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Larry Downing / Reuters
U.S. President Barack Obama ended his Middle East trip with a visit to the ancient city of Petra, Jordan, Saturday.
PETRA, Jordan -- President Barack Obama marveled at the sights of Jordan's ancient city of Petra on Saturday as he wrapped up a four-day Middle East tour by setting aside weighty diplomatic matters and playing tourist for a day.
The visit followed a trip to Israel and the Palestinian Territories that was capped by Obama's brokering of a rapprochement between Israel and Turkey, but which offered little more than symbolic gestures toward Middle East peacemaking.
Before heading to Petra, Obama used his stop in Jordan to ratchet up criticism of Syrian President Bashar Assad, but he stopped short of promising military aid to Syrian rebels to help end a two-year-old civil war that has claimed 70,000 lives.
President Obama receives applause from a crowd in Jerusalem Thursday by challenging groups that reject Israel.
U.S. officials privately voiced satisfaction with the results of Obama's first foreign trip of his second term, but the president's aides had set expectations so low that it was not hard to proclaim it a mission accomplished.
Shifting into sightseeing mode on Saturday, Obama flew by helicopter to Petra and took a walking tour of the restored ruins of a city more than 2,000 years old which is half-carved into sandstone cliffs.
Ordinary tourists had been cleared out for the president's visit, and guards with assault weapons dogged his every step.
"This is pretty spectacular," the president, wearing sunglasses, khaki trousers and a dark jacket, said as he craned his neck to look up at the Treasury, a towering rose-red façade cut into a mountain. "It's amazing."
The U.S. president arrived in Jordan on Friday after an unexpected diplomatic triumph in Israel, where he announced a breakthrough in relations between Israel and Turkey after a telephone conversation between the countries' prime ministers.
President Barack Obama on Thursday urged the Israeli people to put themselves in the shoes of Palestinians and recognize their "right to self-determination, their right to justice." NBC's Chuck Todd reports.
Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu apologized on behalf of his country for the killing of nine Turkish citizens in a 2010 naval raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla, and the two feuding U.S. allies agreed to normalize ties.
The 30-minute call was made in a runway trailer at Tel Aviv airport, where Obama and Netanyahu huddled before the president boarded Air Force One for a flight to Jordan.
The rapprochement could help Washington marshal regional efforts to contain spillover from the Syrian civil war and ease Israel's diplomatic isolation in the Middle East as it faces challenges posed by Iran's nuclear program.
Larry Downing / Reuters
Obama, left, looks at the Treasury while he receives a tour of the ancient historic and archaeological site of Petra on Saturday.
During his visit, Obama appeared to have made some headway in easing Israelis' suspicions of him, calming their concerns about his commitment to confronting Iran and soothing his relationship with the hawkish Netanyahu.
Obama attempted to show Palestinians he had not forgotten their aspirations for statehood but he left many disappointed that he had backtracked from his previous demands for a halt to Israeli settlement building in the occupied West Bank.
The president offered no new peace proposals but he promised his administration would stay engaged while putting the onus on the two sides to set aside mutual distrust and restart long-dormant negotiations - a step the president failed to bring about in his first term.
Muhammad Hamed / Reuters
Members of the U.S. Secret Service Counter Assault Team survey a path after Obama walked through it during his tour of the ancient historic and archaeological site of Petra on Saturday.
After visiting both Israel and the West Bank, President Obama met with King Abdullah of Jordan, a country facing some very turbulent times of its own, post Arab Spring. But there may be no stronger Arab ally to the U.S. and Israel than Jordan. NBC's Chuck Todd reports.
As Obama's critics were complaining that his Middle East trip was heavy on symbolism and lacking in substance, the last-minute move toward Israeli-Turkish reconciliation gave his aides a chance to tout a tangible achievement.
On the last leg of his trip, Obama promised further humanitarian aid in talks with Jordan's King Abdullah, a close ally, as the economically strapped country grapples with a refugee crisis caused by Syria's civil war.
Obama also used the opportunity to underscore U.S. wariness about arming rebels fighting to overthrow Assad, despite pressure from Republican critics at home and from some European allies to do more.
