Obama Invites Greek PM to Visit Washington

[jo the greek]

US President Barack Obama invited Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou to visit Washington. The Greek government termed such a meeting really important, while political analysts in Washington interpreted Obama's move as an extension of helpful hand to Greece and George Papandreou amidst tough financial pressure against Greece. "In the very difficult conjuncture that we are in, such an international contact is very important," commented government spokesman G. Petalotis, further stressing that the exact date of the meeting would be fixed through diplomatic channels.
"In the very difficult conjuncture that we are in, such an international contact is very important," G. Petalotis NET correspondent to New York Dimitris Filios reported that the US President invited the Greek Prime Minister to visit the USA on 9 March when a special ceremony in honour of the Greek War of Independence takes place in the White House The exact date will be probably set within Friday. In case, both sides cannot agree on a date, it will be fixed through diplomatic channels. The Meeting's Agenda
The Greek-US ties, the tackling of the fiscal credit, the Greek-Turkish relations, energy affairs, the Cyprus row and the FYROM name dispute in connection with the developments in the Balkans will run high on the agenda of the two leaders.




If we let aside what in the article says that they are going to discuss


One phrase from movies stays in my Head

He made me him an offer he couldnt refuse!

I mean i find rather suddenly this to happen in this time and i am thinking

that Obama is going to hit now that can find Papandreou with low defences.

[Romanos IV]

A couple of hours after this invitation reached Athens, Merkel also sent an invitation for our PM to visit Berlin on March 5, that is before the visit to the States. That shows the competition between the two for our new aircraft purchase (we're between EF-2000 and F-35 or F-18). I also find interesting that some politicians argue we should go to the IMF, all this fuss may be related to this possibility.

[Stavroforos]

Cool story, jo.

Also, as much as I've been wanting Greece to get some new fighters since what is it...2000? I don't think now is the best time.

[jo the greek]

Cool story, jo.

Also, as much as I've been wanting Greece to get some new fighters since what is it...2000? I don't think now is the best time.

Well i know behind similar stories

there are other things cause the whole Dept thing is hillarious they should knew that this would happen.

As many fraud happened behind 1821s British Loans

I am afraid someone is playing games to force Greece buy Airplanes or something similar and then Shutup

Also thinking who is gainig from this whole panic in Europe about Greece

The Usa economic system ?? Others that want to hide behing Greece and blame her for the economy crises in Europe?

[Phier]

Maybe Obama just wants to teach him how to deal with deficit spending

[Starlightman]

Maybe Obama just wants to teach him how to deal with deficit spending

best comment so far....

@OP

so what jo about this invitation?

maybe Obama wants give a loan to Greek PM?maybe he(Obama) wants to support the demand of 1821 British loans?

maybe TWC must make a "thrashium threadium" sub forum...?

please mercy us....

[alhoon]

Maybe Obama just wants to teach him how to deal with deficit spending

I really, really, really hoped so. For whatever you think about Obama, your economy was in free fall and now it's slowly and steadily recovering.

Our PM is stupid. Not a bad fellow. Just not bright enough. And he's better than the previous guy. So, he can use some tips.

My personal opinion is that only if EU and US start to pressure Greece, Papandreou is going to take the financial measures that are required for Greece to come out from this crises.Greek people do not trust Greek governments and would revolt in the thought of radical financial measures.They do, however trust more EU opinion in some matters so if EU says some things(as it does now)the Greek public will admit that Papandreou's measures are one way exit

The vast majority of Greeks agrees with harsh measures. Check the polls. We wouldn't revolt in the thought of radical financial measures.
But some advice from Obama would be nice.

[Phier]

I really, really, really hoped so. For whatever you think about Obama, your economy was in free fall and now it's slowly and steadily recovering.

Correlation does not equal causation, and the economy still sucks.

[Pious Agnost]

Maybe Obama just wants to teach him how to deal with deficit spending

I would've thought you'd say the other way round

Cool story, jo.

Best comment so far.

Potential headline in Al Jeezera:

"Great Satan debtor tutors Orthodox debtor on the keys to spending from an empty pocket."

Close second.

