Thursday, July 24, 2008
The centerpiece of Barack Obama’s overseas tour comes Thursday in Berlin when the Democratic presidential candidate gives the only public foreign policy speech of his trip to an Obama-mad crowd of Germans who see him as another John F. Kennedy. He’s in a country and a continent making no secret it is ready for change.
“Germans have a great desire to see this as a historic moment,” says Bastian Hermisson of the Heinrich Boll Foundation, who estimates that 100,000 will turn out for the speech. “His message that people can hope the world can change for the better – that resonates. The excitement is a sign that we still feel the US is a relevant force, an influence for better or worse.”
On his much-scrutinized world jaunt to listen and learn, the Illinois senator is visiting a city at the heart of America’s traditional alliance after visits to Afghanistan and Iraq, where the US-Europe relationship is most at risk for reasons of war, oil, and security.
Berlin, twice rebuilt in the 20th century, has symbolic significance, experts say – both for Europe’s past and its future. Germany is regarded as the political epicenter of Europe, strategically located between East and West. America may cherish its relations with Paris and London, where Obama travels next, but to move Europe as a whole will require the next president to bolster ties with Berlin, experts say.
“In Berlin, his speech is to Europe, not just to Germany,” says Dan Hamilton, director of the Center for Transatlantic Relations at the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington. “It used to be that for the US, the problems were Europe’s divisions. Today, the challenge is unity. Berlin reflects this in a way no other city in Europe does.”
Berlin is special in the American framework, too: the place where fascism peaked and was defeated; ground zero for the fight over the political values of democracy and communism, for Kennedy’s “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech, and the fall of the Berlin Wall. Today it is where East meets West in a vastly freer but more complicated world.
Obama is expected to stress that an America under his leadership would not act unilaterally, will close Guantánamo, be newly cooperative with Europe on climate change and energy. But the presumptive nominee is also expected to add a note of realism, saying that a productive new relationship will require more of Europe – in Afghanistan, and even in Iraq.
His audience isn’t likely to be hard to win over. Obama may be taking political heat at home, and he’s run into a local spat over the location of the Berlin speech. But Germans on both the left and right don’t seem to care: 76 percent of Berliners would vote for him, and he’s been dubbed by influential news magazine Der Spiegel as “the president of the world.” He could “stand on his head” and it wouldn’t matter, said one media critic.
From the Left 
76 percent of Berliners would vote for him, and he’s been dubbed by influential news magazine Der Spiegel as “the president of the world.”
Can you imagine such a reaction after 8 long years of Bush?
We’re about to enter a new era. A golden era and a post-Bush era led by Barack Obama.
The USA and the nations of the European Union have enjoyed a close relationship since the end of WWII. It took George Bush and his “Freedom Fries” and “Old Europe” cracks to drive a wedge between all of us. I just get the sense that the EU is marking the days until Obama is elected president and things can go back to the way their were pre-Bush.
I have a question? Why does Andrea Mitchell hate Obama?
Her voice just drips with contempt when she says his name. Didn’t he properly kiss her ass? Does she think she needs to be accorded some special level of privilege because she sleeps with Alan Greenspan?
Or, is she a racist?
Wow, who knew so many krauts would love an Angry Black Muslim Nazi®? Robert Novak must be rolling over in the grave of all the other people he’s hit with his car before.
They were waving American flags. When was the last time we saw that?
They cheered loudest when he talked about ending the war and stopping torture.
One thing is pretty clear to me — neither McCain nor Hillary Clinton would have this much power and ability to restore America’s standing and image in the eyes of the rest of the world.
The world is depending on American voters to make the right choice in November.
The rest of the world doesn’t hate us after all.
It’s George Bush they hate and they’re waiting for the big change to happen in November.
Like Winnie said, 100,000 people — most of them German, waving American flags, and shouting “O-Bama, Yes, We Can, USA.” Extraordinary. What a contrast to the thousands that gather to protest Bush when he’s abroad.
Police estimated that more than 200,000 people came to watch the speech, according to The Associated Press.
Fantastic speech. Great day for America!
I am proud of Obama and he made me proud to be an American today. For the past 8 years, everytime Bush would visit a foreign nation, I would cringe with embarrassment. Obama is the best face of this nation and judging from the reaction of the 200,000 gathered to hear him today in Berlin, the world thinks so too.
Christopher – I saw your piece on CNN Edition. You nailed it. Good job. You should post it here for all to see. Don’t be so shy!
I’m proud of our boy and I am relieved the damage done to our reputation is reversible.
Like Jon Stewart said, when was the last time we saw an American flag in another country that wasn’t burning? The fact that the world loves Barack is a good thing.
having just come back from Europe – i knew that most people overseas hated Bush, i just never realized the depth of that hate. Bush to the Scandinavians is no different than Pol Pot or Stalin.
Obama hit a home run with that speech today. before 200,000 Berliners waving flags. McDouchebag gave a talk in the cheese aisle of a supermarket, then ate weinerschnitzel at a German restaurant – and then complained about the attention Obama is getting
yet 40-45% of the country still would vote for one of the worst candidates in the history of presidential campaigns
now i fully understand why the Swedes, Danes and Finns truly hate us.
Kennedy? Wasn’t he the President who stupidly sent the gusansos to invade Cuba at the aptly name Bay of Pigs. And didn’t they get their asses kicked by the real Cubans.
And wasn’t Kennedy pro bsusiness to a falult. And didn’t refuse to allow his brother, the AG to promote fair housing and voter registration rules? rmo
And didn’t Kennedy start the invasion and attempted occupation of Vietnam.
And you’re compairng him to Obama. Good for you, Christopher. You’re right on the money.
A sad sight to envision would be the welcome or lack of enthusiasm the world would meet McCain with should we screw up this election.
An interesting read :
http://www.counterpunch.org/whitney07252008.html