You’d think that President Obama could spare a few minutes for a formal meeting with the leader of one of our oldest and most important allies while both are in town on business. Not so. According to the BBC:

The prime minister’s team were “frantic” after being unable to secure the talks at the UN summit in New York, a diplomatic source has told the BBC.

However, the president held private meetings with the leaders of Japan, China and Russia.

Downing Street said reports of a snub were “completely without foundation”.

Not a snub? Sounds like typical British “stiff upper lip” stuff so as not to create further tension and to minimize Brown’s domestic political embarrassment.

Is it simply a case of Obama not having the time for Brown? In addition to meeting with China, holders of an enormous amount of US debt, and Russia, like China a key player in the Iranian nuclear crisis, the President met with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, vital to any Middle East peace deal. Obama also found time to host a luncheon for African leaders.

Skip time management problems – could it be that Brown represents much of what Obama despises?

Perhaps, but another explanation is that international image and electability are the primary reasons PM Brown wasn’t on Obama’s calendar. Obama’s general favorability outside the US rests on hope, campaign rhetoric, and anti-Bush sentiment, not on concrete results. There’s a small but increasing perception outside the US that he is out of his depth. His domestic approval ratings have slid steadily since the inauguration. Obama needs a major foreign policy breakthrough to salvage his first term and maintain his international superstar image, and the Brits simply can’t help him achieve it. He didn’t meet with Berlusconi, Merkel, or Sarkozy either – the old EU guard won’t provide him the opportunities he needs to improve his domestic standing and worldwide image.

But just as he tried to do too much domestically and failed, will he try to accomplish too much internationally and fall short of his goals? Will our most important alliances and relationships be damaged in the process?

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