U.S. President Barack Obama started his Mideast tour on Wednesday by meeting King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. "The United States and Saudi Arabia have a long history of friendship.
We have a strategic relationship," Obama said as he visited the monarch’s horse farm. The American leader called Abdullah wise and gracious, adding: "I am confident that working together that the United States and Saudi Arabia can make progress on a whole host of issues of mutual interest."
For his part, Abdullah expressed his "best wishes to the friendly American people who are represented by a distinguished man who deserves to be in this position."