G8 Summit will be largest world leader gathering at Camp David

Alex Wong/Getty Images

(CBS News) WASHINGTON - Which of the lodges at Camp David will Chancellor Merkel be assigned for the G8 Summit this weekend? Which foreign leader will be rooming in Hemlock or Dogwood or in any of the other mountain cabins named for trees at the presidential retreat 63 miles from the White House?

"The allocation system, of course, is classified," says White House National Security Advisor Tom Donilon.

World leaders with sizeable entourages may be used to more expansive accommodations than they'll find at Camp David, but Donilon told reporters "there are adequate facilities there for each delegation."

He noted that the G8 Summit represents the largest single gathering of world leaders ever received at Camp David.

It's been 70 years since British Prime Minister Winston Churchill became the first foreign leader invited to the camp, then called "Shangri-La" by FDR. Some years later, President Eisenhower would re-name the 143-acre property for his father and 5-year old grandson, both named David. Ike said a place called "Shangri-La" was "just a little fancy for a Kansas farm boy."

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Camp David, from FDR through Obama

Since taking office, President Obama has visited Camp David 22 times, spending all of part of 54 days there. His immediate predecessor was a far more frequent visitor. At this same point in his presidency, George W. Bush had made 81 visits to Camp David spanning all or part of 256 days.

At this same point, Mr. Bush played host there to ten world leaders. This is the first time Mr. Obama is having foreign guests. This week's visitors include the chiefs of state or heads of government from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Russia.

"The summit is intended to be small and intimate," Donilon said at his press briefing. "The president made a conscious decision to host the G8 meeting at Camp David for this reason."

Cuts vs. spending: G8 leaders to grapple over cure for EU debt crisis

Situated in the Catoctin Mountains of Maryland, Camp David provides a pleasant alternative at this time of year to the motorcade congestion and disagreeable heat and humidity of Washington.

There are long wooded paths for strolling, a swimming pool, a bowling alley and putting greens. Not that the leaders will have much time for amusements. They'll be there to discuss the international crises and calamities that threaten the Free World.

Their agenda is topped by the continuing showdown with Iran and its refusal to abandon its program to produce nuclear weapons. The leaders will also discuss the similar standoff with North Korea. The Group of Eight leaders will focus on economic issues first thing Saturday morning.

"And obviously this comes at a very delicate time with respect to the European economy," said Donilon, noting the economic crisis in Greece and its possible exit from the Euro zone.

The Saturday agenda at Camp David includes energy and climate issues. There'll be discussions about global oil markets and whether a coordinated tapping of national petroleum reserves is warranted.

Pres Obama has also put food security on the agenda and invited the leaders of four African nations to join the discussion about the difficulties they face in acquiring reliable and affordable supplies of food for their people.

By Saturday afternoon, the G8 leaders call it a day and most of them head to Chicago, where President Obama plays host to an even larger array of world leaders representing 62 nations - of which 28 are members of the North Atlantic alliance.

It's only the 3rd time in NATO's history that the U.S. has hosted the Leader's Summit. And it's the first time it wasn't in Washington. President Obama chose Chicago as a way to provide an economic boost to his hometown.

The war in Afghanistan tops the NATO agenda as the alliance has a force of 130,000 military personnel defending the western-backed government of President Hamid Karzai against assaults from al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

President Obama is looking to NATO leaders to agree on a plan that will enable the U.S. and its allies to end their military involvement in Afghanistan in 2014.

"Our coalition will set a goal for Afghan forces to be in the lead for combat operations across the country next year," President Obama said on his visit to Afghanistan two weeks ago. "International troops will continue to train, advise and assist the Afghans, and fight alongside them when needed. But we will shift into a support role as Afghans step forward."

President Obama has invited Karzai to be in Chicago for talks on Sunday morning.

"NATO is a cornerstone alliance for the United States," says Donilon. And the back-to-back summits of G8 and NATO, he said, "really do underscore and are an embodiment of American leadership on a range of global challenges."

Unspoken, but self-evident, the two summits also provide an unparalleled position on the world stage for President Obama. And it comes less than six months before American voters decide whether to bestow on him a second term.

Mitt Romney can only watch from the sidelines as President Obama presides as leader of the Free World.

[takacrat]

So Putin will be there!

[TimeToEvolve]

Remember it is the anti-government right wing wackos that were determined to destroy the government so the top 1% could steal all the wealth from the working people. And yes, that would mean the Republicons are responsible for all of the problems we have, the wars, the debts, the loss of freedoms, the loss of right, the loss of jobs and factories and on and on and on.

Sorry but it is clear and obvious who caused the problems. It started with Reagan and went downhill from there.

