Chairman of the France-United States Friendship Group Louis Giscard D'Estaing (R) shakes hands with mayor Julio Robaina (L) of Hialeah, Florida as (from L to R) mayors Mick Cornett of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Lois Frankel of West Palm Beach, Florida, Martin Chavez of Albuquerque, New Mexico and Mark Mallory of Cincinnati, Ohio look on at the residence of the President of the National Assembly in Paris on December 3, 2008. The American delegation, the first to visit France since the election of Barack Obama, is set to discuss various environmental and economic issues during their visit. (UPI Photo/ David Silpa)
Barack Obama is the subject or is mentioned in the following stories:
The Lessons of Mumbai
The appalling news from Mumbai last week should strike horror and disgust into the heart of every decent human being, regardless of their race, color and creed. But it also teaches sobering lessons that apply across our region.
India Terror Aftermath - Greater Integration Needed
This mornings AP headline reads "Pakistan U-Turns on Sending Spy Chief to India." Three links down on the Google "news page," its collection of links is the Hollywood Today headline: "Mumbai Massacre Now Linked to Pakistan: War to Follow?" making it clear that those who generate current world problems are not merely the lawless and conscience-less villains at the extremes, but rather that our problems stem with near equal abundance from dysfunction, irresponsibility and dangerous blindness in the heart of the "mainstream."
What a Difference a President Makes
What a difference a president makes. One day the president of the United States is among the most despised leaders in the Arab world, his effigy is burned and hanged by crowds chanting slogans against him, the next day a new president is hailed as Saladin, one of the greatest Arab heroes.
A Way Out of Guantanamo
One of U.S. President-elect Barack Obamas top priorities will be to rethink the war on terror from the ground up. That means following through on his campaign promises to close the U.S. military prison at Guantánamo, which would be a major symbolic achievement.
Will the Real Hillary Clinton Please Stand Up
Whatever one may say about U.S. President-elect Barack Obama and his cabinet-in-the-making, there is no doubt that he seems to have abandoned, hopefully temporarily, his promises of change and bipartisanship that were front-and-center themes in his election campaign.
Learning Lessons From Fighting Pirates
It is hard to see any good in the metastasizing plague of piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea, but the increasingly outrageous and bold attacks by the Somali-based pirates are leading to remarkably sensible decision-making in Riyadh and Washington.
Courting Syria: London Joins the Queue
There was much ado about very little last week, as British media covered the visit of Foreign Secretary David Milibands visit to the Middle East. In particular, his trip to Syria was feted as an exploit of British diplomacy, with various journalists and analysts describing the event as a move to "bring Syria in from the cold" and to lead it back into the greener pastures of the Anglo-American sphere (also known as "the international community").
A Word of Advice from James Zogby: 'Arabs Should Act Now'
Act now, dont wait for Obama. James Zogby, the president of the Arab American Institute in Washington is right when he asks the Arabs not to wait for Barack Obama, but to act now. Zogby correctly points out that expectations across the Middle East will be so high of the new American president and the need for change so great that all eyes will be focused on him. The danger in such cases is that people will expect overnight miracles. When those fail to materialize, they will be disappointed and begin blaming the United States once again. This can be described as the "Florida woman syndrome."
Interview: Taro Aso
Japan is not the biggest country in the world, but according to its prime minister, the country has "special expertise" and can make a difference in the world in this time of global economic crisis.
Britain Talks Up Syrian Mideast Peace Role
AMMAN -- The landmark visit by British Foreign Secretary David Miliband to Syria this week and his comments about the important role Damascus plays in regional peace and stability provides further momentum for a Syrian comeback to the Western fold, perhaps setting the stage for a shift in U.S. policy toward the country in preparation for President-elect Barack Obama to take up office.
