Richard Tafoya
Jan 22nd, 2009, 01:28 AM
MSNBC:
http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/01/21/1755343.aspx
S'adee Yassen said he appreciates Obama's ideas, as opposed to what he saw as Bush’s bellicose way of dealing with things. "In my opinion, Obama is going to be a peacemaker, whereas Bush was like a Roman warrior occupied all the time with attacking and invading other nations," he said.
A 39-year-old government official, Yassen said he hopes that Obama will create change in Iraq by rebuilding the country. He also believes that the "responsible withdrawal of American forces" would stop giving armed groups excuses to continue their attacks.
Diana Obaidi, 24, was inspired by the inauguration. She said that she wishes that democracy will eventually prevail in Iraq after so many decades of dictatorships. "The thing I liked most in the inauguration is the civilized and peaceful power handover. I hope all the heads of Arab states take this as an example."
However, for some Iraqis, the United States’ stalwart support of Israel, which has antagonized the Arab world, has skewed the opinions of others who believe that Obama will be no different.
Ehab Sameer, a 22-year-old college student, is convinced that Obama won’t stray from the policies of his predecessors. "I don't think inaugurating Obama as the new U.S. president offers any change or hope for the Middle East people, because the American policy is the same no matter what." He saw just one good development: "The only change is that Obama is black and that's good."
Rasool Shibib, a 43-year-old cafeteria owner, is pessimistic concerning U.S.-Arab policies and shares Sameer’s view. "There will be a change in Obama's strategy towards the world, but his strategy towards Arabs and Muslims will be similar to that of Bush as long as there is the Jewish lobby in the American administration."
http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/01/21/1755343.aspx
S'adee Yassen said he appreciates Obama's ideas, as opposed to what he saw as Bush’s bellicose way of dealing with things. "In my opinion, Obama is going to be a peacemaker, whereas Bush was like a Roman warrior occupied all the time with attacking and invading other nations," he said.
A 39-year-old government official, Yassen said he hopes that Obama will create change in Iraq by rebuilding the country. He also believes that the "responsible withdrawal of American forces" would stop giving armed groups excuses to continue their attacks.
Diana Obaidi, 24, was inspired by the inauguration. She said that she wishes that democracy will eventually prevail in Iraq after so many decades of dictatorships. "The thing I liked most in the inauguration is the civilized and peaceful power handover. I hope all the heads of Arab states take this as an example."
However, for some Iraqis, the United States’ stalwart support of Israel, which has antagonized the Arab world, has skewed the opinions of others who believe that Obama will be no different.
Ehab Sameer, a 22-year-old college student, is convinced that Obama won’t stray from the policies of his predecessors. "I don't think inaugurating Obama as the new U.S. president offers any change or hope for the Middle East people, because the American policy is the same no matter what." He saw just one good development: "The only change is that Obama is black and that's good."
Rasool Shibib, a 43-year-old cafeteria owner, is pessimistic concerning U.S.-Arab policies and shares Sameer’s view. "There will be a change in Obama's strategy towards the world, but his strategy towards Arabs and Muslims will be similar to that of Bush as long as there is the Jewish lobby in the American administration."