So what is the significance of Obama meeting top leaders with Hagel and Reed?

[dkf]

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received at his Dar Salwa residence Sunday, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Deputy Chief of the National Guards Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber and His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.

The gathering of senior officials was to welcome visiting US Democratic Party presidential candidate Barack Obama, who attended the meeting alongside US Ambassador to Kuwait Deborah Jones, Rhode Island State Senator Jack Reed, and Nebraska State Senator Chuck Hagel.

Discussions carrying warm tides were conducted between the officials, reflecting the depth of relations between the two allied countries, as well as issues of joint interest and developments on the regional and global scale.

Other officials who attended the meeting was acting Minister of Diwan Affairs Abdulrahman Salem Al-Ateeqi, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Faisal Mohammad Al-Hajji Bukhadhour, Interior Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Khaled Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Chief of National Security Apparatus Sheikh Ahmad Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Director of HH the Amir's Office Ahmad Fahad Al-Fahad, Amiri Diwan Advisor Mohammad Abdullah Abulhasan, Head of Amiri Protocols Sheikh Khaled Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah Al-Nasser Al-Sabah and the Foreign Undersecretary Khaled Sulaiman Al-Jarallah.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0708/11898.html

Is it normal for Senators to meet the top leadership in each country? Or do Hagel and Reed just get access because of Obama? Could Obama be signaling something about Hagel and Reed?

Curious.

[Gman]

1. I posted and asked the same question yesterday and all I got was

[NYC_SKP]

6. I saw that. In the unlikely case that Obama picks Hagel,

I hope everyone who flamed you will get over the fact that the candidate forgot to call them to get their fucking permission.

Give me a break.

We could do worse than Obama/Hagel, like McCain/Leiberman.

I doubt it will be Hagel, and all the outrage is just unnecessary and premature.

:thumbsup:

[Mass]

15. The outrage is against the few DUers who continually promote Hagel, particularly those who

are bashing other Democrats as unsuitable for VP. Just in case some people missed that, it is Democratic Underground, not "Mixed Ticket Underground".

[curious one]

2. This is extremely important. I do not think McSame would have gotten

the same treatment. This invitation shows that Kuwait top leadership is done with Bush administration and looking to Obama's. The only drawback is if Obama does not deliver and continue the same policy, that is very unlikely. Hagel and Reed just got access because of Obama.

Obama is the answer to rebuild our integrity in the world.

[TwilightGardener]

3. It's normal for Senators to meet with foreign leaders, actually.

And Obama is still just a Senator, no different than the other two for Congressional Delegation purposes.

[dkf]

4. Did McCain meet with the Amir?

He passed through Kuwait no doubt.

[TwilightGardener]

5. I don't know that, offhand. But I know he has met with world leaders

as a Senate member.

[TexasObserver]

7. Obama is sending a message: He's taking one Dem and one Republican US senator with him.

That's the message he wants to send US voters, that he's reasonable, that he will be inclusive, and that he has some Republicans with whom he is friendly.

[elocs]

8. I don't believe Obama is "taking" anyone with, rather he is part of a group of senators

on a foreign. He is not doing this trip as "Senator Barack Obama--Democratic Presidential Nominee", but simply as Senator Barack Obama from Illinois. In reality this is not exactly the situation, but he is going as a senator and not as a presidential candidate. People are free to read into things whatever they like and they usually do.

[Sensitivity]

9. Not quite so. Hagel and Reed were clearly INVITED to join Obama on this trip.

[elocs]

12. Was it specifically Obama's trip and who invited whom? Who did the inviting?

Is there a specific link that would answer that question?

[TexasObserver]

10. You can believe as you wish, but the PURPOSE of the trip is to help get Obama elected president.

If you are naive enough to think this is merely a trip by three senators in pursuit of their jobs as senators, then that's your limitation.

He IS doing this trip as Democratic Presidential Nominee, and you may be the only person on the planet who doesn't know that.

[elocs]

11. Officially he is NOT doing it as the Democratic Presidential Nominee.

No need to be condescending, I am not stupid or naive, but if you can provide a link which shows Obama is officially making this trip as the Democratic nominee then please provide it. There is no way to change that Obama is a candidate for president, but he is not officially making the trip in that capacity.

[Mass]

13. It is normal for senators to meet with head of states when in a senatorial mission.

Hagel has already done that several times as has Reed. Of the three, Obama is the one with the less experience in these types of things.

Hagel was probably chosen in order to have a Repub in the trip that would not be too far from Obama on this issue. Reed is very knowledgeable of military affairs and a low profile guy. My guess is that he was chosen for these reasons.

[NewJeffCT]

14. Hagel is along so the trip is bipartisan, plus

it gives Hagel a chance to audition for Sec. of Defense under Obama.