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Why Obama's Saudi Bow was Not a Kow-Tow (MSM admits he bowed, but it's Okay!)
Time Magazine ^ | April 10, 2009 | Scott MacLeod

Posted on 04/11/2009 12:15:10 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

President Obama definitely bowed down when he shook the hand of Saudi Arabian King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud at the G-20 in London last week. Despite the continuing outrage of conservatives and Arab-bashers, what Obama did was entirely appropriate, too. Here's my guide to Arabian royal protocol and American common sense.

In the videotape zapping around the Internet, Obama looks slightly awkward, as if he wasn't quite sure whether to bow, shake hands or do both. It turned out to be a deep bow- cum-handshake, it was certainly more than the nod-handshake he gave Queen Elizabeth II, but it was not quite a formal diplomatic bow from the waist. Maybe that's why the White House is, unofficially, denying the Obama bow.

A simple handshake would have sufficed. Obama certainly did not need to bow at all, as far as Saudi royal protocol is concerned. I have attended Abdullah's majlis in Riyadh a few times and witnessed his own personal distaste for obsequious shows of respect. In the context of a tribal society, Abdullah is a sheikh, indeed the sheikh of sheikhs, and as such his subjects would typically greet him at his Saudi-style town meetings with a kiss on the shoulder and a kiss on the hand.

-snip-

The Saudi leads a society that is steeped in custom, even if he himself is trying to loosen tradition a bit. As a much younger man, even if he is president of the world's most powerful country, Obama is entirely proper in showing pointed respect for an elder counterpart. Moreover, Abdullah holds a variety of positions that deserve and require recognition-king; custodian of the holy mosques of Mecca and Medina; elder statesman of the Arab world; son of the founder of his country.

(Excerpt) Read more at mideast.blogs.time.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bho44; bowgate; first100days; g20; islam; obama; obamabow; obamatruthfile
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

When I heard (twice) that Gibbs ‘denied’ (we call it LIED)the bow was because it would be something the conservatives would jump on if he admitted it was a bow.

IOW, Conservative made him do it. LMAO.

The spin on this bow beats anything Clinton did.


61 posted on 04/11/2009 5:04:27 AM PDT by Protect the Bill of Rights (Americans Bow to No One; Obama Bows to Saudi KINGS and Lies about it.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

The MSM can no longer successfully cover up such gaffes with the videos circulating on the Internet and now must rely on the spin from the White House. This incident plus the gaffes on gifts to PM Brown and the Queen show Obama as an utter rookie in foreign affairs. Certainly there are professionals somewhere in Washington who can advise the President on protocol and it is apparent Obama is ignoring their advice or more likely doe not seek it because he thinks he knows it all.


62 posted on 04/11/2009 5:04:33 AM PDT by The Great RJ (chain.)
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To: Talisker
Counterpart? Did the King 'return' the bow to Obama as well? And not to be picky; but it was more than a 'bow'. . .his kneed 'bent' accordingly as one does per a 'genuflect'. This is a country of 'slavers'. . .does Obama care? (Or at the least, Michelle. . .and the rest of the 'reparations-seeking minorities here.)
63 posted on 04/11/2009 5:05:31 AM PDT by cricket (Don't bow for me. . .Obama (our one 'sorry' President))
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Thinking about it more, I think since the world knows it was a bow (no getting around it anymore) we should concentrate on the LIE.

If Odumba would lie about something as simple as a bow, what else will he lie about? What has he lied about? If he lies rather than admit to a simple breech in protocol, what about the big issues?

IMHO, that is where this story should go next.

64 posted on 04/11/2009 5:10:08 AM PDT by Protect the Bill of Rights (Americans Bow to No One; Obama Bows to Saudi KINGS and Lies about it.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

TIME Magazine’s line of defense in their below quoted statement seems to have a major flaw. As Head of State there is no protocol for “a formal diplomatic bow from the waist”.

I love it when liberals keep digging their self-made hole even deeper!!!!!

