Welcome Obama: A Man Who Has ‘Played His Cards Right’

Well, Barack Obama’s long-awaited world tour has finally begun – and according to this editorial from France’s Le Figaro newspaper – things have been going his way.

First, dwelling on Obama’s amazing popularity in Europe, Pierre Rousselin warns:

“This capacity to restore the image of an America that wants so badly to be loved is an electoral asset. Provided, however, that is doesn’t go too far: criticizing his country at home is one thing, doing so from abroad is another.”

Then, in regard to Barack Obama’s apparent capacity to make the right policy calls well ahead of anyone else, Rousselin writes:

“Paradoxically, the improvement on the ground benefits the Democratic candidate, since there are fewer issues in dispute. An early redeployment is no longer possible in Iraq, and everyone agrees that it’s on Afghanistan that America will have to focus – it is there that the war against terrorism will be won or lost.

On Iran, the same phenomenon occurs: Barack Obama didn’t have it wrong when he advocated dialogue, since even Bush has decided to send a senior envoy [William Burns] to the Geneva meeting [with Iran] today.”

EDITORIAL by Pierre Rousselin

Translated By Ebtehaj Kalantar

July 19, 2008

France – Le Figaro – Original Article (French)

Next week after visiting the Middle East and without doubt, Iraq and Afghanistan, Barack Obama will be in Europe.

For the Democratic candidate, who is still favored in the polls, this high-risk tour must convince voters that he has the stuff of a President – at least as much as former Vietnam hero John McCain, who presents himself as an expert in foreign policy.

In Berlin, Paris and London, “Obamania” has taken hold of the public. The young Black senator has seen his popularity ratings on this side of the Atlantic soar, because he embodies, better than his opponent, a break with George W. Bush. He will be greeted with great warmth.

This capacity to restore the image of an America that wants so badly to be loved is an electoral asset. Provided, however, that is doesn’t go too far: criticizing his country at home is one thing, doing so from abroad is another.

McCain is on the lookout and Obama is not immune to a faux pas, like the one he committed in June when he declared that Jerusalem should remain the undivided capital of Israel, before having to recognize that the issue could be settled only through negotiations with the Palestinians.”

READ ON AT WORLDMEETS.US, along with continuing translated foreign press coverage of the U.S. presidential election.