Arab newspapers welcome Obama with both optimism and caution

Hoda Bakri
For Al-Shorfa.com
2009-01-31

President Barack Obama is interviewed in Washington by Dubai-based Al-Arabiya satellite network on January 26. It was his first media interview as president. (AP Photo/Al-Arabiya)

Arab newspapers reacted to the beginning of the Barack Obama presidency with caution and optimism. London-based Al-Quds Al-Arabi published an article entitled "Obama Makes History" on January 21 that described Obama’s election as a major victory for the advancement of equality and said that Obama's victory proves that the democratic West is still the most appropriate and just system of governance and the most tolerant of ethnic and religious minorities.

The newspaper also said that Obama won the White House because he followed the right path, the path of science and hard work. He intelligently entered politics at the right place and time, but his task ahead is difficult as the U.S. is going through an unprecedented economic recession. The Saudi Okaz newspaper published an article January 21 stating that Obama's African roots give peoples of the world hope that he will be more understanding of the conditions of Third World countries, which suffer from poverty, disease and displacement. It labelled Obama’s election as the start of a period of correction in U.S. policies and a time for objectivity and justice and an opportunity for Americans to restore their image throughout the world. The newspaper added that American history is full of respectable stances that the U.S. took in support of people who were colonised or threatened with war.

On January 22, the Qatari newspaper Al-Sharq reported on Obama’s inaugural address in which he talked about the U.S. continuing to lead the world. The newspaper questioned how much the U.S. deserves this honour because of the wars being waged in Iraq and Afghanistan. It praised Obama's pledge to send a peace envoy to the Middle East, but wondered whether that would bring about a solution to the problem.

Al-Sharq hoped the world would realise its dreams in the new administration and witness the force of logic not the logic of force become dominant in this new era. It insisted that the world will judge Obama by his actions, not his words.

In his article "Point of Light" printed in the Egyptian newspaper Al-Ahram, Makram Mohamed Ahmed wrote that the American people expect Obama to change the current reality, save the American economy from crisis and restore tranquillity and security to the hearts of Americans. He said that the Islamic world is hopeful that the new administration can win the hearts and minds of Muslims and correct the mistaken view that Islam is inherently violent. Ahmed also expressed hope and optimism that the U.S. will play an active role in the peaceful settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict.

[Al-Ahram (Egypt), Al Okaz (Saudi Ababia), Al-Sharq (Qatar), Al-Quds Al-Arabi]

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