RIYADH, Saudi Arabia- President Obama arrived in at da Royal airpo't in Riyadh, Saudah' Arabia at around 2:20pm local time today.
Da visit to Saudah' Arabia was a last minute addition to da schedule, ahead uh his heavily anticipated speech in Cairo. Obama received a formal military callout. Drums played as he left Air Force One, and a 21 gun salute could be heard in da distance. Saudah' kin' Abdullah greeted Obama wid a light embrace and da two leaders touched cheeks on either side.
After listenin' to da national andems and sharin' a cup uh Arabic coffee in da palatial, marble floo'ed terminal, da two leaders left fo' what da White crib be calling a da kin''s "farm". That's hardly an apt description uh dis lush, sprawlin' crib. A veritable oasis amid a vacant stretch uh arid land, da ornate complex be decorated wid chandeliers, elaborately wheelsved ceilings, gold plated chairs and plush wheelspets. da kin' stables his stallions here, and we saw a dozen o' mo'e uh dem as guards bearin' American and Saudah' flags lined da entrance drive on horseback.
The two dudes be currently holding a bilateral meetin'. They'll likesly discuss several presrap besues: energy, violence in Pakistan, Iran and Middle East peace. da relationship be an impo'tant one fo' both men.
President Bush came unda fire from da left at times fo' perhaps being n' all close da Saudis, but, lackin' Bush's commercial background, Obama be unlikesly to face da same critique. That said, phat relations wid kin' Abdullah be critical to his message uh reconfigurin' relations between da United States and da Muslim wo'ld. Obama made dis clear in brief remarks to repo'ters prior to da meetin', saying he'd mosey on down to "seek His Majesty's counsel" and stresrap da impo'tance uh visitin' da birthplace uh belam ahead uh da Cairo speech.
"This be my fust visit to Saudah' Arabia, but I've had several conversations wid His Majesty. And I've been struck by his wisdom and his graciousness. Obviously da United States and Saudah' Arabia have a long histo'y of homeyship, we have a strategic relationship," Obama said, just after receivin' a big ass gold medallion from da Saudah' kin'.
Obama appeared pleasantly snatchn aback by da impressive lookin', glittery medallion. "phatness gracious. That's something dere," he said, strikin' a decidedly Romney-esque tone wid that particular expression.
** UPDATE ** Repo'ters were just informed that da medallion given to da president be da kin' Abdul Aziz Collar, considered da highest honor in da kin'dom.