He warned that a post-Assad Syria could become an "enclave" for Islamist extremism and insisted it was vital to help organize the Syrian opposition to avoid that, but he stopped short of announcing any new concrete steps.
Related:
Palestinian activists frustrated by lack of US action as Obama ends visit
Obama lays stone from MLK memorial on grave of Israeli PM slain for trying to make peace
Obama appeals to Israelis: Give justice to the Palestinians
Obama: 'Still time' for diplomatic solution to Iran nuke dispute
Leave a Comment:
President Headfake plays tourist. Amazing!
He says he is for justice for the Palestinians yet he voted at the UN against a Palestinian State and won't stop the Izraelis from building settlements. Amazing!
J.P., just how can Obama stop Israel from building in the settlement? Bomb them?? It's haters like yourself that's amazing.
Wow, the hatemongers, the vitriol rats are still asleep.
Wait till they get a hold of this one....
His golf clubs are just out of view, whew! it's amazing to get an early tee time on short notice.
It's nice to be the president, it's good to be born wealthy like Bush II and never have do to anything, It's good to be super rich! These points have been well established before Obama was born. Now we normal people can get back to work and try to find a good tee time. What's your point?
Such petty little whiners on here this morning. What miserable lives they must lead to search around the garbage can of life to see what crap they can sling at the POTUS. Sad way to honor the free speech that is provided to them at the cost of others efforts.
I have letters that were written in the early 1900's, complaining about President Wilson golfing in Florida. Just switch names of presidents, locations, adjust for inflation, update the weaponry, and toss in a few ugly, even racist adjectives, and some folks here will post exactly the same stuff.
Let the Palestinians put themselves in Israeli shoes! Israel doesnt bomb them every day!
Palestinians can go back to their countries of origin.....oh thats right, they dont want them back either, so its now Israel's problem? Palestinians dont want peace, they want to kill the Jews
and those children you talked to Barry, you know, the ones that walk up and torment Israeli soldiers are TAUGHT this by their parents! Hate breeds hate!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax-Jk2iJL0k
That’s because Obama speaks with a fork tongue! He told both sides what they wanted to hear, then had the nerve to tell the Israelis to undermine their government? Maybe Bibi should come over here and try the same thing!!!
Dick, The point is Obama has been on vacation for 5 years and accomplished nothing.
Seven2seven
....and Bush was on vacation for 8 f*cking years and nothing to show for it but wars, poverty, scorn, division and the worse Presidency in US history
Obama has accomplished plenty. Google GDP graph, jobless claims graph, and the DOW.
Notice how everything has gotten better despite Republican obstruction.
wow....i knew this article would bring out all the snot-nosed, whiny-ass, little cry-baby teabagger douch bags
you sour little maggots never cease to amaze
Hope the POS ends up joining the Muslim Brotherhood and NEVER comes back.... thats if he's not already a member.
winger...wow! that was really clever
did you hear that on Rush open-mic-friday or Savage nation?
so witty
Dexter..typical Libbie, you can not state your views logically, so you resort to name calling!
fed, try again. Israel does have a right to defend itself, and yes they do bomb palestine quite often actually if you bothered to read any news other than FoX. This is not a one-sided conflict. And just as well the land israel was built on belonged to the tribes of palestine long before they arrived there. A two-state solution is fair and balanced, but of course Israel has the right to defend itself if the palestinians continue their violence (which by the way is an exact copy of the israeli violence in the 90s which forced the U.N. to establish their state).
It's called being diplomatic and fair. Try it some time.
It is quite striking to look at the legacies left by Arab nations of antiquity, such as Petra,and all the great cities and incredible mosques, which are truly wonders of the world. Compare that with what the Jews left, which is next to nothing. The Arabs were builders and artisans, who left treasures for all to see.
Even today, one can look at the fantastic cities being built in some of the Arab states, which boggle the mind. Israel concentrates on building walls, developing weapons and screwing the American taxpayer out of billions of dollars to finance their welfare donate state. If Jews and Evangelicals in America want to provide for and support Israel, they should do so with their own money. Most of the richest people in the US are Jewish. Those of us who don't like supporting parasites, can then go on with our lives, knowing our money is going to American citizens.
