2008: Not All About Us

2008: Not All About Us

It’s important to note, as we Americans go to the polls tomorrow, that there are many, many people in the Middle East whose lives will be dramatically affected by the outcome of this election.  Even though they lack the voice in this election that we enjoy through our vote, America’s involvement in the Middle East means they often have just as many hopes and concerns for the outcome of this election as we do. If the next president hopes to accomplish anything significant in the region, it’s imperative that he remain keenly aware of this.  So in my last post before the election, I’m linking to several articles that describe what some residents of the Middle East would like to see come out of this election.


For Time, Scott MacLeod chronicles what many Arabs have expressed: a wariness of John McCain’s fondness for Bush administration policies, but a cynicism that tempers the hope that a Barack Obama administration would be much different.


Souheila al-Jaada captures a similar sentiment, but also the hope from many Muslims that Obama offers the best chance for the U.S. to reconcile with the Muslim world.


Ihsan Dagi hopes that in Turkey’s case, a Barack Obama presidency might add a “democratic vision” to the realist strategies that define Turkish-American relations today.


Democracy Digest compiles the thoughts of several influential Arab democracy activists who offer a number of useful policy prescriptions for the incoming president-elect.