Mr. Obama Goes to Saudi Arabia

It is good that he is visiting the Saudis as long as he doesn't genuflect before King Abdullah again.

"I thought it was very important to come to the place where Islam began and to seek his majesty's counsel," Obama said. The president and the king talked in the splendor of Abdullah's sprawling retreat, a lush patch of searing desert.

The king, who was hosting Obama for an overnight stay, called his guest "a distinguished man who deserves to be in this position."

However, Obama embarrasses America again when he went off teleprompter with this little gem.

Looking up, Obama joked: "This is a much nicer tent than you gave to Prince Charles."

That drew a laugh from Abdullah, who then explained that Saudi royals try to maintain ties to their desert roots even inside buildings.

"Well, it's beautiful," Obama replied.

I think Obama needs to read a little Saudi history before he speaks off the cuff like that. It was an almost Bush-level gaff.

I really think his handlers need to get the guy ready before he meets with world leaders. First the region-coded DVDs to Gordon Brown, then the IPod to the Queen of England, then some crack about the Saudi tent being nicer then the one given to Prince Charles.

I sure hope to crap we didn't give Abdullah a special Blackberry or a signed basketball or something dumb like that.