You Zionists can buy all the F16s you want, just do it on your dime, not mine. Also, eliminate tax deductions for those donations. They cost America plenty.
that's not entirely accurate. The mosque in jerusalem was built after the destruction of the jewish high temple. It was a marvelous sight according to paintings of the era. That said, I agree with your other sentiments.
TRANSLATION: We expected obama to get an F- on his exam, but he actually got a D-, so he passed!! Yippee!! Only bottom feeders would think this is acceptable.
not, just out of curiosity, what do you think would be acceptable? And where were you when gwb caused the iranian problem in the first place by delegitamizing the most moderate and outreaching regime in iranian history in 03?
he should tour the white house and maybe try a little work for a change! woops i forgot the whole gov dole thing!
@Larry-etc,
Your only answer to everything is bombs. Why is that? To get them to stop stealing, occupying and oppressing we should blockade and embargo the zionist regime. Arrest and confiscate the bank accounts of anyone that tries to give them aid in any form. For hecks sake stop giving them our tax dollars!
The people living in Gaza and the West Bank come from other countries - other countries that do not want these people and mistreat them. They are mere political pawns. Those who choose to live as Israeli citizens are treated well and have full rights.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdZNOAe61ww
It's very nice that you agree that a sovereign nation has a right to self defense.
I hope that you're referring to the few times when Israel defends herself. Rockets get lobbed into Israel on a regular basis. If Israel was doing the same thing in return, it would be front page news.
This link will show the humanitarian aid Israel is providing AND show the amount of rockets lobbed into Israel by month.
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Peace/weeklygazaaid.html
http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=292631
and was offered back in the 40's. It was refused and Israel was immediately attacked upon her rebirth.
GM Fed. Great video that you selected. It's terrible how Israeli soldiers are taunted on a regular basis. Of course, the taunting doesn't begin until the cameras are ready to roll. Imagine that!!!
Bush took over 900 days of vacation.
Who says Presidents can't take vacations?
Those who think the POTUS should never take a vacation or a day off are insane. Perhaps the most stressful job on the planet, I do not begrudge the President taking some R&R occasionally. When I travel for business to a new location, I almost always take a little time to see the sites in the area. It is not a radical concept. Also, google the amount of vacation W had taken by the same time in his presidency and compare it to this president and then tell me who's the biggest slouch. If you are going to be critical on vacation days, apply it to your champion as well and face your own self imposed strict standards. Hypocrisy.
Full article here.
I'll take Bush's average unemployment rate of 5.9%, average gas prices of $1.95/gal, average annual GDP growth rate of 2.1%, and 70% lower deficit ANY DAY to your Failure in Chief! Oh, and by the way, the worst president in US history was Jimmy Carter. You stand corrected, sir.
And another thing: when Bush was on "vacation" he mostly went to his ranch in Crawford TX, not lavish expensive and exotic locales like the Obama's do. Anyone want to compare travel costs between the two in their first four years? Bring it!
I've been to Petra. The Jordanians really care for their history including pre-Islamic history. Jerash and Aman are also full of ancient wonders. Aman had the ancient name of Philadelphia which is Greek for brotherly love.
Jordon was a wealthy trade center in ancient times and was a syncretic mix of Greek Latin Arab and Nabatean cultures. The Helenized Nabateans who occupied Petra, (from the picture), also had a city in Saudi Arabia called Hegra (known today as Madain Sulleh) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mada'in_Saleh.
The beautiful Arab script alphabet is a direct descendant of the Nabatean alphabet.
The Monument in the background in the picture is called "the Treasury" and is the first monument one sees when entering the city. Obama should also hike up to see "the Monastery" which a long hike to the other end of the city.
GREAT CHOICE of places to visit, Obama. I'd go again in a heartbeat!!!
He looks good in his new shooting glasses.
I've always believed that actions always speak louder than words. But in my personal opinion I have seen far too many words from President Obama and far too little action regarding the Israeli/Palestinian issue!
