President Obama Shakes Hands with Qadaffi

and while we are still at it dont forget that libya has indeed learnt a very harsh lesson and also paid dearly we should let go

if there ever was any president who has done so much and so quickly please name him since there is no women president in american history i guess america is not ready as yet obama is MR PRESIDENT RESPECT HIM FOR THAT THE WORLD LOVES HIM TREMENDOUSLY HE CAN SHAKE HANDS WITH WHO EVER HE PLEASES TALK ABOUT SMARTS HAVE YOU NOT NOTICED HOW PEACEFUL THE WORLD IIS AT THE MOMENT INSTEAD YOU RIDICULE HIM COME ON BE REAL

If people are going to hurl accusations at President Obama for shaking hands with Qadaffi, they should understand it was the Bush administration that first accepted Qadaffi and his government and the Bush administration that cited Qadaffi's Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya as "a model" for others to follow.

danita..By your quote regarding Bush and Libya, I am assuming that you are saying Bush was correct in his actions toward Libya as you are using this to defend any criticism against Obama and his handshake with Quaddafi...

Can you say Bush administration boys and girls?

May 2006.
"On Monday, Gaddafi accomplished one of history's great diplomatic turnarounds when Secretary of State Condeleezza Rice announced that the U.S. was restoring full diplomatic relations with Libya and held up the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya as "a model" for others to follow."

If only Obama's eyes had slyly checked out Qaddaffi's butt, there would be more interest in this story.

Actually shaking hands with the man who has ordered the deaths of many Americans gets way less attention than Barack checking out the trunk of a young woman.

Focus!

Another picture for the scrapbook. But where to file it alphabetically. After Castro and Chavez and before Zalaya but do you spell it Qaddafi, Kadafi, Gadhafi, Qatafi, or Gaddafi?

"(O)bviously the dictator's support of terrorism against the US in the past makes him a most distasteful character in the eyes of many Americans."

Obviously, but we are getting used to seeing him hugging it out with nefarious world leaders.

i can not beleive that you would shake the hand of a man your country once tried to kill ???? maybe we are even going to give him a settlement. what a bunch of crap.....

this is what our President thinks is foreign policy. shaking hands with murderers. sorry but i call that appeasement and i do not care what past president's did or didnt do. this is not right.

I wonder if Qadaffi's hand is still shaking from when Reagan nearly took out his sorry behind?

There are these little things called 'protocol' and 'customs.' As best I can tell, Bush used completely proper protocol, in accordance with and as a simple courtesy to the leader of another nation.

It appears, however, that Obama boffed this one -- and that only subjects bow to the Saudi rulers, and its NOT appropriate coming from the leader of another nation. A rather embarrassing gaffe all the way around.

Its a shame that some slam Bush for him extending a simple courtesy - one that takes a bit of courage here in America no less - and following proper protocol.

Its worse that some try to use an example of proper protocol as a justification for why its somehow fine for Obama to screw up on protocol. A gaffe is a gaffe, no matter how ya spin it.

from just a quick google, from General Norman Schwarzkopf's Arabic interpreter:

http://francona.blogspot.com/2009/04/on-saudi-customs-bowing-kissing-and.html

....In other situations in Saudi Arabia and other countries in the Middle East, greetings between men are often accompanied by kisses and hand-holding. At first it is uncomfortable for Americans, but it is the local custom. Adapting to these customs goes a long way to building trust and rapport.

In all my dealings in the region, I was never pressured to pay any particular homage other than the normal respects and courtesies shown for our own senior leadership. The Saudi king did not expect a bow from the American president, and in my opinion, he should not have received it.

I assume Mr. Obama was attempting to show respect, as he should, but he needs to hire some better advisors on things Middle Eastern.

You conservatives need to chill about Obama shaking hands with, well, anyone. Remember the wise words of Don Vito Corleone: "Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer."

KUDO'S to Jake Tapper for putting this into a bit of historical perspective!

That is sorely lacking from many MSM articles these days, and it does a huge disservice to the readers.

Keep up the good work Jake!

John Reina, I am so sorry for your loss.

"On Monday, Gaddafi accomplished one of history's great diplomatic turnarounds when Secretary of State Condeleezza Rice announced that the U.S. was restoring full diplomatic relations with Libya and held up the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya as "a model" for others to follow."
May 2006.

Can you say Bush administration boys and girls?

What is wrong with u conservative people? mere hand shaking does not mean anything more than policy that will favor or empower this dictator? President Obama did the right thing for diplomatic sake. It just a hand shake so take it easy.

I'm sure the people in Syracuse are pleased, particularly the people who lost loved ones in the Pan Am Flight over Scotland. So are all of the former employees of Pan Am, whose company ultimately went bankrupt because of that crash. Maybe Obama should find a way to tax him....

If I were a dictator, I would dress like Qadaffi. What's the point of having absolute control of your country if you're just going to dress like Kim Jong Il?

As we all learned from Reagan, it's all about appearances. Doesn't matter if you're illegally selling missiles to known enemies, so long as you look like a tough cowboy on the evening news.

John Reina ------------ I completely agree. Obama has apologized and shook enough hands. Even some of his supporters have to be sick at the sight of this. I was hoping good from him even though I didn't vote for him. Now, my support is gone and he is endangering our security.