The next few months the president will definitely be earning his frequent flyer miles. The Commander in Chief plans to travel to nine countries during February, March and April starting with a trip to California today. Mexico, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines all hold the top spots for the president, although his itinerary is anything but casual.
In Italy, the president has a much anticipated meeting with Pope Francis. In Iran, its talk about sanctions and nuclear armistice. Then on to the crisis in Syria and, in the case of Japan, the dispute over East China Sea islands and China's new air-defense zone.
The travel plans are a much needed boost to America's foreign policy image around the world, and a break from the Congressional stalemate that is plaguing the President's second term. Not to mention a break from his healthcare fiasco that still seems to be going nowhere.
His meeting with the Pope will likely bolster that decaying image as Mr. Obama has garnered praise from the pope for his efforts to highlight the plight of the poor and concerns about income inequality.
As midterms elections draw nearer, the presidents plans to travel at a breaknect speed, as there are few better ways to connect with the public. And while his destinations are popular spots for tourists, business as usual continues to bring the leader of the free world to the far reaches of the globe.