Eric-913730
GDP
http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2012/09/03/yep-obamas-a-big-spender-just-like-his-predecessors/
Jobless Claims Rise
by 2,000
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323419104578374122362462936.html
DOW
http://www.google.com/finance?cid=983582
I guess one out of three is at least 1/3. That’s only 33% a failing grade on any scale.
It's great to get collapsed from all who think Obama is the Messiah. LOL and thank you. Maybe they will put his picture on the food stamp 10 dollar voucher as a lasting legacy.
Seven - you get collapsed because your comments are hypocritical at best and irrelevant.
Marmee,
calling someone a "libbie" seems to undercut the very argument you were just trying to make...
Patrick, I don’t have to watch FOX news, I was there! I SAW what goes on! EDUCATE THYSELF!!!
Palestinian Children Taught to Hate Jews
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etDb5tXPawc
This is child abuse!
ISLAM: Brainwashing Palestinian Children
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FT6iKFQDEP4
So is this!
Palestinian girl in front of Israeli soldiers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax-Jk2iJL0k
So is this!
Now where do you suppose these children learned this behavior? Hate breeds Hate!
Israelis don’t tell muslims they want to wipe them off the face of the earth…yet muslims say it every day, so yes, it is a one sided conflict. You cant have peace with someone who wants to kill you.
Show me where the tribe of Palestine existed! That is a lie!
Palestine and the Palestinians
The Bible does not use the term “Palestine” or “Palestinians” to designate any geographic location or people. Nor does the historian Josephus ever use these terms in his major works, Antiquities of the Jews and Wars of the Jews. These relatively recent terms cannot change history—much less Scripture.
In the New Testament, other terms denote the territories of that region. For example, in Luke 1:5, Herod (the Great) is King of Judea. In Luke 3:1, we find other references: Pontius Pilate, governor of Judea; Herod (Antipas), Tetrarch of Galilee; Philip, Tetrarch of Ituraea (northeast of Judea); and Lysancas, Tetrarch of Abilene (near Ituraea). Notice that there is no “king,” “governor” or “tetrarch” of Palestine found anywhere in Scripture—more proof that “Palestine” was not an ancient term.
Palestinians today insist that they inhabited the land of Canaan before God gave it to Israel. But they are either seriously misinformed or willfully ignorant. The Canaanites described above were definitely not of Arab descent. The Arabic peoples are descendants of Ishmael, who descended from Shem. The peoples of Tunisia, Malta, Algeria and Sicily of today are of similar descent as these Canaanites.
By the tenth century A.D., the Turks had conquered the former land of Judea, as well as Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. By the eleventh century, they controlled the bulk of Asia Minor. The Arabians—descendants of Ishmael as well as Esau—claimed the land from that time until the present.
Only after the Jews established their nation in 1948 did the masses of these Arabic peoples feel drawn to this particular territory. The population of Palestinians swelled dramatically after the Jews brought about vast improvements in agricultural production. They established irrigation and re-introduced efficient means of agriculture.
Understandably, many took advantage of gainful employment provided by the Jews in developing the land and building a needed infrastructure for the tiny nation of Israel. These local laborers were calledfellahin, or agricultural workers.
Ownership of the territory is another controversial issue. The Palestinians claim to be the ancient owners of Palestine. Yet we see that they only took possession of the land in the wake of the Turkish campaign through that region in about the tenth century A.D. The claim made by ancient Israel precedes this claim by about 2,300 years.
How ironic that these Palestinians accuse the Jews of depriving them of their home when (1) the vast majority of them moved to Israel after the Jews reclaimed the land from desolation and ruin, and (2) their Arab relatives in the world of Islam own over 1,000 times more real estate than exists within the boundaries of tiny Israel. Remember when thousands of Palestinians were expelled from Kuwait in 1991 after they were found conspiring with the Iraqis in selling out their host country?
http://rcg.org/articles/patp.html
Son of Hamas founder Hassan Yousef "Islam, biggest lie in history"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THUXBuJDiK8
Hey chef! Thanks!! Spot on!!