[Jebeles]

Perhaps you should revisit history and economics before you insinuate you have evolved. As is the case with several countries in Europe, The US' Debt now exceeds its GDP. What is your suggestion for solving that enormous problem? This is what happens when any entity, personal, corporate or government, attempts to live beyond its income. Democrats have had control of Congress for many of the years you cite--they have done nothing to curb spending, balance the budget, etc. The Republicans have not done better. Also remember, Democrats were in the White House when the situation in Viet Nam really heated up. Some wars are necessary, some wars are not--yet the arms/military providers in the US have hoarde of lobbists in Washington the work both sides of the aisle for support--to the point of getting contracts using numbers they have no intention of respecting. We are all in predicament of proportions the US and other world powers have never faced before--China was not a dominating factor/debt holder in the world-wide depression of the 1920s and 1930s. We are teetering of the brink of complete economic collapse, but some parties still scream against economic restraint! Equality of all men before God and the law is a given. Education is available to all in the majority of developed countries. However, the expectations of students in the US has been lowered to the point that many, many students that complete high school do not have basic skills to compete in the workforce. The primary goal of schools is not longer teach students necessary skills and knowledge to assure them of opportunities, but to make them feel special and entitled to what they want--not to understand that what they want has to be earned--somebody has to pay. I know this because I am a teacher. Wake up, TimeTo Evolve, and smell the coffee! Those of us who are in the trenches everyday, working to make life better for all, sacrigicing financial gain in an attempt to make life better for everyone as they accept responsibilty for themselves, are tired of providing for those who expect to be supported by us. Another point of history: investigate when schools began their pitiful decline and what was going on in the "culture" and courts of the US. You might find it interesting... By the way, what do you hope to evolve into? You might want to look into the most current evidence of evolution. This is just one person's thoughtful response to your opinion that is based on nothing more than the current media hype. Research a little, look at the facts on all side of the issue and then form a personal response to what you have found. Thank you.

[aigkbrlies]

At less it isn't at Fort Knok!

[TimeToEvolve]

The meeting of the leading imperialist, predatory capitalists of the world. The people who never saw a war for corporate profit they did not like.

Determined to make sure that all the world's resources are concentrated in the hands of the Top 1% because they are smarter than everyone else.

Since they know what is right, the rest of the 99% of the world will just have to deal with it and fight over the crumbs they leave for us.

[Jebeles]

Are you socialist or communist? Just curious.

[nonpolitico]

No wars in the near future. No-one can afford one!
The facts, which have not changed for 2 years are this:
USA has $Trillion Debts.
Washington has been unable to put party politics aside for the good of the people.
Washington has set in place all the measures needed to undermine the US Constitution.
Europe is a basket case.
the EU is so corrupt it hasn`t been audited for years.
The EU have dawdled about the crisis for over 2 years,
People are the last to be considered.
Camp David? Hah! I bet they were not served grits and coffee, or had to pay for their accommodation or travel etc!
ALL POLITICIANS should have to get a low paid job for 4 years and exist on what the poor sucker citizens have to put up with for a while.
I worked for YEARS for my damn pension to see some Wall Street Dandies "appropriate" some for a "sure thing" gamble.
I`d shoot the lot and start again from scratch like the FF did.
Politicians never do a damn thing for the worker people `cept show a face from time to time at elections.
High on the Hog does not begin to describe how politicians continually stick it to Citizens in the name of their pet projects.
You know the ones I mean.
The ones set up to "help" people with $20 million dollars.
Then they find that to get started they need a brand new HQ, with brand new staff to man it. (The cost then becomes $60 million dollars). Then they need more `crats to write the procedures they need BEFORE they write the regulations, before they decide the HQ aint big enough anymore (even though no-one moved in yet). Then we are at $100 million!
National Debt?????
Mebbee if we scrapped half Washington.scrapped half the Offices. scrapped half the `Crats/regulations/procedures etc, we WOULDN`T HAVE a Federal Debt!!!!!
(And it works just the same all over the world).
Just for laughs, lets arrange the next G8 meeting at a Little Chef in Idaho. Bed and Breakfast only, no free parking, drive your own car and outa the room by 9.30am.
If some of these jokers had to do for themselves for a while, it may cut down on the bills.
I was in GB just over a week ago. The hotel was £112 pounds for TWO nights.
We could use that as a guide to cut Fed budgets on accommodation.
After all, last time I looked the United States was a republic, with no Royal Family or hangers on.
So why all the excess you expect in lands ruled by kings?
Cut that, you cut the deficit.
Shucks, I would attend these meetings for free to give my ten cents worth opinion.
You never know, the State Heads and Crats might just learn a thing or two!! Anyone agree with me send $25.00 via CBS (Thats how the Crats do it)!!!! (Jokin` folks)!!