Obama's first farewell tour starts with damage control
Posted April 18, 2016 7:00 am
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama sets out this week on his first in a series of international farewell tours.
The first stop - in Saudi Arabia - will involve more damage control than nostalgia.
He arrives Wednesday for a Persian Gulf summit. Obama will be met by leaders upset by his recent public complaints about global "free riders" and harboring deep distrust of his dealings with Iran and his posture in Syria.
Obama's later stops are in Britain and Germany.
But before those stops, the White House will look to provide some measure of reassurance to Arab allies that are critical to U.S. counterterrorism goals. The trip comes as Arab leaders increasingly look beyond Obama and toward the next president.
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked.
If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.