From O Globo of Brazil: Obama’s World Tour – Unsubtle, But Effective

So how are people in other parts of the world, for example Brazil, interpreting Barack Obama’s global tour. And is this trip – as John McCain charges – simply an ‘electoral caravan’ on the part of Obama’s campaign? And if it is, does it matter?

William Waack writes for Brazil’s leading daily:

“John McCain is right when he says that his adversary is only committed to running an electoral caravan. And so what? One gets a good sense of what this sensational candidate (Obama, of course) has to say about the changes he seeks to impose on American foreign policy. And they don’t seem to amount to all that much change.”

Illustrating the complexity of planning a trip like this, Waack tackles the question of how polished the Obama campaign is by writing in part:

“As his main stage, Obama chose Berlin – the capital of Germany, immediately sparking jealousy in London and Paris, which are considered more ‘Atlanticist’ (especially by Sarkozy, of course), than the ‘suspect’ Germans, who have understandings, particularly with Moscow and other obscure places to the east. … Even in Germany, Obama’s monumental number of advisors (700 aides!) acted with a level of subtlety that, as far as the Europeans were concerned, wasn’t discrete enough. Obama will speak in front of the Victory Column – which is decorated with cannons that Napoleon used during several campaigns, and that later, during the wars that led to the founding of the first German empire in 1870, the Germans took from the French. In other words the following day, it will be an awkward note to arrive in Paris on. And London frankly feels itself ignored by the American Democratic candidate.”

By William Waack

Translated By Brandi Miller

July 21, 2008

Brazil – O Globo – Original Article (Portuguese)

Senator Barack Obama has hit the road and is traveling through half the world: from Afghanistan to Germany, passing through Iraq, the United Kingdom and France. Since becoming the favorite in the American presidential election, this is Obama’s first “international” trip – particularly having to confront the issues involved: two wars in the Middle East being conducted by the Americans – and winning the understanding of his principal Western partners.

John McCain is right when he says that his adversary is only committed to running an electoral caravan. And so what? One gets a good sense of what this sensational candidate (Obama, of course) has to say about the changes he seeks to impose on American foreign policy. And they don’t seem to amount to all that much change.

The central focus, of course, is learning when and how Obama would withdraw American troops from Iraq. Even before he received the red-carpet treatment in Baghdad over the weekend, the White House itself said that it agrees with some sort of time horizon for the withdrawal of U.S. forces in the country.

No, this wasn’t the skillful perfidy of Bush to draw the headlines away from Obama. The person who pressed for the timetable was Iraqi Prime Minister himself, who is under strong pressure from the Shiite groups that keep him in power. That Obama and the Shiites are thinking of timetables for a quick exit may help lead to some sort of understanding. Obama talks of a 16-month window for beginning the withdrawal. American commanders – who know the Shiites better than he does, believe that’s too early.

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