Obama visits Saudi Arabia's new King Salman

[snokitty]

BBC News - Obama visits Saudi Arabia's new King Salman

US President Barack Obama has led a large, bipartisan US delegation to Saudi Arabia following the death of King Abdullah.

Mr Obama cut short a trip to India to make time for the brief visit, during which he met new ruler King Salman.

He was accompanied by prominent Republican officials, including former Secretaries of State James Baker and Condoleezza Rice.

Saudi Arabia is a key US ally in a region riven by war and rivalries.

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama were met at the airport in Riyadh by King Salman and then driven to Erga Palace, the king's private residence, for dinner.

Mr Obama and King Salman held an hour-long meeting in which they discussed a range of issues including the campaign against Islamic State (IS), US officials said.

Saudi Arabia is among the US-led coalition of Western and Arab nations conducting air strikes against IS in Syria and Iraq.

But relations between Washington and Riyadh have been strained by differences over US policy on the Syrian conflict and its nuclear diplomacy with Shia power Iran - a regional rival of Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia.

Michelle Obama is not impressed as she pulls faces in Saudi Arabia | Daily Mail Online

Michelle Obama did not look happy on Tuesday when she had to cut short her visit to India to accompany her husband on a trip to a country where women aren't even allowed to drive cars.

The First Lady bowed and beamed as she boarded Air Force One in New Dehli on Tuesday, but by the time she landed in Saudi Arabia a few hours later, she had traded her floral dress for a more conservative long-sleeved jacket and slacks - as well as a new scorned expression.

In pictures at the airport and Egra Palace, Mrs Obama pursed her lips and glared as she stood her husband who cancelled their trip to the Taj Mahal in order to pay respects to the Saudi royal family on the death of King Abdullah.

[tiaras]

Life as a woman in Saudi Arabia: Other restrictions placed on women include not being able to go out in public without a male escort,  open a bank account without their husband's permission or try on clothes while shopping. Mrs Obama stands between her husband and King Salman on Tuesday.
Mrs Obama got a taste of the patriarchy when she stepped out of Air Force One in Riyadh on Tuesday and was greeted by the new King Salman and an all-male group of delegates.

When the group lined up to greet the president and his wife, some of the Saudis shook the First Lady's hand while others just nodded their head. 

Reporters who were travelling with the president and First Lady told ABC News that Mrs Obama bowed to cultural differences and stood slightly behind her husband during the greeting line.

If one of the men would offer to shake her hand, the First Lady would oblige but mostly stood back and smiled while they passed.

She was also criticized by Saudis and the Muslim world at large on Twitter for not covering her hair.  

Michelle Obama ...... Love that woman.
:lmao3: :yessir: :Excellent!:

And I'm willing to bet the critics were men.

[TLLK]

IMO the FLOTUS was appropriately dressed for the visit to the kingdom. She opted for pants, a longer top and her neckline was certainly high enough. However I do know that some of our posters have been to that region and might have other opinions.

Had she visited a mosque then I do believe she would have followed tradition by donning a headscarf and removing her shoes though.

[tiaras]

From what I've read and heard, the moment you exit the plane you're given a burqua to cover up even if you're in full sleeves and trousers. So yes FLOTUS is appropriately dressed but not to their standards as she didn't cover her hair ( laws for this) or wear the black burqua.
Unlike Other liberal Middle Eastern regions Saudi is  :censored2: ... so muslim or not you must wear the traditional clothes as a woman, men can wear suits etc  :no:
I am glad she did this  :thumbsup:

[cate1949]

Condoleeza Rice and Nancy Pelosi also did not wear burqa or cover their heads either. 

I think what FLOTUS wore was appropriate especially given the other US female dignitaries also chose not to cover their heads.

The DM likes to spark controversy - I this case - I do not see the controversy. 

[tiaras]

She could've conformed but didn't and that is what sparked controversy, also her facial expressions while the men passed her without shaking her hand says it all.
The DM is merely reporting and I think it's a very open way of showing that she doesn't agree with the disgusting way they treat women there, not conforming is a big statement and I am glad she did that.

[snokitty]

 ^ :goodpost:  ITA