Obama's 5-Step Foreign Policy Plan

Global pundits weigh in on a historic victory

(NEWSER) - The election of Barack Obama has been watched around the world, and pundits from all over are weighing in.

• In Germany's Der Spiegel, Gabor Steingart says the president-elect's genius is his "tone of political romanticism." Americans warmed to his message of sympathy and reflection—and made the whole world an offer of reconciliation.

Africa advocates say White House overlooks troubled continent

(NEWSER) - Michelle Obama's trip to southern Africa this week is giving new life to criticism that the Obama administration is overlooking the troubled continent, reports the Washington Post . The president has been to sub-Saharan Africa only once since taking office— a 24-hour trip to Ghana in 2009 —and critics say the region has been largely ignored. The American government is “not seeing Africa as a big priority," said a spokesman for TransAfrica Forum. "There has been some ambivalence.” More»

Pushes for lame-duck vote ... with big political implications

(NEWSER) - By urging a lame-duck vote on a new arms-control treaty with Russia, President Obama is setting up a face-off with Senate Republicans that could set the political tone for the next two years, writes Peter Baker in the New York Times . If the treaty is ratified, Obama will prove his strength despite midterm losses; if it’s not, he risks underscoring a “weakened” image “at home and abroad.” "I would say it’s the biggest gamble he’s taken so far, certainly on foreign policy,” says an analyst. More»

Ignore the cynics, Obama urges

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama gave his second speech to the UN General Assembly today, and spent most of his time calling for support for the US’ latest stab at peace in the Middle East. “Peace must be made by Israelis and Palestinians, but each of us has a responsibility to do our part as well,” Obama said, according to Politico . “Now I recognize many are pessimistic about this process,” he allowed. “But consider the alternative.” More»

Even Bush was better, Kristof writes

(NEWSER) - When is comes to Sudan , Barack Obama has been worse than even George W Bush, argues Nicholas Kristof in the New York Times , who despite his many failings, managed to secure the 2005 deal that ended Sudan's 20-year civil war. Obama's "incoherent, contradictory and apparently failing Sudan policy" is setting the stage for a bloody war or another round of genocide next year, when oil-rich Southern Sudan is likely to vote to secede. More»