"Obama trip addressed global constituency" by Sasha Issenberg, Globe Staff | July 27, 2008
LONDON - The talk of French intellectuals and Iraqi policy makers, Israeli settlers and British broadcasters, "Obama" dominated the world's tongues and its simple, percussive syllables sounded at home rolling off each of them.
Yet during his eight-day, eight-country tour through the Middle East and Europe that ended yesterday, Senator Barack Obama, whose presidential candidacy has generated not only curiosity abroad but something of a global constituency, has come to represent different things across languages, cultures, and national borders.
The personality-driven politics that won him adoration from many in Europe brought more skepticism in the Middle East, where people look to politics less for idealism than realism. Just about everywhere, the American newcomer was cast as a perfect foil for President Bush.
"This is a question of people not liking the president and not hating America," said Tyler Brûlé, the Canadian-born editor in chief of "Monocle," a London-based magazine on international affairs. "You see Obama and you see America as a young country. Isn't it about bloody time it has young and diverse leadership?"
Thank you for recognizing the difference, world.
But Obama's warm reception abroad has met with some criticism back home, prompting him yesterday to defend the tour. "The reason that I thought this trip was important is that I am convinced that many issues that we face at home are not going to be solved as effectively unless we have strong partners abroad," he told reporters outside Prime Minister Gordon Brown's official residence at 10 Downing Street.
Obama pointed out that McCain had urged him to take the trip.
Keep that in mind for other posts, readers!
Obama used the address to call for an era of reinvigorated internationalism, a strong contrast with Bush's style which was criticized abroad as indifferent to international public opinion and at times hostile towards multilateral institutions.
CODE WORDS for the GLOBALIST PLAN!!!
And look at the MSM shovel propaganda?
What a sight, 'eh?
"He represents the idea of change, and I think a lot of people in Germany and Berlin and Europe want a change in the foreign policy of America," Mayor Klaus Wowereit of Berlin said in an interview.
Even they are fooled!!!
"He can be a new Martin Luther King, who shows you can achieve goals before violence," said Frank Reeber, a 46-year old German systems manager who attended the Berlin rally.
Not by calling for ESCALATION in AFGHANISTAN and by THREATENING IRAN and PAKISTAN he can't!!!!!
Unlike the American media, which often identifies Obama as a candidate to be the country's first black president, European coverage tends to describe him as mixed-race.
I'm sorry, Globe, I just see a man!
In the Middle East, where Obama began his trip, the senator's complex relationship to Islam - his father was raised as a Muslim but became agnostic, and Obama became a Christian as an adult but chose to identify proudly with his Arabic name - have made him an object of wariness by Arabs and Jews.
Above all, it may be the urgent nature of politics in a region perpetually facing possible war - where American leaders are closely monitored by all sides for suggestions of misguided loyalties - that makes those in the Middle East most resistant to the romance surrounding Obama's campaign.
His sessions in Israeli and Palestinian capitals focused on specific territorial and security issues, and only one of the officials with whom he met spoke of Obama's ability to inspire. "I was moved as a human man, a human being, and what we need is moving humanity in our time to overcome the problems to raise hope," said President Shimon Peres of Israel.
At least, the only one the Globe chose to quote!
I used to feel that way about 'bamer, but his sucking on Zionist cheek and calls for more war ruined it!
--MORE--"
