Obama defends overseas trip after meeting Britain's PM Gordon Brown

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
US presidential contender Barack Obama defended his decision to travel to Europe and the Middle East, saying Saturday that problems encountered by Americans at home are often best dealt with by working with allies overseas. Obama, who spoke to reporters after wrapping up talks with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, said he was not sure if there would be any immediate political impact from the trip - and that he would not be surprised if there was a dip in some of the polls in the week since he left home. People in America, he said, are worried about gas prices and home foreclosures. "The reason that I thought this trip was important is that I am convinced that many issues that we face at home are not going to be solved as effectively unless we have strong partners abroad," he said. "And unless we get a handle on Iraq and Afghanistan, not only are we going to be less safe, but it's also going to be a huge drain on resources." Obama said he and Brown discussed a wide range of issues, such as climate change, terrorism and financial markets.