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Around the world, much is expected of Barack Obama
2008-06-06
Here's all Barack Obama has to do to meet the world's expectations if he's elected president of the United States: Muzi.com News 10071122-0 (muzi.com)End an unpopular war in Iraq, heal misery in nations hit by the global food crisis and stop global warming in addition to building bridges to Muslim countries and reverse the unilateralist approach of the Bush administration. Muzi.com News 10071122-1 (muzi.com) The euphoria that has swept much of the world at the sight of a young and idealistic black politician seizing the Democratic nomination has generated waves of anticipation. Muzi.com News 10071122-2 (muzi.com) Yet Obama, precisely because of his lofty yet undefined message of hope and renewal, can be all things for all people -- a blank canvas on which to project the world's longings. Muzi.com News 10071122-3 (muzi.com) And in that sense, if he is elected, he may very well be forced to disappoint millions around the world, especially if he takes over a nation caught in an economic slowdown and intractable wars in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Muzi.com News 10071122-4 (muzi.com) Disillusionment could come on several fronts. Muzi.com News 10071122-5 (muzi.com) Many in developing nations who are drawn to Obama's charisma and concern for the underprivileged might be surprised to learn he publicly espouses protectionist policies that could dampen their struggle to conquer poverty. Muzi.com News 10071122-6 (muzi.com) He has campaigned on a pledge to pull troops out of Iraq, a popular stance in much of the world. But a sober assessment of the security risks of an early pullout could lead a President Obama to reconsider. Muzi.com News 10071122-7 (muzi.com) "There is the almost unrealistic hope that Obama will bring change, that anything will be better than Bush," said Robert McGeehan, an associate fellow at Chatham House in London who researches anti-Americanism. Muzi.com News 10071122-8 (muzi.com) He said few people who are embracing Obama have actually studied his proposals but like him because he represents an end to the Bush era. "Obama's been given a very easy time of it, but now it will become much more difficult," said the scholar, who has been supportive of Bush administration policies. Muzi.com News 10071122-9 (muzi.com) Already, some of Obama's positions have met with resistance in key hot spots on America's foreign policy agenda. Muzi.com News 10071122-10 (muzi.com) In the Middle East, Israelis are suspicious of his suggestion that he might reach out to Iranian leaders; many lament the defeat of Hillary Rodham Clinton -- whom they see as a more loyal friend of the Jewish state. Muzi.com News 10071122-11 (muzi.com) Some Arab leaders in surrounding countries are jittery over Obama's promise to curtail the U.S. military presence in Iraq because of fears an outbreak of civil war could quickly spread beyond its borders. Muzi.com News 10071122-12 (muzi.com) And Pakistanis are upset that Obama's desire to make peace in Iraq has been counterbalanced by a pledge to step up military activity in Pakistan if necessary -- even to the extent of acting alone on information about terrorist targets within the country's borders. Muzi.com News 10071122-13 (muzi.com) Still, for millions around the world, the fact that a black man has a strong chance to capture the White House is an inspiration that appears to outweigh concerns over policy matters. Muzi.com News 10071122-14 (muzi.com) In New Zealand, where indigenous people were robbed of land under British colonial rule, four lawmakers from the Maori Party called Obama's nomination victory "one small step for America, one giant leap for people of color the world over." Muzi.com News 10071122-15 (muzi.com) Perhaps most of all, people see his victory as a sign of a fundamental shift in race relations in the United States -- one that might grow into a global movement for healing racial and cultural divisions. Muzi.com News 10071122-16 (muzi.com) "I think that the fact that today, whites can choose a black as a candidate, it is a revolution in the mentalities of the United States," said Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade. Muzi.com News 10071122-17 (muzi.com) In countries that suffered for centuries under the domination of Western powers -- and are re-emerging as world players -- Obama's message of "Yes we can!" strikes a particularly powerful chord. Muzi.com News 