Rihanna -- When It Comes to Obama, All I See Is Color! (VIDEO)
If you #39;re an African-American considering a run for the White House in 2016, you #39;ve probably already sewn up Rihanna #39;s vote.
By: TMZ
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Rihanna -- When It Comes to Obama, All I See Is Color! (VIDEO) - Video
President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping are meeting in Beijing on Wednesday for deep discussion and what will be a tense dance for two countries that are gigantic economic partners, but ideologically virtually diametrically opposed.
On Tuesday, at the ceremonial opening of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, Obama said he wanted to take U.S. and China's "relationship to a new level."
"When the U.S. and China are able to work together effectively, the whole world benefits," Obama said. And on Monday, Chinese news service Xinhua published an interview in which Obama "absolutely" rejected the notion that the U.S. hopes to "contain" China.
I think the most important thing is just to remind everybody that he is still the president of the United States.
Obama is on a three-country tour to Asia to attend the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) and G20 summits, with the goal to get free-trade agreements moving forward and to have "direct and candid" discussions over China's human rights record.
But some note that an unstated objective of the tour is to be seen at home and abroad as "leader of the free world," and to show that the much-hyped "pivot to Asia" strategy announced in 2012 hasn't been abandoned in the face of the crisis in Ukraine, the battle against ISIS, and the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
"I think the most important thing is just to remind everybody that he is still the president of the United States," said James Goldgeier, dean of American University's School of International Service. "He still leads the most powerful country in the world ... and it gives an opportunity to remind everybody of that."
But Goldgeier also noted that "it gives an opportunity to remind everybody that a major thrust of his foreign policy has been a rebalancing of his foreign policy, toward Asia (and away from Europe and the Middle East). Thats been a difficult policy this year to articulate, because you've had Ukraine and then ISIS... and Ebola, so the trip gives him an opportunity to remind everybody that this is a significant part of his strategy."
Beijing remains skeptical of Obama's intentions in Asia, seeing his efforts to bolster U.S. economic ties in the region as a way of countering China's rise.
"I think that consensus is growing that there's going to be more viscosity, more tension with China over the next few years," Michael Green, an Asia analyst at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, told the Associated Press. He added that Xi has proved to be "less accommodating" and "tougher than expected" in his dealings with the U.S.
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Obama's Unspoken Goal in China: Assert Global Leadership Role
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Editor's note: Frida Ghitis is a world affairs columnist for The Miami Herald and World Politics Review. A former CNN producer and correspondent, she is the author of "The End of Revolution: A Changing World in the Age of Live Television." Follow her on Twitter @FridaGhitis. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.
(CNN) -- President Obama has written yet another letter to Iran's Supreme Leader and, by all accounts, his missives remain unrequited.
It is not a pretty sight -- the commander-in-chief of the planet's mightiest army, the leader of the world's largest economy -- sitting down at his desk, chin in hand, trying to come up with just the right words to persuade the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to make nice with America, time and again, even after his letters prompt a combination of silence and scorn.
It is good that Iran and the United States are talking. But this is another matter altogether. A letter is not needed to maintain communications. The two countries are already engaged in high-level negotiations, with a make-or-break deadline fast approaching on a nuclear deal.
Frida Ghitis
The sad fact is that Obama's words seem to provoke exactly the opposite of their intended reaction from Khamenei, the man who will ultimately decide if there is a nuclear deal.
Khamenei has been crystal clear in expressing barely restrained contempt for Obama and his rhetorical advances.
Let's face it. Obama is not a very good negotiator, at least when it comes to Iran.
Obama has many strengths, but bargaining does not appear to be one of them. The fact has been evident in Washington, where he scored a few major legislative victories, but has mostly seen his agenda blocked. The blockers are Republicans and they surely bear much of the blame, but, as many have pointed out, other presidents have proven more effective at negotiating with the opposition.
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Obama: Dear Supreme Leader
Bad News For Barack Obama On Eve Of Election
Bad News For Barack Obama On Eve Of Election.
By: Abdelmuti
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Bad News For Barack Obama On Eve Of Election - Video
Obama #39;a less than warm Asia welcome
Julie Pace tells us how the Chinese media isn #39;t exactly embracing Obama after the midterm election results.
By: CNN
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Obama'a less than warm Asia welcome - Video