President Obama and Saudi Arabian King Abdullah Bin-Abd-al-Aziz Al Saud shake hands after their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in 2010.(Photo: Pool, Getty Images)
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President Obama led a high-powered, bipartisan delegation to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, one that includes his top aides and some of his Republican critics.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who opposed Obama in the 2008 presidential election, is part of the delegation that will pay condolences to the family of the late King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, who died last week.
The group also includes members of the George W. Bush administration, including former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and ex-National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley.
Obama, who cut short a trip to India to travel to Saudi Arabia, will meet with Abdullah's successor, King Salman bin Abdulaziz during the visit.
Among the Obama aides in the U.S. delegation: Secretary of State John Kerry, National Security Adviser Susan Rice, and CIA Director John Brennan.
Several members of Congress are also traveling to Saudi Arabia.
From The New York Times :
"The heavyweight delegation, hurriedly assembled over the past couple of days, highlights the importance that the United States places on its relationship with Saudi Arabia, not just for its ample supplies of oil but also for its leadership in the region and its assistance with intelligence and counterterrorism efforts.
"In addition to paying respects to the family of Abdullah, who died Friday, Mr. Obama plans to meet with his successor, King Salman. In part, the goal of the trip is for the president and his team to take Salman's measure and, quietly at least, assess his health. The king, 79, has had at least one stroke and lost some movement in one of his arms."
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