Obama Arrives in Jordan
(AMMAN, JORDAN) Barack Obama arrived in Jordan just before 7:30am ET, where he will kick off the campaign portion of his Middle East and Europe tour. Obama arrived on a V22 military jet and he's accompanied by Sens. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., and Jack Reed, D-R.I. The three senators will head to the Citadel in Amman, where they will take questions from reporters likely to focus his their three day visit to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Later, Obama will meet with King Abdullah, who is returning from a visit to Denver, Colorado. This will be the first time the two men will meet in person. Campaign aides said Abdullah proposed the meeting, after he was approached by the campaign to have an event with the King. Obama adviser Gen. Scott Gration will serve as the official note taker and will be the only additional person present.
King Abdullah and Queen Rania will later host an official palace dinner for Obama, Sens. Hagel and Reed, Gen. Gration, and U.S. Charge d'Affaires Dan Rubinstein.
Campaign aides describe Obama's meeting with the King today as "appropriate", despite the fact that he will not be negotiating new policy and will only discuss issues in broad term. Since announcing the trip, the campaign maintains Obama will not be playing the part of president, nor will he be campaigning while he is overseas. They insist that it is important for the presumptive Democratic nominee to hear directly from leaders of countries who have a "critical relationship" with the United States.
Obama's last visit to Jordan was in January 2006, after his first, and only trip to Iraq.