Concerns Despite Obama's Warm Reception
CBNNews.com
July 25, 2008
CBNNews.com - U.S. Senator and Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama is set to make an appearance in France and Britain Friday, where he is expected to receive the same warm welcome the Germans gave him Thursday.
But despite his overwhelming reception -- 200,000-plus turned out to hear and see him -- analysts are saying some parts of his highly anticipated message in Berlin may not resonate with Europeans.
Most notably, his warning that "Americans and Europeans alike will be required to do more - not less" on security. Also, he insisted that "we must renew our resolve" to defeat the Taliban and declared that Afghanistan needs "our troops and your troops."
That could prove awkward to Germany and other countries -- the mission in Afghanistan is unpopular with Europeans.
Before meeting with Obama German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she would "make it clear that Germany is not shirking a strengthened commitment, but also will make our limits very clear - just as I have with the current president."
German media hasn't warmed to the idea of committing more to the Afghanistan mission either.
"He explicitly called for German soldiers for Afghanistan - he did not say 'more soldiers' but that was what he meant," commentator Reymer Kluever wrote for the newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung. "And Obama also indicated this: he will want support as president to wind up the Iraq adventure. Obama will be expensive for Germany."
The German news magazine Der Spiegel wrote on its Web site: "He will call in help from the Germans, British and French in Afghanistan and Iraq. He is unlikely to let NATO off the hook - therein lies the peril of the engaging 'we' and the catchy 'Yes, we can."
Even though the foreign press is taking a hard look at what Obama is saying, it's clear that Europeans have a strong desire to heal the trans-Atlantic rift and many consider the Democratic candidate the right man for the job.
Obama headed on to France on Friday, where many Parisians were excited about his visit.
"Everything is new, for one thing his skin color, it really brings something, especially to the States and to the whole world as well. I think he has ideas, I think he can bring a lot," one local resident told AP Television.
"This shows that in today's biggest world power, changes can happen, and that's a really good thing," said another.
Obama is expected to have a news conference with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Source: The Associated Press, ABC News
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