Global Reaction Sees Important Double Role for Obama

International reaction to Barack Obama's election as the next president of the United States reveals not only an expectation of a chief executive whose administration will change the course of the country, but as a symbol of hope throughout the world. Summaries by Arabic and French news media add perspective to world expectations of a man who, at 47, has suddenly become a new world leader.

Reaction is especially strong in Europe and Africa, says Alwatan ('the Homeland') of Kuwait, and Europeans are said to be relying on America's Presidential choice to set their own economic mood. In Africa, home of Obama's Kenyan father, Obama is both a symbol of hope as an african-american reaching America's highest office, and a likely advocate for much stronger support for aid and support to African countries. Some also see it as a turning point in the lives of minorities as a black man and son of an African takes the nation's highest office, opening the door to possibility wider than ever.

Prolonged war and the resulting stress on global politics has taken its toll on populations worldwide. Greed run amok in both the American housing market and excesses of stock mark firms including hedge funds has also brought extreme stress as everyday banking has become unstable and household budgets are affected. Though the excesses run deeply through both parties the American government, Republican George W. Bush is seen as the symbol of the troubles and the only solution seen by many throughout the world is radical change, for which Barack Obama positioned himself perfectly.

Reactions in the financial sector may be mixed, as markets face a new environment. Finance ministers in Europe who are facing crises in their own countries following American collapses, however, were said to be pulling for Obama in the U.S. election.

Politically, Iran and Russia are both slowly increasing their testing of American resolve, even before Obama's inauguration, as Iran openly conducts more flights near and into Iraqi airspace, and Russia responds to American missile shield activity in Eastern Europe by beginning to move new missiles into place. For a leader with grand plans but no experience in government leadership or foreign policy, Barack Obama will likely face difficult challenges which may limit his ability to achieve his goals if the 'testing' becomes too great.

Barack Obama was elected, according to Alwatan, on the support of new and underserved populations, but in some states a very limited percentage of the white vote. His failure to get elected might have depressed Europe, they said, but the widespread energy and hope that carried him to success would likely have turned to despair among America's most struggling populations. Their expectations of a kind of liberation will place pressure on Obama's domestic policy as well, as issue such as healthcare, education, and liberation from financial institutions' abuses in poor and minority communities will be measures of the new President's domestic success.

Barack Obama's meteoric rise to power show his ability to gauge situations quickly and respond. While vote tallies are showing his popular vote success less than a landslide, his ability to organize and strategize gave him electoral wins which led John McCain to concede fairly early in the evening of election day. The world has great expectations of this new leader.

http://www.alwatan.com.kw/Default.aspx?tabid=204&article_id=459945 (translated)

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