Obama will visit Middle East, Western Europe this summer

By Margaret Talev - McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON — Barack Obama said Saturday that he'll soon travel to the Middle East and Western Europe to meet with allies and discuss terrorism, nuclear weapons and global warming.

The trip, to take place this summer although travel dates were not released, will provide the freshman Illinois senator and presumed Democratic presidential nominee an opportunity for face time with some of the world leaders he'll be working with if elected in November.

It also gives the 46-year-old opponent of the Iraq war an opportunity to strengthen his foreign-policy credentials, which have been criticized as insufficient by the presumed Republican presidential nominee John McCain, a veteran senator, Vietnam war hero and supporter of the Iraq war.

And with much of the world fascinated by Obama's candidacy, including a large fan base in Europe, an enthusiastic reception overseas could be a selling point for Obama with American voters concerned about the nation's reputation under President Bush.

Obama said he will stop in Israel, Jordan, France, Germany and the United Kingdom.

He made no mention of whether he will meet with Palestinian officials — a potentially thorny issue as he aims to ease strains between the United States and Arab and Muslim nations while solidifying his own standing with Jewish voters at home.

”We're building the itineraries now for each of the stops, and we're not in a position to release any further details,“ said Obama's foreign policy adviser Denis McDonough, when asked to clarify whether Obama will meet with Palestinians and under what circumstances.

However, James Zogby, president of the Washington, D.C.-based Arab American Institute, thinks Obama will meet with the Palestinians.

”My understanding from the conversations I've had is that they will meet with the Palestinians, but the itinerary hasn't been set. Not meeting with them would send the wrong message, and I believe they're intending to send all the right messages.“