Arabs Divided on Obama (from Al Jazeera)

[RoadRage]

An interesting article on Al Jazeera today regarding Obama vs. McCain:

I can see McCain spinning this as "Arabs hope for Obama to win the presidency"... in yet another attack ad coming soon.

http://english.aljazeera.net/focus/2008/07/2008731115039902634.html

Arabs divided on Barack Obama

On the subject of the US elections, Arabs are divided between a sceptical majority that sees no difference between John McCain and Barack Obama and a hopeful minority that believes Obama could narrow the gap between the Muslim world and the West.

The sceptics see both McCain and Obama as ardent supporters of Israel, and its doctrine of pre-emptive war, and as committed to US success in Afghanistan regardless of the costs.

The optimists, however, see important differences in the candidates' discourse and approach.

I understand the sceptics' rationale. Obama supports a wider war in Afghanistan, threatens Iran from Paris, and reckons Jerusalem is the united capital of Israel - the 'miracle' - is hardly worth Arab support.

...

Yet, I think an Obama presidency would be better for both the US and the Arab world, not to say the entire Middle East, than a McCain presidency.

It has a far better chance of containing the dangerous escalation between the US and the Muslim world.

...

An Obama presidency could transcend the negative perception of the US in the Middle East.

Towards that end, Obama must begin by helping to implement a just solution to the Palestinian question, which, according to various polls, would increase the proportion of Arabs who view the US favourably from little over ten per cent to over 50 per cent.


You can read the entire article here: http://english.aljazeera.net/focus/2008/07/2008731115039902634.html

[trashcanistanista]

1. I remind Arab Americans that half of his family is Muslim.

Then I tell them he is a compassionate man and would make a great leader. I have had no arguments and am getting pro Arab American support in my district in California. All of them hate *. Arab-Americans and Indian-Americans are among the easiest to get support for Obama. I am interested in other's experience in other parts of the country.