ROUGH CUT - NO REPORTER NARRATION<br/> <br />U.S. President Barack Obama departed on Saturday (November 17) for a three-country swing through Asia, using his first foreign trip since winning re-election to emphasize his administration's focus on the region.<br/> <br />Obama will make stops in Thailand, Myanmar and Cambodia. The highlight of the trip is likely to be the historic stop in Myanmar, a former pariah state.<br/> <br />The White House hopes his visit will push the country to lock in democratic reforms.<br/> <br />The president's tour may be overshadowed, however, by violence in the Middle East and concerns about tax and spending talks with lawmakers back home.<br/> <br />Obama is scheduled to return to Washington early Wednesday morning.
