Big news at the G20 summit in Pittsburgh. The economics are having to take back seat to the huge news that America, Britain and France have known for ages that Iran has a second secret nuclear facility.
It’s a very major announcement that has re-jigged the president’s schedule and completely altered the agenda – for the 20 world leaders in attendance that is. Not for the spouses. They are bravely and resolutely sticking to their planned schedule.
At the same time as we are getting deep background briefings from “senior administration officials” who seem to know a lot about intelligence (if you know what I mean) that give us remarkable detail about what our spies have been spying on inside Iran for years, I am also being fed all the detail I could ever want about where Michelle has taken her guests and what they have all been up to.
Like this: “The spousal program at Pittsburgh Creative And Performing Arts School got started at about 10 am out of view of pool. First ladies arrived and were greeted by Michelle Obama who was dressed in a purple and black V neck dress by Zero, a line by Maria Cornejo, and a black belt.”
There are two female leaders here – Angela Merkel and Cristina Kirchner – but it doesn’t seem as though they have brought their husbands – so despite the very PC references to “First Spouses” I think it is only wives who have to do this stuff. Such as having to listen to:
“A group of students sing what must be the only song that is an ode to the G-20. Words? ‘Welcome G-20 summit and everyone, we honour your presence, we salute you. Welcome, welcome to every country and every nation.’ Yo Yo Ma on the cello. Gifted singers, odd tune.”
While their husbands are promising tough sanctions against Iran by December if they don’t come clean on all their nuclear facilities.
Still at least they all got a lovely welcome gift from Michelle Obama to soften the blow. A specially commissioned porcelain tea set. It has a purple and platinum design inspired by one that Abraham Lincoln used to have that incorporate flowers from Illinois (home of Lincolns and Obamas) along with roses (national flower of America if you didn’t know). The platinum highlights represent the steel making heritage of Pittsburgh.
I know all of this because the White House emails these details all the time. There isn’t much the First Ladies do that I don’t get an immediate update about straight into my inbox.
Just in case you can’t get enough read this highly entertaining piece about the red carpet arrivals for dinner last night.