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
