Seeking a balance between might and diplomacy

In a region of crises, Israelis and Arabs anxiously await the new U.S. leader who can mitigate some Bush policies.

By Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer February 4, 2008

CAIRO -- The U.S. primaries are an enticing, confusing political drama for a Middle East looking for an American president who can offer security and repair years of Bush administration policies widely seen as disastrous.
The next U.S. president will inherit the Iraq war, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a rising Iran and competition from the growing economies of India and China for oil in Saudi Arabia and other Persian Gulf nations.
Still, the feeling here is that no matter who wins the White House, there is bound to be an improvement in relations.
In a part of the world where democracy and minority rights are largely token, the Middle East elite is captivated by the Democratic race between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. The two candidacies are seen as epitomizing democracy, suggesting that the presidency is open to anyone willing to endure town hall meetings, Internet chats, slick ads and televised debates.
The ideal U.S. president for the region is seen as someone who can balance military power and diplomacy. Israelis had preferred former New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, but with his exit from the Republican campaign, they're inclined toward John McCain or Clinton. Palestinians are leaning toward Obama.
Egypt and other Arab nations are watching to see whether the candidates are pro-Israeli. The Israeli newspaper Haaretz rates candidates on a feature called The Israel Factor at http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/rosnerPage.jhtml.
In Saudi Arabia, women aren't allowed to drive, so the prospect of electing one as president is mesmerizing. And in Iraq, where bombings are relentless, most people are consumed with day-to-day survival, not exit polls.

jeffrey.fleishman@ latimes.com

Contributors: Richard Boudreaux in Jerusalem, Tina Susman in Baghdad and Noha El-Hennawy in Cairo.

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Em destaque: A expectativa das nações do Oriente Médio para os candidatos norte-americanos e suas propostas de políticas para a região.

Fonte: Los Angeles Times
Publicação: 4 de fevereiro 2008
Autor: Jeffrey Fleishman
Link: http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-fg-global-mideastfeb04,1,2632132.story?ctrack=5&cset=true