In an effort to get support from Arab countries in the Persian Gulf region for the upcoming nuclear agreement with Iran (or at least less criticism of it), the Obama administration called for a summit meeting at Camp David between President Obama and the leaders of the six nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, and Oman.
It was always expected the top leaders of Oman and the United Arab Emirates would not attend because of health issues. But on Sunday, Saudi Arabia announced that King Salman would not be attending. And, in a separate announcement, Bahrain announced King Hamad would not be coming. (Also, here.) Both countries will, Instead, by represented by crown princes.
While the White House has tried to put a brave face on it, this is more than a little embarrassing. To call for a summit meeting with countries that are close allies of the United States and to have them say “No, thank you,” indicates the level of respect those countries have for us – or at least President Obama. The decision of King Salman not to come, allegedly because of the situation in Yemen, is particularly interesting given the support the United States has given Saudi Arabia in its air attacks on Yemeni rebels.
It’s hard to think of leaders of allies such as these not coming to a meeting called by President Bush (either of them), Clinton, Reagan, or basically anybody since World War II. But it appears that President Obama has taken the United States to a whole new level in world affairs: the Rodney Dangerfield level.
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