election 2008

As everyone knows Barack Obama won the United States Presidential Election. He defeated his opponent, Republican nominee John McCain in a landslide victory. However, many are already questioning his ability to run this country. Barack Obama has very little experience behind him and it is probably why he made the choice of Joe Biden for his vice president. Biden has a great deal of experience especially in foreign affairs. It feels to me though that Barack Obama’s win was more of a movement than an election. His words have inspired millions already and he has not even been inaugurated yet. Obama has already held numerous press conferences on the economy and the state of the country. Many already view him as a president that will be written in history books as one of the greatest presidents to ever live. Not because he did the unimaginable by winning against a white man with more political experience as a black man with less political experience but because they truly believe he will be a great president.
The New York Times recently reported that not only is he inspiring people in America but he is inspiring people abroad as well. However, its inspiration for baby names. The times said just hours after the election ten baby boys were born down south and they were named after our President-elect Barack Obama himself. His little girls are inspiring mothers to name their children Malia and Sasha as well. This is why I say its more of a movement than a presidential election that he has created.
“ I am asking you to believe. Not just in my ability to bring about real change Washington…I am asking you to believe in yours.” this quote came directly off of barackobama.com. His words are inspiring old, young, black, white. I think everyone is ready for this “change” he keeps discussing. Everyone is waiting to see how he is going to change what has been for the last eight years under the Bush administration. We have been in Iraq for five of the eight years that Bush has been in office. So, I am interested to see how he plans to withdraw the troops from Iraq within sixteen months. The Iraqi Prime Minister is in favor of this plan and he supports it.
What I am most curious to see is how he plans to have talks with Iran through direct diplomacy and without preconditions. In my opinion, you can not have talks without preconditions. He believes that political isolationism from Iran will help solve the problem with the Iranian regime. If Iran abandons its nuclear programs they will be offered membership into the WTO. This is going to be interesting.
Next, is Israel. Obama said “Our alliance is based on shared interests and shared values. Those who threaten Israel threaten us. Israel has always faced these threats on the front lines. And I will bring to the White House an unshakeable commitment to Israel’s security…I will ensure that Israel can defend itself from any threat - from Gaza to Tehran.… Across the political spectrum, Israelis understand that real security can only come through lasting peace. And that is why we - as friends of Israel - must resolve to do all we can to help Israel and its neighbors to achieve it.” this is a direct quote from Obama himself at a 2008 AIPAC policy conference. As a Middle Easterner who supports the Palestinians’ right to a homeland, this worries me a little that he has such a solid stance in supporting Israel rather than supporting a solution to the conflict.