From PRI, Public Radio International and KCRW Santa Monica, this is To the Point.

The President's trip to the Middle East and the presidential campaign.

Hello again, I'm Orman Alney, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International.

A daily look at the issues, Americans care about most. Iraq Obama today called President Bush's insinuation that Obama would negotiate with

terrorists appalling. Obama said he has not advocated talks with Hamas in Gaza, but that John McCain

has. Meantime, the president has left Israel for Saudi Arabia and Egypt, where he'll meet with several Middle Eastern allies.

One Washington rumor explains yesterday's denunciation of appeasement as preparation for attacks on military encampments inside Iran.

On to the point, we'll hear what Obama had to say and get several views of what the president has in mind.

On reporter's notebook later on, we'll talk with a man who does talk with Hamas.

First, here's the news.

Support for To the Point comes from subscribers of KCRW Santa Monica

and from the Public Radio International Program Fund,

whose contributors include the Ford Foundation and the John D. and Catherine

T. MacArthur Foundation. Hello again. Worminali back with To the Point. President Bush has moved on

from Israel to Saudi Arabia amid rumors that he's considering attacks on military encampments inside Iran.

On To the Point, what about oil, and peace with the Palestinians? Is he just saying goodbye to old friends?

On reporter's notebook, Rob Malley, of the International Crisis Group, why does he talk with Hamas?

First is news update. Barack Obama came out swinging today in the aftermath of President Bush's

address yesterday to the Israeli Knesset. Bush said those who would talk with terrorists were

engaged in appeasement like that of the Nazis during World War II.

In South Dakota, Obama called that an appalling attack on him. He said John McCain had picked up on it with internet bloggers.

John McCain has repeated this notion that I'm prepared to negotiate with terrorists.

...