“””In the videotape zapping around the Internet, Obama looks slightly awkward, as if he wasn’t quite sure whether to bow, shake hands or do both. It turned out to be a deep bow- cum-handshake, it was certainly more than the nod-handshake he gave Queen Elizabeth II, but it was not quite a formal diplomatic bow from the waist. Maybe that’s why the White House is, unofficially, denying the Obama bow”””


65 posted on 04/11/2009 5:20:22 AM PDT by Presbyterian Reporter
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To: Presbyterian Reporter

All Obama did was bow in respect to his benefactor. Anyone want to bet that Obama’s tuition was paid by this guy?


66 posted on 04/11/2009 5:31:43 AM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (Bow down to me. I am TOTUS.)
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To: Libloather

It looked to me like he was snorting a line.


67 posted on 04/11/2009 5:35:39 AM PDT by Cvengr (Adversity in life and death is inevitable. Thru faith in Christ, stress is optional.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Obama certainly did not need to bow at all, as far as Saudi royal protocol is concerned.

What does Saudi Royal protocol have to do with it anyway. There is international diplomatic protocol. Period. Heads of state don't bow to other heads of state. Period.

68 posted on 04/11/2009 5:37:29 AM PDT by AndyJackson
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To: backhoe

SUBMISSION ACCOMPLISHED is the PERFECT TITLE for the BOW!!


69 posted on 04/11/2009 5:37:29 AM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion....the Human Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: Ann Archy
SUBMISSION ACCOMPLISHED is the PERFECT TITLE for the BOW!!

It's quite a gawd-awful change from President Bush's "Mission Accomplished," isn't it?

To bowdlerize a comment I saw elsewhere,

"The French Commandos are making us look like Wagyu-eating surrender monkeys..."

70 posted on 04/11/2009 5:43:47 AM PDT by backhoe (All across America, the Lights are going out...)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

How come nobody else there bowed and why did they all laugh.?


71 posted on 04/11/2009 5:53:08 AM PDT by Venturer
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To: LibertyRocks; NFHale
Liberty Rocks it outta the park...

I figured it was a hale rant at first...8^}

72 posted on 04/11/2009 5:54:51 AM PDT by Gilbo_3 ("JesusChrist 08"...Trust in the Lord......=...LiveFReeOr Die...)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

What a wonderful resource Time magazine is. Now I fully understand it. BO’s only mistake was that he failed to kiss Abdullah on the shoulder.


73 posted on 04/11/2009 6:00:34 AM PDT by Malesherbes (Sauve Qui Peut)
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To: Star Traveler
“Don’t anybody move! I just dropped my contacts...”

or 'My fly is open?"

74 posted on 04/11/2009 6:27:47 AM PDT by Vinnie (You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Jihads You)
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To: Doogle
900 MILLION MUSLIMS DO

EXACTLY!!! This shows them what he IS and what he'll do for them.

75 posted on 04/11/2009 8:15:27 AM PDT by gopheraj
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To: Vinnie

Oh yeah! :-)


76 posted on 04/11/2009 9:16:53 AM PDT by Star Traveler
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

The media continue to show they are as inept as their Precious. And they show their desperation to try to perpetuate the myth and are going to crack when it starts to get ugly with the public finally coming to terms with the reality of what 0bama is and what he is doing to this country.


77 posted on 04/11/2009 9:38:27 AM PDT by bushfamfan (United States of America: July 4, 1776-November 4, 2008)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

He was looking for his original birth certificate.

BTW, what is a “cum” handshake???


78 posted on 04/11/2009 10:43:08 AM PDT by tweakDU
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To: tweakDU

on second thought, don’t answer that.


79 posted on 04/11/2009 11:02:26 AM PDT by tweakDU
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
re: deep bow- cum-handshake

Ewwww

80 posted on 04/11/2009 4:46:49 PM PDT by Mamzelle (BRING CAMERA EQUIP TO TEA PARTIES--TAPE THE DISRUPTORS)
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