A tour offered by Jordon and accepted by POTUS will work wonders for relations between the two countries... but of course the short-sighted Obama haters can't be reasonable about anything.
So the POTUS failed to bring about new negotiations between countries that have been fighting FOREVER? Wow. That's a pretty harsh (and false) assessment... an assessment of someone that believes it's our prime job to bring peace to a region that knows no peace... an assessment that ignores the impossibility of that notion during economic collapse, ending two wars, going global on terrorists, driving sanctions on Iran, and with Israel war-hawking at every turn. Personally, I AGREE with POTUS in that this is THEIR responsibility, not ours.
We don't control the Middle East. Our policies there have failed for several decades. Normalizing relations, asking each to understand thy neighbor, and investing as little as possible in terms of money and lives sounds good to me... so don't COMPLAIN about it, APPRECIATE it.
Those of you criticizing too many words and not enough "action"... do you even have a clue what you're talking about? Bush gave us too few words and too much action... and the words he gave us were lies while the action was folly. You guys need a self assessment session... or two.
And one more thing.
Just an observation...
The love-fest displayed by Obama and Netanyahu made right-wings heads explode. They can't stand it! They hate a successful Obama so pretending he failed is their only out. Nice. Politics before country. At least you're predictable and consistent... been doing it for 4 1/2 years, why stop now?
We will be happy to have a self assessment session....just as soon as you get your reality check!
Been there. Petra is "amazing." Hussein ISN'T.
Which Hussein are you talking about their are a lot of them.
Is Obama amazing? Talk to the college kids in Israel and they'll tell you he is amazing.
Talk to the college kids here in the US....they'll tell you he's amazing.
dumb fux
Those collage kids will be the ones paying off the debt that amazing O'Bagger has rung up. We'll see how they feel about him in a few years.
WOW Lee..hate much???? Those kids are in college & you call them"dumb fux"...NICE, NOT...bet your momma hated you...as much hatred you spew out...hope you never had/have children because you will be mentally abusing them with the way you talk.
obama...if you call spending your way thru his two term's...while failing to protect this country borders...allowing the off shore'n of jobs to make corporate america richer...and taking advantage of foreign labor...while cutting back on the needs of the american people only to give it to foreigner's...putting our country further in debt...waste'n our military greatness on frivolous wars...that's amazing...
Inbred Liberal, you rant about my hate yet have no problem telling me my momma hated me & accuse me of abusing my children........
I am glad he got to at least visit something I myself would love to go see. Petra is Amazing. How long did it take to carve Petra one has to wonder.
Obama may not be right all the time, But I like that he at least thinks before acting on these decisions that affect the outcome of these serious issues, most of them having global implications.. Unlike most people who read and comment on these news articles, whose biggest decision today is going to be Chinese or pizza for dinner, Obama at least understands that the problems have been here for a awhile, and are going to be here a while longer so the right thing to do is take time, think it through, get advice from people in the know, instead of rushing to make a rash decision.
Iran is not nuking anyone anytime soon, and Israel just wants war to distract from the Palestine issue. I hope i am wrong about that but it sure seems that way. They will not comply with UN resolutions but point to Iran and say we should bomb them because they aren't conforming to UN resolutions. You cant have it both way. You have to comply with your UN resolutions and then have the right to point and say someone else isn't conforming. Sadly, as long as we "The US Government" keeps giving them aid, they will not change their way.. why would they?
It's a shame that the Republicans are doing everything in their power to discredit this guy, right, wrong or indifferent, their actions are hurting their fellow Americans... not Obama. He is already re-elected. Why cant they just move on now. I bring this up because already ignorant people are posting derogatory comments about Obama on this article, which is about Petra. Just more name calling and mud slinging.. unreal.
replying to Here we go again:
"Iran is not nuking anyone anytime soon...". Amazing. I had no idea you could predict the future. Maybe you could also predict what the price of gasoline will be on July 4th. Simply amazing.
"Israel just wants war to distract from the Palestine issue." I think they want peace and will not be distracted from the Iran issue.
Even more amazing is you think you can!
You sure are a chatterbox, amazing!
You could have confined it to your last sentence where you summed yourself up!
