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KABUL, Afghanistan (Reuters) – “I applaud the American people … and hope this election and President Obama’s coming into office will bring peace to Afghanistan,” President Hamid Karzai told a news conference.
During his election campaign, Obama was critical of Karzai over his failure to tackle widespread corruption, the booming trade in illegal opium and over the effectiveness of his government — all factors that fuel the Taliban insurgency.
But Obama pledged a new focus on Afghanistan, which analysts agree the Bush administration neglected by sending troops and vital resources to Iraq, giving the Taliban a chance to regroup and relaunch an insurgency that now threatens the capital.
“I’m glad Obama won. He’s young, he’s energetic, he’s spoken of the need to pay more attention to Afghanistan,” said women’s activist and radio station chief Jamila Mujahid. “Bush made a mistake by sending troops and resources to Iraq.”
Afghan officials called for more diplomatic effort to bring Afghanistan and Pakistan closer together to stamp out safe havens the Taliban enjoy on the rugged border between the two countries.
NEW STRATEGY?
Of several dozen Afghan officials, parliamentarians and influential journalists attending an election event in the country’s only five-star hotel, almost all backed Obama and the Illinois senator romped home in a mock poll of those present.
But no one in Afghanistan underestimates the size of the task ahead for the new U.S. administration in tackling the country’s complex, formidable problems and ending 30 years of conflict.
Soj’s diary – What the Rest of the World Is Saying about the Election
TOKYO – In city squares and living rooms, ballrooms and villages, the citizens of the world cheered the election of Barack Obama as U.S. president, ratcheting up hopes that America’s first black commander in chief would herald a more balanced, less confrontational America.
People crowded before TVs or listened to blaring radios for the latest updates. In Sydney, Australians filled a hotel ballroom. In Rio, Brazilians partied on the beach. In the town of Obama, in Japan, dancers cheered in delight when their namesake’s victory was declared.
People the world over — many of them in countries where the idea of a minority being elected leader is unthinkable — expressed amazement and satisfaction that the United States could overcome centuries of racial strife and elect an African-American — and one with Hussein as a middle name — as president.
“What an inspiration. He is the first truly global U.S. president the world has ever had,” said Pracha Kanjananont, a 29-year-old Thai sitting at a Starbuck’s in Bangkok. “He had an Asian childhood, African parentage and has a Middle Eastern name. He is a truly global president.”
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(BBC News) – Opinion polls around the world have confirmed America’s unpopularity. And the chance that a young, apparently pleasant and modest black man might become its president was greeted favourably everywhere.
Last summer a poll for the BBC World Service, conducted in 22 countries, indicated that people preferred Barack Obama to John McCain by four to one. Almost half said that if Senator Obama were elected, it would change their view of the United States completely.
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."Obama is almost universally popular at the popular level, but do not underestimate the difficulty even he will face if he tries to return the USA to its former glory as the World’s only hyperpower. Many other major nations will never trust such a unipolar system again, fearing that it intrinsically breeds arrogance whatever Obama’s personal qualities. The US$ may well have lost its world pre-eminence forever, and US troops will not always be welcome no matter how intractable the local/regional problem. Power may corrupt, but absolute power corrupts absolutely. It will be a long road before a new stable world order emerges, and it would consist entirely of directives from the shining city on the hill.
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As a four you are a manager and you are very methodical and organized. You are aware of the benefits of structure and you are the type who can turn your dreams into reality. You are quick to make decisions and will stick with them.
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At an early age you acted more mature than you really were and you may have enjoyed talking to adults. Now as a grown up you take your family and your obligations seriously. You like to be responsible and reliable. Others can always count on you. You are quite conventional and distrust all the new fads and the unstable new ideas that have not been proven to work yet. You like the old morality and you value honesty and integrity.
China and unlucky number 4
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."a very nice commentary by /AP’s/Vienna bureau, chief Wm J. Kole;
Suddenly, it may be cool to be an American again:
the sun’s shining a little brighter today, in many places.
a beautiful result for those of us abroad.