1. The first paragraph of a news article should answer the questions who, what, where and when. List the who, what, where and when of this news item. (NOTE: The remainder of a news article provides details on the why and/or how.)

2. a) What is President Obama’s goal for his trip?
b) Do you think he will succeed in these negotiations? Explain your answer.

3. a) List the countries that make up the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
b) Who leads all of these countries (except Oman)?

4. a) For what reason did U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter meet with his Gulf Arab counterparts?
b) What was the outcome of this meeting?

5. What concerns do the GCC countries have regarding U.S. relations?

6. Read a commentary by Ralph Peters "How Saudi Arabia Dangerously Undermines the U.S."
a) Tone can be defined as: The writer's attitude toward his readers and his subject; his mood or moral view. How does the tone of Mr. Peters’ commentary differ from the tone of today’s article? (How does his point of view on U.S.-Saudi relations differ from that of the Reuters reporter?) Explain your answer.
b) What responsibility does the Obama administration (as well as whoever becomes the next president) have to address this huge issue with the Saudi government, who are supposed to be our allies?