Mostly, President Headfake knows how to fake you out. But I imagine that isn't very hard in your case judging from what you wrote.
Here we are" the answer to your question is , that's the American way. The same thing happened to Bush, he won re election but the democrats would not stop their relentless attacks and name calling. It's the old saying, "What goes around ,comes around". I don't ever see it stopping, but hey if theirs a silver lining to it , your turn is coming , hopefully in 2016.
I would like to end with this , I a not a big Obama fan but , he is my president and I get a little nervous seeing him walking around in a Muslim country. I sure hope security is tight.
Well I hate to break it to you but nearly 50% of AMERICANS disagree with Obama and the Democrats agenda. Unlike Bill Clinton instead of realizing this and compromising so as to include the other view points that half of AMERICANS believe in he has used ever trick in the book to get his and his party's ways. This is not what I expect of the President and I do not believe history will be kind to him when it is all said and done. As far as I can see he intends to ram his views through by executive order like a King or Dictator and forsake the views of half of this country. Please open your mind up a little and realize it is not Democrats vs Republicans and we are in this boat together and both views of how we want this country run are important. Obama continues to act as if his party and views are superior and therefore needs to be advanced over any others views. His name calling and attacks against the other party are not the way FORWARD.
Where do you get that figure? Obama just won re-elections with over 50% of the vote for the second time.
If more than half of Americans disagree with Obama, then much more must disagree with Republicans.
hey hitem
while you're so obsessed and giddy with Obama's number being under 50% you might want to look at the congressional teabagger approval ratting being down somewhere around 12%
it's always easier to blame someone else when your own life sucks so bad
hitem, I refer you to when mcconnell and ALL the republicans in congress chorused a declaration of open war before obama even stepped into office. Obama did nothing but compromise the first 3 years and anyone who's bothered to read the bills ever put before either chamber knows that. The ones not compromising worth anything are the GOP.
And according to rasmussen, the tea party, which has taken hostage of the GOP, has an 8% nationwide approval rating as of february. Sorry but your idea of 50% is not 50%.
Relying to the Reader from N Texas - Oh, but you all can accurately predict ythat Iran is going to nuke Isreal the day after it gets it's Nuclear bomb, even though the all 16 US intelligence agencies have concluded Iran does NOT have a nuclear weapons program.
WASHINGTON
| Thu Aug 9, 2012 5:52pm EDT
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States still
believes that Iran is not on
the verge of having a nuclear weapon and that Tehran has not made a decision to
pursue one, U.S. officials said on Thursday.
Their comments came after Israeli media reports claimed
U.S. President Barack Obama had received a new National
Intelligence Estimate saying Iran had made significant and surprising
progress toward military nuclear capability.
Later, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak suggested that
the new U.S. report, which he acknowledged might be something other than a
National Intelligence Estimate, "transforms the Iranian situation into an even
more urgent one." This dimwit interprets the report stating Iran doesn't have a nuclear weapons program as making it even more urgent. Can someone out there define his logic?
But a White House National Security Council spokesman
disputed the Israeli reports, saying the U.S. intelligence assessment of Iran's
nuclear activities had not changed since intelligence officials delivered
testimony to Congress on the issue earlier this year.
The nuclear program sanctions are just an excuse to stop Iran's export of natural gas to India, in favor of Israeli exports to India via the TAPI gas pipeline. Iran does not have a nuclear weapons program and that is a fact, backed by our intelligence agencies.
Here is a look at what Netanyahu predicted in 1992.
'1992:'Israeli parliamentarian Benjamin Netanyahu tells his
colleagues that Iran is 3 to 5 years from being able to produce a nuclear
weapon – and that the threat had to be "uprooted by an international front
headed by the US"'. It appears Bibi was attempting to predict the future, but he isn't not very good at doing so. He is still crying "wolf" and still trying to get America to attack Iran.
No more wars for Israel.
Hey, read this.
If one day, Iran decides to cut its cooperation with the IAEA, it
would make it easier to use such a site to make a bomb, but it's in the long
term," said Meir Javedanfar, an analyst and lecturer on Iranian issues
at the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya, Israel. "In the short
term, I don't think Israel has too much to worry about because the site is
still under inspection.
