“Be the change you want to see in the world.”

It applies on the national level just as much as it does on the personal level.

Is it just me, or is the world really eager to be rid of Bush?

Is it such an indictment against President Bush if the leaders of nations such as Venezuela, Bolivia, Cuba, Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Russia ect… are eager to get rid of him? Sure its not just those countries, but still worth thinking about.

will most of these world leaders focus on all the things that President Obama does which they find to be improvements? Things like actually listening to their concerns, stopping torture, moving to leave Iraq, etc.

I wonder if Obama will press other nations, such as Iran, to listen to our concerns, like stopping torture, moving to leave Iraq, ect…or does Obama even concern himself over such things? Is it more important for America’s image to be repaired in the eyes of despotic regimes, or is it more important that these countries change their ways?

Actually, I expect that there will be a split decision. Most of the world will find the new administration a great relief, and that will keep them relatively happy for the first year or more. But some (Russia? Pakistan? Sudan? North Korea?) will find lots to complain about.

The tough thing is that Obama is still going to have to do things that international leaders won’t like; he’s the President of the US, not President of the world, and his primary responsibility is his country. China’s economic boom has been a direct result of that sort of “Take care of the nation first, then reach beyond borders” mentality.

Will he launch more incursions against our enemies within the Pakistani border? Will he escalate the efforts in Afghanistan, even if that nation doesn’t want us there? And what of Russia? Lots of big choices ahead.