Thai Govt Prepares For Possible Obama Visit

[webfact]

THAI-US RELATIONS

Govt prepares for possible Obama visit

Piyanart Srivalo

The Nation

Obama

BANGKOK: -- Preparations have started for US President Barack Obama to make his delayed visit to Thailand pending next month's presidential election, a US Embassy source said yesterday.

Officials from the US Embassy, Special Branch police and the Foreign Ministry yesterday inspected the Government House premises.

The official visit from November 18-19 would depend on Obama getting re-elected for a second term on November 6.

Obama was scheduled to call on Thailand in July while attending the Asean leaders' summit in Cambodia, but the trip was cancelled after Thailand rejected a request by the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration to use U-tapao International Airport for a tropical climate research study. The US also wants to use the naval airport for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.

The US Embassy would not give out details on the plan until it receives an official confirmation from the White House after the election, an embassy official said.

However, officials have met to discuss the possibility of Obama travelling here, the official added.

-- The Nation 2012-10-12

[asiawatcher]

Hardly an important visit - I wonder what the 'justification' is?

[Payboy]

He wants to study Thailands 30 Baht healthcare scheme, perhaps.

[Ricardo]

Clearly he wants to congratulate our fragrant PM on her UN-award in-person.

Or maybe he wants to ask for a loan ?

[Songhua]

He heard it was the best place to buy votes

[theslime]

Must be Oil near by.

[webfact]

Obama To Visit Thailand Next Month

BANGKOK, Oct 12 (Bernama) -- US President Barack Obama is scheduled to visit Thailand from Nov 18-19, but Bangkok is yet to receive an official confirmation from Washington, Thai News Agency reported.

Senior officials and staff of the US Embassy in Bangkok, as well as those from the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs and special branch police met at Bangkok's Government House on Thursday for an unofficial discussion on preparations for the US President's forthcoming trip to Thailand.

Officials from the United States and Thailand, as well as Thai police also inspected Santi Maitree and Thai Khu Fa buildings in the compound of the Thai government seat, as part of the preparations for Thailand's reception of Obama.

Full story: http://www.bernama.c...d.php?id=701475

-- BERNAMA 2012-10-12

[keemapoot]

I wonder if he'll go visit Jesse and Victor (tailors to both Bush Sr. and Bush Jr.) while he's here? I do.

[shedend]

I wonder if he'll go visit Jesse and Victor (tailors to both Bush Sr. and Bush Jr.) while he's here? I do.

He heard Soi COWBOY was the place to go as he is a COWBOY lol

[Kernow86]

Brilliant, here's hoping he's re-elected!

[freedom4life]

Thailand has enough problems of her own...and another one has to walk in.

[glennb6]

I thought Thailand was anti-communist !? Zero is bad news for any to get involved with and if any of the govt in Thailand cuddles with him, beware.

[siamjimi]

Whats the purpose of his visit ? - to spend millions of dollars for a holiday just so he can say "been there - done that' - - to waste American taxpayers money - what will this trip significantly achieve in the bigger scheme of things - what a joke.

And the purported reasoning behind doing something after his election like we are supposed to vote for or "want" his re-election to get some level of his attention. This sort of forum message/news is skewed and certainly is a farce and should not be run like this.

[SOTIRIOS]

...check out the thousands of YouTube videos about 'the real Obama'.....

[comserve]

Must be Oil near by.

Yes, thre probably is. A chinese company has established their base here in satuek. THEY HAVE BEEN HERE DRILLING FOR OVER 6 MONTHS & NOW HAVE WOUND BACK THEIR ACTIVITIES.

They still have about 12 drilling rigs parked near the town.

Have they found something perhaps???

[puyaidon]

He heard it was the best place to buy votes

He will be too late for my vote as mine has already been cast and verified as received. Here is hoping.