10071122-18 (muzi.com) "For the common man, in India, the fact that he's a person of color, he represents the equivalent of the underdog," said C. Uday Bhaskar, a New Delhi-based analyst with the Institute for Defense Studies. "I think Indians will connect with the underdog." Muzi.com News 10071122-19 (muzi.com) "He's not the red-necked white man that invokes the deepest kind of colonial anxiety in India," Bhaskar said. Muzi.com News 10071122-20 (muzi.com) Some analysts said Obama's multicultural background and vision of engaging the world on the key issues of the day would help repair America's tattered world image. Muzi.com News 10071122-21 (muzi.com) "I do think Obama embodies the sort of change that would go the fastest and quickest toward changing the United States' reputation abroad," said Tomas Valasek, director of foreign policy and defense at the Center for European Reform in London. Muzi.com News 10071122-22 (muzi.com) "It's because of his personal success story ... it's because of his optimism ... it's also because of his willingness to try different approaches to Iran, nuclear disarmament and so forth," Valasek said. Muzi.com News 10071122-23 (muzi.com) The bumpy transition from being an inspirational icon to a flesh-and-blood prospective leader taking real stances on difficult issues is beginning to create complications. Muzi.com News 10071122-24 (muzi.com) For example, Obama's initial comments embracing Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel -- made this week in a speech before an influential Jewish lobbying group in Washington -- has alienated Palestinians looking for an American leader to pressure Israel into key concessions. Muzi.com News 10071122-25 (muzi.com) Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he "rejected" Obama's comments. Muzi.com News 10071122-26 (muzi.com) There was a similar reaction in Indonesia, where Obama spent four years as a child in elementary school. His statement this week that he would be "a true friend of Israel" dampened enthusiasm in the predominantly Muslim country, where the Palestinian cause enjoys wide support. Muzi.com News 10071122-27 (muzi.com) Maria Soraya, a business owner in Jakarta, said Obama's statement is "proof" that there can never be peace in the Middle East. Muzi.com News 10071122-28 (muzi.com) "America can't be trusted," she said. "They hate Islam. They don't want to see Islam advance, they would hate it. They can't be trusted, whoever their president is." Muzi.com News 10071122-29 (muzi.com) But Obama's race has also sparked hope in Palestinian territories. Muzi.com News 10071122-30 (muzi.com) "Obama came from the black community, the community that has a long history of suffering in the U.S. Of course he would feel sympathy with those who suffered the same, like Palestinians," said Fayez Abu Zeid, a 54-year-old baker in Jenin on the West Bank. Muzi.com News 10071122-31 (muzi.com) "In all aspects, Obama is much better for our part of this world. He is similar to us." Muzi.com News 10071122-32 (muzi.com) There is still much skepticism in the Middle East and elsewhere about the possibility of an Obama victory because of deeply held beliefs about American racism. Muzi.com News 10071122-33 (muzi.com) "Obama will not be accepted by the majority of the American people because he is black," said Sateh Noureddine, managing editor of the Lebanese newspaper As-Safir. "Also, neither U.S. traditions nor the political balance of power will allow this to happen." Muzi.com News 10071122-34 (muzi.com) There is a tendency in some places to discount Obama's campaign statements and assume that if he is elected he will largely embrace mainstream American economic and foreign policy as practiced in the last few decades. Muzi.com News 10071122-35 (muzi.com) Sheng Dingli, director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University in China, said that Obama's criticism of China, for example, will likely fade if he is elected president. Muzi.com News 10071122-36 (muzi.com) "He's harsh toward China on both human rights and trade issues," Sheng said. Muzi.com News 10071122-37 (muzi.com) "But he will change, just like George Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. They were all harsh toward China during the campaign but softened after the election. Their job is to protect America's interests, and they know trade with China benefits America." Muzi.com News 10071122-38 (muzi.com) ___ Muzi.com News 10071122-39 (muzi.com)
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