The President's trip to the Middle East was billed as fairly routine, a speech celebrating Israel's 60th anniversary and talks with Arab leaders on oil and peace talks with the Palestinians. His "appeasement" speech has focused more attention than expected. One Washington rumor explains yesterday's "appeasement" denunciation as preparation for attacks on military encampments inside Iran. Barack Obama today called the President's insinuation "appalling," adding that he has not advocated talks with Hamas in Gaza, but that John McCain has. Meantime, the President has left Israel for Saudi Arabia and Egypt, where he'll meet with several Middle East allies. We hear what Obama had to say and get several views of what the President has in mind.
President Bush's Middle East Trip
Credits
Guests:
- Trita Parsi - Executive Vice President of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft - @tparsi
- Sam Gardiner - Retired Colonel, US Air Force
- Richard Murphy - Middle East Institute
- Patrick Clawson - Washington Institute for Near East Policy