"American empire in the world is reaching the end of its road, and its next rulers must limit their interference to their own borders." This loaded statement by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was given in September at the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.

President-elect Barack Obama has already achieved a rhetorical break with the arrogant, pompous and rather totalitarian language of the outgoing George W. Bush administration. Thus, a new grammar is being presented in which the United States is re-invented as a particularly inclusive and exceptional place where everything is possible.

Barack Obama the candidate had promised changes. He had promised changes both in domestic and foreign policies. Obama the president-elect is beginning to work on getting those changes implemented as soon as he moves into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in a little over 60 days – two months. The word on the street is that as president, Obama will ask New York Senator Hillary Clinton to be his secretary of state.

DUBAI, UAE -- Dear President-elect Obama: Salaam, I am not sure if this will ever pass your eyes. At a time when the whole world is excited about your landmark election and everybody who is somebody is talking about your meteoric rise, this is likely to be dismissed as just another outpouring of emotions from the Middle East.

NABLUS, West Bank -- As the road dips and rises through the Hebron hills, white etched with the glowing green of vineyards, the turnoff to Edna village is marked by the grey, concrete watchtower of an Israeli checkpoint. But it doesnt deter Israeli-Arab lawyer Khaled Kasab Mohammed from his quixotic mission: he has come to the West Bank to educate Palestinians about the Jewish Holocaust.

The election of Barack Obama to the presidency of the United States was greeted with elation around the world with crowds taking to the streets to express their joy from Washington, D.C. to Nairobi. Congratulatory messages to the new president came pouring in from world leaders and from some rather unexpected sources as well.

Reactions to the election of a new U.S. president are fusing from across the Arab and Muslim world. Reflecting the fundamental interests of the various regimes and movements, the most radical groups - including al-Qaida - have been sending messages in different directions.

AMMAN -- The George W. Bush administration will establish the first official U.S. diplomatic presence in Tehran before it leaves office, according to reports published last week.

PARIS -- Is oil on its way out? Recent weeks have seen a spectacular collapse in demand for oil brought about by alarm signals of recession in major industrial countries, following the unprecedented turmoil in world financial markets.

Former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami recently hinted a possible return to the national scene, but many are questioning the relevance of this comeback and how it could affect the quest for reform and Tehrans nuclear crisis with the international community.