Dibalik hiruk pikuk pemilihan di Gorut dan Usa, saya posting soal Obama
saat masih sekolha di Indonesia.
Wasalam
Yang lagi nunggu hasil Pemilu
Imusafir
World closely watching US presidential elections
By ALI KOTARUMALOS
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) When Sri Murtiningsi asked her third
graders what they wanted to be when they grew up, the answers ranged
from doctors to a pilot. One boy in the class raised his hand: Barack
Obama said his dream was to be president of the United States.
Forty years later Murtiningsi like the rest of the world is
watching closely as Americans prepare to head to the polls Tuesday.
"Barry was the only one who said he wanted to be president ... I hope
his dream comes true," Murtiningsi said of Obama, who spent four years
living in Indonesia as a child.
Many believe Obama's international experience would go a long way in
helping repair damage caused by the unpopular U.S.-led war in Iraq, with
recent opinion polls from more than 70 nations favoring him a resounding
three-to-one over Republican John McCain.
Newspapers across the globe came out in support of the Democratic
candidate Monday.
"Obama the best hope for U.S. revival," said an editorial in The
Australian Financial Review. The Gulf News, an English-language paper in
the United Arab Emirates, agreed, saying only he could "undo the great
damage done by the Bush administration to America's image," especially
in the Middle East. Obama "deserves to win," declared The Irish Times.
In Israel, though, where McCain is popular, the Maariv daily reported
that officials are worried about an Obama presidency because of his
willingness to hold diplomatic talks with Iran. Israel believes the
international community must not embrace Iran's president, who has
repeatedly called for Israel's destruction.
"Obama is very naive about how things work in the Middle East. He thinks
that by being nice to Iran they will stop building nuclear weapons and
stop threatening us. He doesn't understand that being nice doesn't work
in our region," said Ariel Hajaj, a 36-year-old Jerusalem contractor.
"McCain understands the way things work here better his approach is more
suited the Middle East and he would be better for Israel."
Obama's presidential bid has sparked excitement in Kenya, home to his
late father, with thousands turning out for the Democratic candidate's
last visit in 2006.
"Everybody is extremely happy and excited and looking forward to
celebrating the day after the elections," said Malik Obama, the
candidate's half brother.
In the sleepy Japanese coastal town of Obama which translates as
"little beach," images of the Democratic candidate adorn banners along a
main shopping street and preparations for an election day victory party
were in full swing Monday.
Koichi Inoue, who makes traditional sweet bean cakes, said his factory
was working at double normal production because he had promised free
handouts for every customer if Obama came out on top.
"It looks like he is going to win from the polls so I've got to be
ready," he said.
Election fever was also high in Vietnam, where McCain was held prisoner
of war for more than five years after the U.S. fighter pilot was shot
down in Hanoi during a 1967 bombing run.
Le Lan Anh, a Hanoi real estate tycoon and novelist, says McCain is "a
great man," because he passed up the opportunity to leave prison early
ahead of other U.S. inmates.
"He's patriotic. As a soldier, he came here to destroy my country, but I
admire his dignity," she said.
As a U.S. senator in the 1990s, McCain helped normalize bilateral
relations, so he is "someone who understands Vietnam," said Phan Manh
Tien, 54, a retired soldier and truck driver. Still, he prefers Obama
because he sees the Democrat as less hawkish.
Many in Pakistan, a close ally in the U.S. war on terror, will be glued
to television sets on Election Day. The results, they say, will have
broad implications for their own country and neighboring Afghanistan,
where American forces have been battling the Taliban and its al-Qaida
allies.
The last eight years have "affected our economy and our peace," said
Mohammad Zubair, a 33-year-old lawyer in Lahore, who anticipates an
Obama win. "I hope the election will bring change to Pakistan as well."
Associated Press writers Irwan Firdaus in Jakarta, Indonesia; Ben
Stocking in Hanoi, Vietnam; Jay Alabaster in Obama, Japan; Ian Deitch in
Jerusalem and Babar Dogar in Lahore, Pakistan contributed to this
report.
