Obama, Indonesia, and the Volcano

Obama won't be spending as much time in Indonesia as originally planned.

Something always seems to prevent him from making good on his scheduled visits to his boyhood home for four years.

This time, it's a cloud of volcanic ash.

Obama likely forced to cut Indonesia trip short

President Barack Obama finally made it to Indonesia Tuesday, his home for four years of his youth. But no sooner had he arrived than word came that a volcanic ash cloud would likely cut short his already quick trip.

Obama had to cancel two previously scheduled trips to Indonesia because of domestic events — final talks on the health care bill, and then the Gulf oil spill. The volcanic ash had looked like it might keep him from Indonesia altogether for a third straight time.

The White House decided the trip could happen. But as Obama flew from New Delhi to Jakarta Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters traveling on Air Force One of the latest development — the ash cloud would probably cut the trip short.

Gibbs said the White House was working on different scenarios for how the president would spend Wednesday morning, including starting his day of events earlier. The White House is hoping Obama can still deliver a speech to the Indonesian people planned for Wednesday.

Mount Merapi, Indonesia's most volatile volcano, began erupting two weeks ago, unleashing a flood of volcanic gas, rock and debris that smothered whole villages and cut down people who tried to fleeing. More than 150 people have died.

Protesters in Indonesia will likely welcome the news that Obama is changing his itinerary.

What's funny about these protest signs is that when Obama goes to Indonesia, he is going home. It was his home briefly, but it was his home.