Obama could get last laugh in Cambodian greeting gaffe

November 24, 2012
By John Guzzardo
Examiner.com

Sen may indeed be concerned that any perception of disrespect shown to Obama by his wife could resolve in a "sorry, pay up" message from Washington.

Though many in the international press corps believe that President Obama was treated disrespectfully in Cambodia on Friday, it may be Obama who gets the last laugh.

When Obama was greeted by Cambodian President Hun Sen and First Lady Bun Rany on Friday, the First Lady’s posture and hand positioning, hands at chest level and tilting her upper body slightly, is believed to be the sort of greeting used to greet servants and not equals. This has created a small brouhaha within the diplomatic community. The editorial board for Investor's Business Daily was quick to note this slight may not have been noticed by Westerners, but is very obvious to Asians.

“First lady Bun Rany greeted Obama with a traditional "sampeah" pressed-hands greeting reserved for servants, a little dig that was probably lost on him but not to Asians.”

The president and his advisers then met with Cambodian leadership to discuss a variety to topics, ranging from human rights and elections concerns to financial matters, such as Cambodia’s request to the United States government for forgiveness of its debt.

That debt is where if the First Lady’s greeting is perceived as a cultural slip, it may cost her husband dearly. Sen’s government is trying to get the United States to forgive over $370 million, arguing that a pro-American government incurred the debt in the 1970s as a means to repress its people. With the current sesquestration talks at home entering a very heated phase, collecting on such debts, paltry as they are in the broader scope, could score Obama political points he could use as leverage in budget talks.

Cambodia's government wants the debt forgiveness because it claims the money can go towards investing in the nation itself. Since many nations have used outstanding debts as leverage in diplomatic relations, Sen may indeed be concerned that any perception of disrespect shown to Obama by his wife could resolve in a "sorry, pay up" message from Washington.