A LITTLE LATE, NO? - AT 8:22 A.M. ET:  As Mr. Obama jets off to Egypt to address people who danced in the streets after 9-11, he's having some trouble with people who came to our side after 9-11.  Confusion, confusion.  It must be a language problem, but this administration appears to treat enemies better than friends.

After Egypt, and a lovely trip to the free, democratic kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the president will visit Normandy to commemorate D-Day.  But someone, gosh darn, forgot to invite Queen Elizabeth, the only reigning leader who participated in World War II.  Now, a few days before the trip, the White House tells us it is just so upset, as The Politico reports: 

President Obama is trying to score Queen Elizabeth an invite to the D-Day commemoration ceremony at Normandy ...

... that he will attend this week with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

The Queen, the only surviving head of state who served in World War II, was snubbed by the French when she didn’t make the guest list.

Asked today if Obama believes Her Majesty should be officially invited, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters, “He does.”

“And we are working with those involved to see if we can make that happen,” he said.

You know, making sure there's a hotel room available, a seat on a British airliner - that kind of thing.

It was a bit different last week, before the scriptwriters around the president agreed on the shooting script:

Last week the White House wasn’t so sure about the Queen and Normandy. Gibbs brushed off a question about whether Obama could intervene on her behalf.

“We are not in charge of the guest list,” Gibbs quipped. “I can assure you of that.”

No, but the president of the United States can make an itty bitty suggestion.

The president has expressed affection for the queen before.  But the president is very good with words.  It's the actions that worry us.

June 2, 2009