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Obama, expectations, realities and ‘those’ Muslims
Related to country: United States

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By MUHAMMED ÇETİN:



All around the world people rejoiced when Barack Obama was elected US president. Some perceive his election as a victory against "aggressive and unilateral neocon interests across the world."

However, there are exaggerated expectations about the course of action Obama may pursue, which may not bode well for the future of his presidency. The victory was a joyful reminder of the "American dream." An ordinary man, with some African heritage, raised by a single mother, has become the president. This "black" man, who is not one of "the good old boys of Washington," campaigned beyond narrowly defined interest groups. Critical of the politics of identity and grievance, he showed no sense of entitlement, resentment or self-denial because of his racial background. He was a candidate for all Americans and proved that America's promise is real for all citizens, whatever their background or ethnicity. Meritocrat, rather than aristocrat, Obama brought a message of change: Service to others is more important than to oneself. This contrasted with "corrupt Wall Street bosses who bankrupted their companies for personal gain." Anyone who was not raised in a privileged, elitist, political family could identify with him, and he established common ground with youthful idealism in the larger world. Obama preferred honest campaigning, emotional discipline and intellectual maturity to the usual tit-for-tat of modern political campaigning. Disregarding "his African-American friends' advice not to run, because they were afraid he would get killed," Obama ran and won.

Exhausted by its ongoing wars, the US is suffering division between citizens and politicians and poor relations with much of the world. Moreover, without full UN support on some issues, the US has weakened the belief that the UN's sole proper function is to prevent the conditions that produce war. Public opinion wants a US that plays a neutral, reconciliatory role in conflicts, so it needs to develop the peacekeeping capacities of the UN rather than contradicting it. It needs to demonstrate its effectiveness as a peacekeeper, as well as its obligations to serve and protect its own nation and show leadership in the world. The US must prove its desire to develop not only military cooperation, but also economic and social ties.

Obama must wait two months before taking office. Yet he is already being challenged to govern in an inclusive fashion. The wide range of issues includes healthcare, energy, environment, tax reform, education, stem cell research, homeland security, the missile defense program, ongoing wars and intervention in "rogue nations." Also, to prove himself, Obama will need to make tough decisions and take measures against opposition to the interests of the US and its military hegemony across the world. As commander-in-chief, he has to restore the image of the US and exercise its military power. Half of all US citizens have reservations about his economics, foreign policy and liberalism. Which Bush executive orders will he keep, repeal or amend?

In the US system of checks and balances, any significant conservative opposition to this liberal president would protect the nation from intemperate political or economic decisions he might make. Obama acknowledges the current situation's severity, but wants to get things done. US policies are affected by dependent and independent variables and various systems and actors, nationally and internationally. Its foreign policy tends to lead to standing alone in any war it engages in, but it is often drawn into conflicts for its political and economic interests. Foreign, economic and military matters are all interdependent, and that has many implications for taxpayers. US nationalism and militarism must not lead to US isolationism.

A few Muslim radicals in Iraq and elsewhere argue that the rejection of the Republican candidate represents a victory for their own groups battling US forces. They thus claim to have been instrumental in this election -- propaganda that is totally groundless. Some press and media organs see Obama's election as repudiating the course taken by President Bush and his inner circle, a message against unjustified wars rashly fought in ignorance of places, cultures and political subtleties. They argue that radicals can likewise get rid of any other regime in the world. However, intelligence officials and political experts in warring regions say that Obama's election will not have a fundamental effect on radicals or extremists anywhere.

US foreign policy is for Americans. It operates in a complex of political, legal, economic and emotional atmospheres. The US has recently revised its relations with Russia, China, India and other developing countries. But further revision in political, economic, military and social domains may be delayed for decades. To defeat Obama during his presidency, his opponents will try to prevent him from making any change. "To those who would tear the world down, we will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security, we support you. We have proved that the true strength of our nation comes not from the scale of our wealth but from the power of our ideals -- opportunity, democracy, liberty and hope," the president-elect has said. The talkative radicals in the warring regions do not speak for the majority of Muslims, who will watch and wait to see what the rhetoric means for their future.


todayszaman


13 November 2008

November 13, 2008 | 8:07 AM Comments  1 comments

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Comments

eRichie Richie
November 13, 2008 | 10:34 AM
just keep it up
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