[BlackPirate]

My personal opinion is that only if EU and US start to pressure Greece, Papandreou is going to take the financial measures that are required for Greece to come out from this crises.Greek people do not trust Greek governments and would revolt in the thought of radical financial measures.They do, however trust more EU opinion in some matters so if EU says some things(as it does now)the Greek public will admit that Papandreou's measures are one way exit

[Koelkastmagneet]

Please annex Greece, we don't know what to do with them anymore

My personal opinion is that only if EU and US start to pressure Greece, Papandreou is going to take the financial measures that are required for Greece to come out from this crises.Greek people do not trust Greek governments and would revolt in the thought of radical financial measures.They do, however trust more EU opinion in some matters so if EU says some things(as it does now)the Greek public will admit that Papandreou's measures are one way exit

He's already taking steps, but they've incited strikes.

[Thorn777]

Making a trip to Washington ay...maybe a pit-stop at the IMF while in town?

[alhoon]

In my opinion, it would suck far more if the administration haven't taken the steps it took. Time will show.

[Phier]

In my opinion, it would suck far more if the administration haven't taken the steps it took. Time will show.

And how would you tell? Massive government spending, massive public debt, and then if the economy recovers they claim victory as if they somehow "fixed" it.

[alhoon]

And how would you tell? Massive government spending, massive public debt, and then if the economy recovers they claim victory as if they somehow "fixed" it.

Massive goverment spending and massive public debt were needed in my opinion to jump start the economy = build up.

Let me make myself clearer: A bunch of economic advisors (Obama had 8 in his staff when he was just president elect) with respectable credentials and reputation advised that course of action to Obama.
I don't know of any respectable enough economist that argued against the generic policy that increased debt and spending, but I'm sure there would be some. I don't know of any because I didn't look into it.
Obama chose to listen his own bunch of economic advisors and decided that indeed, massive spending was a gamble that they had to take.

An army of economical advisors (from every level that had a say) got the general idea that "we must borrow from the future to build up and have a future" to start making suggestions on how to use the money. Some were good and had good ideas, some were stupid and had stupid ideas, some were good and corrupted and wanted to serve their own needs, some were just vote-grabbers.
An opposing army of economical advisors rised to discredit most of those ideas and present their own ideas along with the idea that "no, no more spending". Again, some were good, some were bad, some were stupid, some were corrupted and some were votegrabbers.
Both armies have republicans, democrats and independants in them, although obviously the spend army has more democrats and the dont-spend army has more republicans.

Now, Obama has a large influence on what idea is pushed forward and what not. He's the president.
Each democrat and republican senator, goverment, public official have also a voice on what passes and what not.

The end point is:
I trust that Obama was right in the "we must borrow from the future to have one" and his bunch of advisors and not the "no, we must cut expenses" bunch. Why? Trust in Obama. He seems to me that he has good and sound judgement and so far I agree with 75% of what he does or doesn't do.

On the second level, I trust that Obama will take more good decisions on which spending ideas to pass and less bad decisions. Trust in Obama again.

On Provincial level, public sector... I believe Democrats and Republicans are about equally good, bad, corrupt and vote-grabbers. With the balance tipping somewhat in favor of the democrats for what I have seen so far.


ON TOPIC:
On the other hand, I'm very, very skeptical about our prime minister.
I believe that 90% of his ideas will be either wrong, or will be implemented the wrong way.

So I hope Obama tells him a couple of good ideas because he's a fool and can't think of enough good ideas of his own. And we need a lot of good ideas.

Potential headline in Al Jeezera:

"Great Satan debtor tutors Orthodox debtor on the keys to spending from an empty pocket."

I have watched the English Al Jazeera quite a few times and it doesn't contain any such idiocy.

[Eastern Roman]

So I hope Obama tells him a couple of good ideas because he's a fool and can't think of enough good ideas of his own. And we need a lot of good ideas.

Yes, because Obama's main worry is the situation in Greece. I think it is pretty naive to think that Obama care so much about Greece.

[alhoon]

Yes, because Obama's main worry is the situation in Greece. I think it is pretty naive to think that Obama care so much about Greece.

I never said Obama's main worry is the situation in Greece! Don't put words in my mouth. I didn't even say we are an important enough of his worries.

But Obama asked to see our PM about the crisis. So, I hope he gives him some advice.

[Viking Prince]

Potential headline in Al Jeezera:

"Great Satan debtor tutors Orthodox debtor on the keys to spending from an empty pocket."

[Eastern Roman]

Socialist leaders United!

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[Viking Prince]

@alhoon

I do not discount Keynsian stimulus can work (though it needs to be short term). I also agree with most of the economists advising such a stimulus. Too bad that there has not yet been a drop of Keynes in the stimulus. The money was almost completely shoveled into governement employee paychecks (mainly unionized government employees, btw). Keynes advocated a pump priming by spending government funds in the private sector.