Ahmad Y. Majdoubeh
Like many in America and the world, Jordanians (Arabs, generally) welcomed the election of Barack Obama as America’s 44th president. Some with a lot of excitement, some with none, and many with guarded excitement.
Without a doubt, Obama’s noticeable eloquence, charm, soft tone - in sharp contrast with President Bush’s - had an impact on many Jordanians and on many the world over.
Many in our part of the world, for example, liked Bill Clinton’s “soft” tone and disliked President Bush’s “arrogance”. Style counts.
The overall excitement for Obama, however, stems primarily from the hopes attached to a more serious American involvement in peacemaking between the Arabs and Israelis (especially at the Palestinian-Israeli level), a better handling of the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan, a more positive attitude towards Islam and Muslims, and a better handling of the world economic crisis (this is the first time, perhaps, that people here feel American economic policies have a direct impact on their lives).
What can Obama do on these fronts?
Will he be able to assert himself, and devote enough time and effort, to the Palestinian-Israeli issue the way, let’s say, Jimmy Carter, George Bush (Sr.) and Clinton have?
How prepared is he to face the pro-Israeli lobby in the US? Will his handling of the Iraqi situation be more efficient and more sensitive to the needs of the Iraqis (and not just those of “our boys”)?
Will he go out of his way to help bring about a more informed and a more positive view of Islam in America?
One is not sure.
A satisfactory solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict, for example, lies not so much in pressuring Israel (as many assume) but in pressuring the pro-Israel lobby in America (which is supporting Israel blindly and foolishly, even to the detriment of Israel).
How much can Obama do at this level?
Guts, charisma, assertion and determination are needed with respect to Mideast peace, Iraq and Afghanistan, the image of Islam, and so forth.
But beyond this, we also know that there are so many expectations and so many hopes pinned on Obama’s positive and assertive role: in America itself, in Europe, in Africa, in the Far East, etc.
There are so many American and global issues that need courage, sincerity and creativity to handle.
On the one hand, we certainly not only hope but expect Obama to address the matters which concern us in this part of the world (and concern America and the globe) consistently, efficiently and effectively.
And we hope, and expect, to see results, not promises and words. But we also know, on the other hand, what achieving results entails.
This is why, in the case of some, the excitement is guarded.
