MidEast press skeptical of Obama's “new era”

As much of the world hailed Barack Obama's inauguration as the 44th president of the United States the press in the Middle East on Wednesday was wary of the promised “new era” and sought hints that might signal a change in U.S. policy towards the Middle East.

“To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect,” Obama proclaimed after being sworn in before a crowd of more than two million people in Washington D.C.

“Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred” said the new president as he vowed to 'responsibly leave Iraq,' forge a “hard-earned peace in Afghanistan” as well as address the nuclear threat and “specter of a warming planet.”

Newspaper editorials and political commentators showed enthusiasm for former president George W. Bush’s departure and seemed willing to give Obama a chance to make good on his promises of change.

Turning page of history

"It is difficult to remember a president of the U.S., in its recent history, who has carried to the office as much hope as Obama does today," said an editorial Saudi Arabian pan-Arab daily al-Hayat.

But it cautioned Obama to make good on his promise for a better Middle East policy, warning that the Gaza crisis would have serious aftershocks if not addressed immediately.

"At Last, a World Without Bush. And Obama Plans a Week Full of Achievements," proclaimed the headline in the London-based pan-Arab daily al-Quds al-Arabi, emphasizing the global sigh of relief at the end of the Bush years while wondering if the new president would “rise up to the expectations of the Arab world? Only time will tell."

Al-Arab, the London-based Iraqi daily, was more critical of Obama and the Arab world's great expectations of favorable change towards the region.

"Will Obama begin a "white" page in America's "black" history?" the headline asked, noting the historical irony that the White House, built 200 years ago by black slaves, had finally opened its doors to Barack Hussein Obama, only to have him enter shouldered with the "heavy burden" inherited from his predecessor.

We know the kind of pressure the Jewish lobby puts on the presidents in the United States and the degree of influence this minority exercises daily in the departments and organs of political decision-making

Atef al-Gamry, al-Ahram

Tempered hope

An editorial in Egypt’s government-owned daily al-Ahram warned the Arab against being overly enthusiastic about Obama's presidency, noting that the hope for change is mainly directed at the U.S.'s internal politics.

"We know the kind of pressure the Jewish lobby puts on the presidents in the United States and the degree of influence this minority exercises daily in the departments and organs of political decision-making," wrote Atef al-Gamry.

"In the end America respects might and reckons with those who are strong," he wrote, putting the impetus for change squarely on Arab shoulders.

In the end America respects might and reckons with those who are strong

Atef al Gamry, Al Ahram writer

The opposition daily al-Dustur called Obama's vague reference to the Arab- Muslim world as a "worrying omen" of days to come.

"In his speech Obama failed to mention the issue of Palestine; nor was there a mere reference to the recent Gaza massacre and Israel's war crimes against Palestinians, which proves that Palestinian-Israeli conflict is the last thing on the new president's mind."

A survey by the World found that 75 percent of Egyptians think Obama's top priority should be mediating peace between the Palestinians and the Israel.

Sarcasm and skepticism

In Iran, the conservative government spokespiece Kayhan daily dubbed Obama "a big fan of Zionists," below a cartoon of Bush handing the Israeli flag to the new president, a reference to the belief by many in the region that there is little hope of any change in U.S. policy towards Israel.

"The change advocate, who changed," ran the sarcastic headline in the conservative Hamshahri, noting what it described as Obama's "recent change of tone" to support war policies of the previous Republican administration.

In one of his first acts as president, Obama imposed a 120-suspension day of all Guantanamo war crime tribunals. During his campaign he promised to close the detention facility.

"Obama's era: big hopes and bigger worries," ran the headline in the Moroccan al-Sahara newspaper said that with the high hopes that Obama's inauguration has inspired on Tuesday came skepticism about his ability to make good on his promises.