Ralph, Thanks, and great answer, was unable to reply as I was at work until just now.
I don't understand why republicans do not listen to our intelligence that shows Iran not developing nukes as Ralph mentioned. Wait, that wouldn't work with their agenda, so instead of using American Intelligence who state they are making nukes, they like they way the Israeli report says that Iran has a bomb program, Yeah, that sounds better, and if the Israeli change their minds, perhaps you can find some else to say what you want to hear.. Well, got bad news for you.. Just because you want it to be a certain way, that doesn't mean it is that way. I guess it all depends on what you want to hear?
Hey J.P. Yeah i am a chatterbox, because I read a lot and also I feel someone has to defend whats right. Is there any wonder i distanced myself from the republican party?
And what has Obama accomplished on this trip other than sightseeing? Sounds just like any other day in office for the Pot Head in Office.
Same thing he has accomplished here in the last 4+ years.....nothin
GDP has increased each and every quarter since Obama has been President. The DOW was at 7000 when Obama started and is now at 14000. Unemployment is down. Two wars are winding down. I could go on, but you can look for yourself at politifact.com.
Hey Eric.
Your numbers are not accurate.
Your lips are sore from sucking up
Hey, Jeff.
You're right, Eric's numbers are not accurate. On Jan 20, 2009 the Dow closed at 7949, still falling like a rock. It bottomed out on March 9, 2009 at 6547 and closed last Friday at a4512. Everything else he wrote is accurate. You may not like it but tough cookies.
big surprise huh....
GM IA!!! ☺
Just another vacation for the spender in chief
When Obama takes more than 900 days of vacation like Bush did then we can talk.
And it took how many millions of our tax dollars to send him over there to see the sites? Did he really accomplish anything that couldn't be done over the phone?
try this over the phone: "@!$%# you!"
Yeah, well couldn't Bush have phoned in the "mission accomplished" thing?
I bet you didn't bitch then did you?
That's were they did the Indiana Jones movie (1st one) and it's say is clearly God name is Jehovah. I wonder if this president is a true Christian what the liberal media would asked going back to the U.S.A.? Please asked him something interesting! ¡Dejen de añoñarlo tanto!
"Mission accomplished" should never, ever be used to describe a president's visit to anywhere post President George W. Bush and that idiotic, abominable trip of his to the Middle East. It's been 10 years. This country will never get over it, and neither will Iraq.
When will George and Dick be charge with war crimes?
I think it's funny all the poor people think they should send this man on so many vacations
Yeah Joe, Mitt would be more deserving of such vacations...
Is that what you mean ?
President Obama is not the first President to travel out of the country for diplomatic reasons. This is something that world leaders do. Our relationship with Israel has been a bit strained...this is something that needs to be rectified because of the likely future wars that may erupt at any time...anywhere in the Middle East. Probably a good idea to get our "friends" on the same page.
Jean Cooset, what makes you say such inflammatory remarks about the 'Zionist dogs'? I know those who practice Judaism, Islam and Christianity. The Jewish peoples have a right to live, as do the Palestinians. Christians also have the same right. And all live in the same neighborhood.
I certainly disagree with the building of the settlements, but the Israeli state insists on doing so. Palestinians just want a bit of peace and jobs. Christians want to visit and leave their dollars there. The three sides could and should agree that settlements are wrong and the Palestinians have a right to their own state. But that doesn't make sense with only one side agreeing to it.
Are you Muslim? Christian? All three religions, with others around the world, having atrocious histories. The Israeli's have a right to live, Palestinians the same right and Christians the right to spread their dollars. Give it up and leave the gasoline-fed statements to the peoples of the Middle East. And troll some other site than the 'Vine, please.
IF
YOU are a SHARIA ISLAMIC Believer....
NO ONE..Outside of ISLAM....
Has ANY..RIGHT...TO LIVE...or Breathe....
