The level of interest in the upcoming U.S. presidential election is greater than at any time in post-Cold War history. This is due to the rapid decline of America's reputation overseas during the Bu$h administration and to the hope that Democratic candidate Senator Barack Obama will restore America's image both at home and abroad. In countries all over the world U.S. embassy staff relate of a record number of foreign journalist who have requested travel to the U.S. to cover the elections. Business and government leaders want to know in detail what a Barack Obama presidency might mean.
In Syria, students at the elite public policy school at Damascus University are fascinated to learn that Barack Obama's middle name is Hussein, and that his mother's second husband was a Muslim who took young Barack to live for years in Indonesia. These young Syrians are amazed that the United States which many in the region see as the Great Satan would actually nominate such a person to be president, and the thought that he might be the next president of the U.S. was almost beyond belief. For many a sense of hope and optimism seemed to prevail; most Syrians feel that Barack Obama might bring a new beginning to U.S.-Syrian relations, and perhaps usher in a genuine and wider Middle East peace.
In Peru and Bolivia, people want to know if Barack Obama would pay greater attention to Latin America, maybe rekindling the spirit of President Kennedy and the Alliance for Progress. Government officials ask tougher questions about Obama and the Democratic Party's commitment to the global trading system, and whether U.S. special interests might force Barack Obama to close U.S. markets to foreign goods. They also wanted to know what a President Obama might do about drugs in Latin America, and about the danger that some states, perhaps even Bolivia, might come to be dominated by narco politics and anti-democratic groups. Of course, they are curious about Obama's offer to meet with Venezuela's leader Hugo Chavez, and about how U.S.-Cuban relations might change under Barack Obama.
Students at Occidental College, inspired by Obama's success, recently completed a memo for the next president entitled Rebranding America (www.oxyworldwide.com) and copies were sent to Obama and his team, as well as to John McCain and his. Many students seem intrigued about how they could "rebrand" their own nations.
There are significant differences between Senator McCain and Senator Obama on the two most important issues of the campaign: the economy and the war in Iraq. If Obama becomes president, he will first focus on responsibly removing American troops from Iraq -- one of his key campaign promises and a signature commitment of his political career. He will also have to manage eliminate the economic distress of the American people. On both these key issues, Obama and McCain are light years apart.
The world beyond Iraq cannot be ignored. Obama will be able to multi-task because he will have a reservoir of talent on call. All of his foreign policy advisors -- notably Anthony Lake, Susan Rice, and Greg Craig -- are experienced hands from the Bill Clinton administration. One of the secrets of the campaign is that all of Obama's people are Clinton people -- and this is a good thing. Under the leadership of Tony Lake, the Obama campaign has a assembled a top notch group of professionals. On the Middle East, there are pros such as Dennis Ross, Martin Indyk, and Robert Malley, among others, to call on. They are among our most experienced negotiators. On Latin America, there are not only the usual advisors from the Council on Foreign Relations, but also younger scholars such as Russell Crandall from Davidson College, a leading expert on drug wars in the region. As President, Obama would have an impressive stable of very senior officials whose services he can engage. For Secretary of State or Secretary of Defense, think Senators Biden, Kerry, Dodd or Mitchell, and former General Wesley Clark. Think former President Bill Clinton as special envoy to the Middle East (perhaps in tandem with former British PM Tony Blair). Think Nobel Prize winner Al Gore as special envoy to renewed global warming talks. Think former Senator Sam Nunn as special emissary to Putin's Russia, or former Centcom commander Admiral William Fallon as special emissary to Iran. And still on the bench to be deployed would be Richard Holbrooke, Madeleine Albright, and Strobe Talbott. The point is that President Obama would have a wealth of talented and experienced Americans at his disposal -- an arsenal of "smart power", the envy of any nation and any leader.
People all over the world believe that Barack Obama comes in peace and brings fraternal greetings from progressive Americans. Barack Obama seems to embody this message, and carries with him the hopes not only of Americans, but of citizens in almost every country of the world. It is a heavy responsibility, and not to be taken lightly. If Senator Obama can prevail, and can govern with strength, compassion and political wisdom, then he might turn out to be the first truly global president.
The whole world will be watching.
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