[The Independent, U.K.]

 

 

Le Figaro, France

Welcome Obama: A Man Who Has 'Played His Cards Right'

 

"Paradoxically in Iraq, the improvement on the ground benefits the Democratic candidate … and everyone agrees that it's on Afghanistan that America will have to focus. On Iran, the same phenomenon occurs: Barack Obama didn’t have it wrong when he advocated dialogue."

 

EDITORIAL by Pierre Rousselin

                                                          

 

Translated By Ebtehaj Kalantar

 

July 19, 2008

 

France - Le Figaro - Original Article (French)

Barack Obama meets Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who gave the candidate a lit of a political gift: He agreed with Obama's timeline for withdrawal, July 21.   BBC VIDEO NEWS: Barack Obama meets Iraqi leader, along with Senators Hagel and Reed, July 21, 00:01:16

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.

 

Before crossing the Atlantic, Obama prepared the ground. He knows that his views are often those of his European hosts. And this week, those views were clarified to appear more credible. The withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq he calls for was automatic and precipitated during the primaries. The same withdrawal is now mentioned with nuances and a degree of caution.

 

In Baghdad - if he is sincere - Obama should recognize that Bush's policy has finally achieved significant results. The troop surge of January 2007, when the Pentagon deployed 30,000 additional troops, has borne fruit. At the time, Barack Obama protested loudly while John McCain had reason to applaud. 

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

 

Today, things are different. 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.

 

SENATORS OBAMA, HEGAL AND REED MEET IRAQI PRIME MINISTER

 

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.

 

Therefore, Angela Merkel, Nicolas Sarkozy and Gordon Brown in their turn will receive a man who up to now - has played his cards right. Without prejudging the outcome of November 4, it's important that they present to him the picture of a united Europe, determined to help America, but also to assume its responsibilities in the world.

 

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[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US July 21, 3:49pm]