World celebrates Barack Obama victory

[Richard]

I know people have mixed feelings about Obama and he has a shady background but aside from that I think it is absolutely amazing what he has achieved. Most of the whole world loves him and that’s never been achieved before that I know of. The next 4 years will certainly be interesting. Let’s hope for a better change. :)

 
From Times Online November 5, 2008

World celebrates Barack Obama victory

World leaders rushed to congratulate Barack Obama today, basking in the reflected glory of his election as America's first black president and looking forward to a new, less confrontational era in US foreign policy.

Their citizens, and thousands of American expats, ignored any such niceties – partying on the beach in Rio, filling a hotel ballroom in Sydney and cheering to the rafters in Obama, Japan, when their namesake's victory was confirmed.

“What an inspiration. He is the first truly global US president the world has ever had,” said Pracha Kanjananont, a 29-year-old Thai sitting at a Starbucks in Bangkok. “He had an Asian childhood, African parentage and has a Middle Eastern name. He is a truly global president.”

There had never been any doubt that if the outside world had been eligible to vote in the US presidential election, Mr Obama's victory would have been virtually absolute. But electoral etiquette prevented foreign leaders from getting caught up in the fever until the ballots were in and it became clear that the young Illinois senator had sold his message of change to voters back home.

“Forty-five years ago Martin Luther King had a dream of an America where men and women would be judged not on the colour of their skin but on the content of their character,” Kevin Rudd, the Australian Prime Minister, said. “Today what America has done is turn that dream into a reality."

European nations applauded Mr Obama's victory and expressed hope that it would lead to a “new deal” and energise relations still strained after the US-led invasion of Iraq five years ago and eight years of the Bush Administration.

“By choosing you, the American people have chosen change, openness and optimism,” President Sarkozy of France wrote in a letter to Mr Obama, praising him for a “brilliant victory” and astute electoral campaign. “At a time when all of us must face huge challenges together, your election raises great hope in France, in Europe and elsewhere in the world."

Gordon Brown praised Mr Obama for "an inspirational campaign" and said that he was hoping that they could work together to help repair the world economy. David Cameron, Leader of the Opposition, added his own political slant: “In these difficult times people everywhere are crying out for change. Barack Obama is the first of a new generation of leaders who will deliver it - he has my whole-hearted congratulations."

In Berlin's Unter den Linden boulevard, where 200,000 people gathered to greet Mr Obama this summer, the revellers were out again last night. The German Chancellor Angela Merkel congratulated on his "historic victory" and immediately extended him another invitation. “Be assured that my government is fully aware of the importance and of the worth of our transatlantic partnership,” she said.

In Rome, Pope Benedict XVI congratulated Mr Obama on his "historic" victory, offering his prayers for the President-elect "and for all the people of the United States."

Father Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, said the Pope's message was "personal" and would therefore not be published. However he said that the papal message referred to the "historic occasion" of the election and congratulated Mr Obama, his wife and family.

"He assured him of his prayers that God would help him with his high responsibilities for his country and for the international community," Father Lombardi said. The Pope had also prayed that "the blessing of God would sustain him and the American people so that with all people of good will they could build a world of peace, solidarity and justice". The message was sent via Mary Ann Glendon, the US ambassador to the Holy See.

Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian Prime Minister, who has been one of President Bush's staunchest allies, also sent a message of congratulations and offered to give Mr Obama advice as an elder statesman. He said that Italy - which next year takes over chairmanshp of the G8 - "sends you its congratulations for this success after a difficult election campaign against a formidable rival".

In a reference to the Second World War he said Italians had "never forgotten the sacrifice of so many young American lives to give back freedom and dignity to Italy and Europe". Mr Berlusconi, 72, who entered politics in 1994, said he could offer advice "in view of my age and experience". "We have always had good cooperation with any US president" the Italian leader said. "I have had a good relationship with Bush and also had an excellent one with Clinton."

There was outrage however when Maurizio Gasparri, a political ally of Mr Berlusconi and a former Communications Minister, said that "with Obama in the White House, perhaps al-Qaeda is happier" .

But no country greeted his victory with such unalloyed joy as did Kenya, Mr Obama's ancestral homeland. “Senator Obama is our new president. God has answered our prayer,” said Washington Obonyo, a pastor in Kogelo, the Kenyan village where Obama’s grandmother lives and where his late father was born.

“We the Kenyan people are immensely proud of your Kenyan roots," added Mwai Kibaki, the Kenyan President, in a message to Mr Obama. "Your victory is not only an inspiration to millions of people all over the world, but it has special resonance with us here in Kenya."

In Obama, an ancient fishing town on the Sea of Japan, residents dressed in Hawaiian skirts performed a hula dance in celebration, embracing Hawaiian-born Obama as one of their own. “I’m so excited because Obama shares our town’s name. But even if the town was called McCain I would still support Barack Obama,” said Masayo Ishibashi, a 44-year-old dancer.

In Afghanistan, President Karzai congratulated both the winning candidate and the American people for their choice. But he said that the President-elect must act to prevent further civilian casualties after allegations that dozens of women and children were killed or wounded in a US airstrike on a wedding party in Kandahar province on Monday. "We cannot win the fight against terrorism with airstrikes,” Mr Karzai said. “This is my first demand of the new President of the United States - to put an end to civilian casualties.”

For Sifatullah Khan, a 38-year-old property dealer in Kabul, 38, Mr Obama's election is a less pressing concern than spiralling prices and an impending winter food crisis.

"We don't have any expectation of any difference, positive or negative," he told The Times, sipping a cup of green tea. "George Bush was a hardliner, a strong person, but he couldn't bring any betterment for Afghanistan. For me the best thing would be to give the decision to Afghans to decide their future."

In Iraq, the other war that Obama will inherit, his win was hailed by black US soldiers and civilian workers at the sprawling Camp Speicher near Tikrit, Saddam Hussein’s hometown. of Tikrit. "We'll finally have our African-American president!" said Kareem, a 50-year-old contract bus driver from Houston, Texas. "Whites had 43 presidents, they might as well leave us one."

In Beijijng, the US Embassy hosted a party at the Marriot Renaissance Hotel for 600 local students, academics and government officials, setting up a voting booth complete with ballot box and real ballot papers. “China will never have a minority president,” said Joyce Tu, a pro-Obama businesswoman. "And we will never have a non-Communist party president as long as we never have elections."

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/wo...087886.ece

[Sily]

Rahm Emanuel, possible new white house chief of staff.  I hope he ...... does a good job.