The Arab street may be enthused about an Obama presidency, but opinion makers in the Arab world are more skeptical, The New Republic reports:
They have been arguing that [Obama] is not so unconventional an American politician when it comes to the Middle East, and that the people of the region have reason to be worried about an Obama presidency.
The reasons? Apparent shifts in Obama’s stances on a firm timetable for a U.S. withdrawal from Iraq, on talking to Iran and – of course – on Israel.
Their conclusion?
Most Arab columnists writing about Obama have concluded that the exigencies of American politics undermine any efforts by politicians to change the country’s foreign policy in the region.
No word on growing Arab support for McCain, however. He’d likely be seen as even worse for the Arab world.
