by Mark Silva
President Barack Obama left Saudi Arabia with more than memories and wishes for a bon voyage.
He got a gold necklace, "bling'' fit for a king, indeed fitted by a king - and a gift that "very few friends of the king'' get.
The president spent his first Arabian night on his Middle East journey at the desert stallion farm of King Abdullah, who also presented the president with a heavy gold chain and super-sized medallion.
"Those are only given to the very few friends of the king, and you are certainly one of those," Abdullah told Obama at a ceremony in an ornate, chandeliered room of the royal retreat with marbled columns and engraved mirrors.
"Goodness gracious. That's something there,'' Obama said as a royal aide approached with the gift.
The monarch draped the chain around the neck of the president, who, a tad taller than the elderly king, bent his head to accept it - apparently mindful of avoiding the appearance of the deeper lean, a bow many called it, with which he had greeted the Saudi king at the G-20 summit in London earlier this year.
"I am very appreciative that he would bestow this honor on me during this visit,'' said Obama, who spent the night at the king's ranch and flew on to Cairo for his address to the Muslim world.
(Photos by Gerald Herbert / AP)
Comments
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"The monarch draped the chain around the neck of the president, who, a tad taller than the elderly king, bent his head to accept it - apparently mindful of avoiding the appearance of the deeper lean, a bow many called it, with which he had greeted the Saudi king at the G-20 summit in London earlier this year."
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Whew! I'm glad you explained the reason for BHO's behavior this time. We can't have him bowing to the Saudi King, now can we? (As if all this coziness isn’t just a little contrived.) BHO just received out in the open a mere taste of the kind of support Saudi Arabia has been lavishing on American administrations and politicians for years. For further details, I recommend Bob Baer’s book, “Sleeping with the Devil.” Baer is a good liberal, former CIA agent. His views are un-tinged by the politics you love to hate.
Posted by: John W. | June 4, 2009 2:31 PM
Some people get gold necklaces....some get a shoe.
Posted by: bill r. | June 4, 2009 2:50 PM
Nice Bling, Mr. President!
How ironic that the religious extremists of various faiths are the least peaceful people among us, be it Al Qaeda, Randall Terry and his right-wing Christian/American domestic terrorist group, or the lunatics on the West Bank - These people who claim to love God most are clearly the most Godless.
And these people who claim to know God so well know nothing of God. Actually they know less than nothing because for these lunatics God is not Love. For them God is Hate and War.
Posted by: Conando | June 4, 2009 3:41 PM
President Obama has impressed all leaders of the middle east, some with hope - some with despair. He has just given us the first draft of The Obama Doctrine - setting the tone for future diplomatic relations - and calling on America to live up to the new standards. .......
http://thefiresidepost.com/2009/06/04/the-seven-points-of-obamas-cairo-speech/
Posted by: Ohg Rea Tone | June 4, 2009 4:23 PM
Let's make a note of the necklace, so it goes into the inventory of the U.S. government. So that when Obama leaves office the necklace doesn't go with him. After all it is the property of the American people.
Posted by: Paul | June 4, 2009 5:13 PM
Beats candies and flowers or letting Saudi women drive golf carts.
Posted by: SnowPatrol | June 4, 2009 6:16 PM
Love the Bling, Sir!
Our Pres receiving bling is a much more pleasing site than when Blunder Boy Jr was over there passing out kisses.
http://www.hermes-press.com/bush_kiss.jpg
Posted by: Albert Heartbreaker | June 4, 2009 7:18 PM
GREAT SPEECH, PRESIDENT OBAMA!
It sure as heck beats Blunder Boy Jr's Axis of Evil, Bring'em On!, WMD's message to the middle-east.
Posted by: LoveBuzz | June 4, 2009 8:06 PM
Does anybody know what Obama gave the King in return?
Posted by: SpareChange | June 4, 2009 9:41 PM
"Here-take this bling and bow, oil prices will be over $5.00 a gallon this summer...you'll need it."
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | June 5, 2009 12:27 AM
Hello All, please don't get it confused. The necklace was given to "Barack Obama". Not the President of the United States. When Obama leaves the White House, the necklace leaves with him. It was a gift to him personally. Not to the President of the United States. :)
Posted by: Winnie | June 5, 2009 1:36 AM
Big deal.
Bush family has drawers full of these trinkets.
Some in platinum.
President did look a bit uneasy when His Majesty pulled out that box, bigger than any valentine candy box you've ever seen.
Then the President pulled his lapel over part of the necklace (formally known in Saudi as the "Order of the Petrodollar").
It was evident he thought it just wasn't "him".
His Majesty must have been on the phone with Nancy Reagan, who contemporaneously suggested "lots of State dinners".
These gold knick-knacks and State dinners will really go over big with Obama's base, don't you think?
Posted by: ornery | June 5, 2009 8:02 AM
I think the Saudi king was mocking him with that gift and making the U.S. president look like the stereotypical black man flossing his bling. Let's get real, who else other than a rapper or a drug dealer would be caught dead in that gaudy, tacky thing?
Posted by: HopeSpringsFarm | June 7, 2009 4:56 PM
I think the Saudi king was mocking him with that gift and making the U.S. president look like the stereotypical black man flossing his bling. Let's get real, who else other than a rapper or a drug dealer would be caught dead in that gaudy, tacky thing?
G.W. BUSH
Posted by: java | June 8, 2009 11:30 AM
its amazing to see Saudi King gifts a GOLDEN NECKLACE! becos men are prohibited to wear GOLD in islam. Both are Muslim! is the law for only poor???
Posted by: rauf | January 3, 2010 1:26 AM