Obamamania not catching on in Iraq

Remember when Excitable Andy suggested that merely gazing upon Obama's glorious visage would change Muslim minds about America? Shockingly, it turns out that he may have been wrong:

While Obama's trip has been getting saturation media coverage in the U.S., however, the Iraqi media has barely batted an eye. Obama's visit got only a vague mention on the local TV networks' afternoon news hours, and it failed to make the front page on any of Iraq's top newspapers. Only in Al-Dustour did an article make reference to the visit, quoting Iraqi politician (and former Bush Administration favorite) Ahmad Chalabi as saying: "Obama wants to prove that he's qualified enough to be Commander in Chief."

Man, are their priorities screwed up over there, or what? I mean, he might say something important about, say, hope or maybe change.

Indeed, while many Iraqis say they like Obama, few are optimistic about the difference he can make for their country as a result of his one-day visit, or even as President.

B-but...hope! And change! Rainbows!

"They are all the same — Democrats and Republicans, their agenda is the same, and that is to exert American control all over the world," says Nasir al-Saadi, a parliamentarian in the Sadrist movement, which is fiercely opposed to what it sees as the U.S. occupation of Iraq. In the central Baghdad neighborhood of Mansour, local Sunni community leaders — and political enemies of the Sadrists — say much of the same thing. "American policy does not depend on the President. When a new President comes up, he just continues the pre-set policy," says Sunni Awakening leader Ahmed Bassam.

I guess Ahmed hasn't gotten the message about Change You Can Believe In. That, or he doesn't believe in it.

Posted by: Sean M. at 07:56 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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