[Jingthing]

Increased involvement and emphasis all over Asia is a trademark of the Obama-Clinton foreign policy strategy. Visiting Thailand isn't a waste of time. I'd love to see our popular U.S. President Obama in Pattaya, but I reckon that's a bridge too far.

Given Obama's lock in the electoral college and the brilliant debate performance of Fightin' Joe Biden, I reckon the Thais can go well beyond penciling this visit in. It's happening.

Edited October 12, 2012 by Jingthing

[rotary]

Lets hope he does not come because he will be too busy putting in job applications and moving out of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave but if he does come maybe he will get some training in debating while in the Kingdom. Lets hope he does not try to give economic advice to Thailand.

Edited October 12, 2012 by rotary

[keemapoot]

Must be Oil near by.

Yes, thre probably is. A chinese company has established their base here in satuek. THEY HAVE BEEN HERE DRILLING FOR OVER 6 MONTHS & NOW HAVE WOUND BACK THEIR ACTIVITIES.

They still have about 12 drilling rigs parked near the town.

Have they found something perhaps???

Probably more to do with Burmese gas, infrastructure, pipelines, etc., and Thailand's positioning with the US on these issues.

[johnnysunshine]

I imagine he has seen the role of coconuts in maintaining his optimal health and Thailand has the best!

[Jingthing]

The U.S. and Thailand are long time close allies and major trading partners. The King was born in the U.S.A. It is a very important relationship for both countries. It's nice being an American in Thailand, in a friendly country. Our esteemed President Obama upon his expected reelection can be assured of a very warm welcome from the American expat community here in Thailand!

Edited October 12, 2012 by Jingthing

[Jeii3000]

Once again, the keyboard warriors here on TV don't disappoint..... While you're sitting in your dimly lit crummy hole you call

an apartment calling him a communist and such, he's out there making a difference. It's easy to criticize isn't it.

Step away from the computer, put the beer down and go for a walk....

P.S. it's President Obama you ^&^*$**^((!

[Soi Sauce]

To paraphrase Led Zeppeiln;

"Hegemony, hegemony, paying her bills,

Living, lying, she's just a woman".

[Jingthing]

Yeah, sure, U.S. presidents should just sit home all the time in the free rent white house. That's the ticket.

[sandman00927]

It's too bad mostif the posters here weren't in the US armed services when the previous US President and his administration invaded Iraq based on lies and saber rattling, Also destroyed the housing market, damaged the economy not only in USA, but allowed the crooked bankers on WallStreet to get away with crippling the real estate market, and afterward rewarding them with bailouts. Yes the Obama administration isn't perfect, but they kept the USA from total financial ruin, where as the Bush administration couldn't leave the burning house fast enough.

[hawker9000]

....what a treat.

[hhfarang]

President Obama can be assured of a very warm welcome from the American expat community here in Thailand!

I don't know what part of Thailand you live in but I can assure you that the majority of American expats that live in my town would not give him a warm welcome. I know quite a few Americans here and I only know of one who is an Obama supporter. His administration's borrowing and printing money certainly has not helped the value of our dollars against the Baht or any other currency.

[bob4you]

Reason for visit. His wife and kids always wanted to vacation in Thailand.

[Miami Bob]

If he does come to Thailand the one thing you can believe is that the real reason for the trip is unlikely have anything to do with what he claims it is. Based on his track record you have to assume anything he says is a slick talking bold faced lie until truly proven otherwise. But don't worry he probably won't come because it doesn't sound like he will get re-elected. Going by alternative news sources that are not controlled by the global elite and actually attempt to tell the truth, it sounds like the global/wallstreet mega banks and the rest of the fortune 500 that he represents have decided Obama, or whatever his real name is, has outlived his usefulness to their agenda. It sounds like Goldman Sachs and others are backing their puppet on the other side of the aisle Romney this time.

[thaikahuna]

He heard it was the best place to buy votes

Not enough money on the planet to buy mine...

Edited October 12, 2012 by thaikahuna