians will

come around once they get the real news.

[CTyankee]

11. Yes, I agree. Obama represents everything that is good about America and they will welcome

that, I am sure. For one thing, the Italians are VERY anti Iraq war (remember the pic of the PACE sign in St. Peter's Square in Rome?). They will love him as much, and maybe more, than they did Bill Clinton (possibly why Bill is so pissed over Obama, not just abroad but at home as well?).

[SoCalDem]

8. He needs to go to Russia..

Russia is rebounding and becoming quite rich with the expensive oil.. And they hold some sway over Iran..

It will be interesting to see the response to him vs Georgie's recent trip though :evilgrin:

[Arkana]

12. He's smart to do it now, I think, while his polls are still pretty high.

[u2spirit]

13. My Debbie Downer thought

He will be overseas when the big swiftboat push will start, timed to distract. Watch it happen.

[Cha]

14. He'll have to have strong surrogates

here to counteract..one way or another the US mainstreammediawhores need to be exposed and held accountable.