Will Obama discuss human rights when he visits Saudi Arabia?

[Bideshi]

Originally Posted by Nodpete

After he bows to his hosts, he'll probably tell them that "In America, even a Muslim can become President"

Nam Siddiq.

[texdav]

Originally Posted by Bideshi

Obama called Uganda's recently enacted law against homosexuality "abhorrent", so will he use the same language to Saudi's King Abdullah on his upcoming visit? Is Saudi Arabia exempt from Obama's gay rights crusade? Or will he bow and grovel for oil to His Majesty?

Doubtful since its all a play to the home maddening crowd usually anyway. kind of like the statement to Russian about more free after reelection and to Canada about just rethoric. Politicians do it all the time. Its like congressman filing bills they know haven't a chance in hell ;to feed the special interest.I think he likely looking for support so isn't likely to make a issue that works against that .Afterall the Saudi's now have influence along with others in Egypt and region.

[Goinback2011]

My bet is his only topic will be Russia.

[Harrier]

He most definitely won't be having a beer summit.

[Mathguy]

Originally Posted by Bideshi

So he will grovel. He was willing to throw us back into the cold war with Russia over gay rights at Sochi, but cheap oil is too important?

Riiiiiiiiight, the sochi gay thing almost put us back into a cold war. Come on now.....

[Bideshi]

Originally Posted by Harrier

He most definitely won't be having a beer summit.

He might. The Saudi royals do as they please behind their palace walls.

[Bideshi]

Originally Posted by Mathguy

Riiiiiiiiight, the sochi gay thing almost put us back into a cold war. Come on now.....

Not almost. We're there.

[Bideshi]

So the moral of the story is that Obama strongly criticises a majority Christian nation for outlawing homosexual behavior, and calls Uganda "abhorrent", but it's all bows and kisses in a Moslem country that executes homosexuals.

[Kibby]

Originally Posted by Goinback2011

My bet is his only topic will be Russia.

My bet is that he tries to do the same thing with Saudi Arabia that he did with Israel.
Pay them off. He will offer some sort of weapon, plane or helicopter to KSA that they have not been able to get ..... and he will double time the delivery.

[Kibby]

Originally Posted by legalsea

Here is an interesting opinion piece concerning the rather cool relations between the USA and Saudi Arabia:

Opinion: Why the Saudis unfriended the U.S. - CNN.com

Note that if President Obama had not started to try and build a new relationship with Iran (and have it halt its nuclear enrichment program), but had instead gone in the opposite direction (more sanctions), it would have pleased Saudi Arabia, but the nutwings herein would have objected to Obama's policy on general principles.

I do agree that President Obama should not have yapped about the 'red line' in Syria, if he did not intend to follow through. I am against any type of US military action in Syria, but Obama should not have made such a statement. I can see where Saudi Arabia (which, after all, wants us to fight on their behalf against their enemies) was taken aback by Obama's failure to deal a devastating blow to Syria when proof of chemical weapons was found.

Given the poor relationship between USA and Saudi Arabia, it would be the height of folly to chastise Saudi for its non-existent Gay rights. Indeed, I would hope that they can be persuaded at some point to heighten rights for women first. If they did not hold vast oil reserves no President would bother visiting at all.

The Iran thing has been going on for a long time - Obama makes all kinds of private assurances to both Israel and the Gulf Arab nations, so they are used to his BS.

The last straw for Saudi Arabia was Egypt and the Muslim Brotherhood takeover that Obama engineered. They won't forgive or forget that.