It Is Your PROPHET given Mandate..To EXTERMINATE...,SUBJAGATE...Or CONVERT...ALL.Else
Isn't it so special that Obama visited his ancestral home....I wonder what that little side trip cost us as taxpayers?
speaking of costing the taxpayer: what did your little "Freedoms on the March" War in Iraq cost us?
as of this very minute somewhere around 812 BILLION....with a @!$%#ing B..BILLION..can you even comprehend and absorb that kind of number you teabagging hillbilly half-wit?!
http://costofwar.com/
and how about the lives of the 4500 US military
and how much was the cost of the 10 of thousands of soldiers injured?
you are a teabagging moron and that's the best you can ever hope to be
that number is short actually as it does not take into account loss of economic potential through deaths of well-paid soldiers. It's actually near 1.1 trillion.
Isn't it special that you can't tell the difference between the Middle East and Africa. Not that you care. They all look same to you, huh sparky?
hey mutant,
Here is another link for you:
http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/03/an-800-billion-war-the-immense-cost-of-invading-Iraq-in-charts/274290/
What, no golf course?
obama is just doing what he does best , taking a vacation and getting a photo op,it is all he knows.
"he wrapped up a four-day Middle East tour by setting aside weighty diplomatic matters and playing tourist for a day." Why not play as a tourist, he has only been playing as President for four years and a couple of months. Oh, and his weighty diplomatic matters must be more ways in to giving away tax payers money to those who hate the U.S.A..
get the black as..s out of the white house you dumb white people
allen weast - Obama was elected President for two terms. Get over it and keep your racist remarks to yourself. Troll Fools News.
Gee, I look upon Obama as being white. After all, he is half white. Tiger Woods is 1/4 black, yet they call him black, when he is 1/2 Asian.
I just wish he would stop sucking up to the Zionists and cut off our aid to Israel. Let Jews support Israel all by themselves, not our government.
He's a mu zz ie through and through.
Who is surprised? He has done nothing (sound familiar?) to exert influence against the gearing up of Iran terrorist factions-no sanctions that I know of-few harsh words, -nothing. One visit in almost 5 years..quite the 'peacemaker'...did he visit the Holocaust memorials? Not on your life...just lip service and waffling to a country that has stood with us as a free country and strong ally for years...this excuse of a president never ceases to amaze me...And I'll never forget his words from a while back: "We need to consider opening dialogue with them (terrorists) as a means to ..." Unreal.
no sanctions? Are you nuts? there's 207 acting on iran right now, 40 of them new since 2008.
The real tragedy in this is that bush mucked up the one really moderate regime in Iran in 03 that was completely willing to work with us. He told them to screw off and then the Shi-ites causing trouble today took over. I don't see you placing blame where it really belongs.
I still say,, Obama should have gone to Iraq to apologize to the Iraqi people for the destruction and misery the US has caused in this country and offerend them reparations.
The US Embassy in Iraq is costing the taxpayers 600 million dollars a year. What a Joke.
""Ordinary tourists had been cleared out for the president's visit, and guards with assault weapons dogged his every step""
This is the same guy that does not want you to be able to protect your home and family by owning a gun!!
It's not about "Gun Control" it's about CONTROL, That's the way Hitler did it!!!!!!
Um, that's guards with assault weapons, not citizen morons with assault weapons.
What did you expect from this POS president. What a complete joke he is. Only thing is he will eventually devastate the US like no other president. Worthless POS he is.
OBAMA had to Postpone...
his yearly..Pilgrimage to Mecca..
Only had time ...to stop..in Moscow,,Lay a wreath at LENIN'S TOMB...
stepping off The plane ...in Israel..
Obama remarked as door opened," ? ....HEY...? this isn't Hawaii...? "
Just another wonderful excursion on the taxpayer's dime.
Look around Obama - you and your ideas will end up like this city - in the dustbin of history.
(Obama - a modern day Nero, fiddling while Rome burns.)
if obama is nero then gwb was calligula.
you drank the kool-aid too, Pat.
BillyBob Clinton was the Hillbilly Calligula surrounded by his trailer trash conquests.
Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; every one loveth bribes, and followeth after rewards; they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.
God, Obama is such a douche......
God, Gus is such a douche.....
God, Rob is Right.