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The Chicago Tribune reports that Barack Obama will spend at least four days later this month traveling to Europe and the Middle East:

The French news agency Agence France-Press reports that French President Nicolas Sarkozy will meet with Obama at the Elysee Palace on Friday July 25.
In Israel, Obama is expected to arrive on Tuesday July 22 or Wednesday July 23 for a two- or three-day visit to include a meeting with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, according to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, which cited a report in the Israeli newspaper Yediot Achronot.

As I wrote last week, this is a risky political move by Obama. While incumbent presidents often schedule foreign-policy events during campaign years to highlight the prestige of the office, the spectacle of a challenger gallivanting abroad is something unusual -- especially since the basic message the Democrat intends to send is, "Look! Foreigners love me!" The backlash potential is huge.

And the prospect of Obama giving a speech at the Brandenburg Gate . . . well, I guess his handlers aren't giving too much credence to concerns that the candidate might be perceived as arrogant.

topics:
Barack Obama, Israel