Awaiting Obama's deeds, not words

The election of Barack Hussain Obama as the first non-white president of the United States, followed less than three months later by the Republican party's choice of former Maryland Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele as the first black national chairman in its history, clearly show how far America has come.

Judging from the decisions he has made and the zeal he has shown in the first ten days of his administration, Obama is off to a great and promising start. He has reached out to Arabs and Muslims respectfully and without belligerence. This is another indication of the change that we now see in Washington.

Obama seems to be serious about fulfilling his campaign promises. He understands that American voters and millions around the world rallied behind him, cheered for him and believed in his 'Yes We Can' and 'Change We Believe in' mantras.

The hope and the change he promised, - combined with the current economic downturn and general disgust with George W. Bush's messy eight years in office - buoyed Obama to a landmark and historical victory, making 2008 a year in which Americans lived and made history. Obama seems to be aware of the challenges he faces at home and abroad and he is fully aware that he will be judged by his actions and not by his words.

Obama does not seem to be very fortunate, having become president at a time when the US is at a critical juncture in its history. There is no doubt that he has inherited a dark legacy from Bush. There is the mounting and worse-than-expected economic meltdown - Obama's unprecedented $817 billion (Dh3 trillion) stimulus package was recently passed by the US Congress.

Then there are the foreign crises. Secretary of Defence Robert Gates has described Afghanistan as America's "greatest military challenge", replacing Iraq, from where Obama has promised to withdraw US troops in 16 months. But this looks increasingly untenable.

Besides, there is the vexing issue of Iran, which Obama addressed on Al Arabiya channel in his first interview as president.

He said that if countries like Iran are willing to "unclench their fist they will find an extended hand from us" - marked change indeed.

Obama's first few executive decrees and orders were a complete reversal from Bush's heavy-handed policies and gun-boat diplomacy towards Arabs and Muslims.

Now, his smart diplomacy and a reconciliatory approach towards Arabs and Muslims has been welcomed and appreciated by the target audience of the interview.

As part of his drive to win the hearts and minds of Arabs and Muslims, Obama appointed presidential envoys to the Middle East and to Afghanistan; he moved to close the infamous military prison at Guantanamo Bay; he chose an Arab satellite network for his first formal interview; he had National Security Council meetings on Iraq and Afghanistan; he made telephone calls to Middle East leaders on his first full day in office, and he promised to deliver a major speech during the first 100 days of his administration in a Muslim capital (rumoured to be Jakarta).

These are the same people who were stunned and puzzled at his reticence in the face of the wanton massacres perpetrated by Israel in Gaza.

But, Obama's policy is also reflective "both of the seriousness of the issues and [is] a message to governments and the public."

The Obama administration's pragmatic approach towards Arabs and Muslims is gaining support in the region. But the optimism is guarded, as the end game remains to be seen.

In his interview, Obama said he was the first US president to have "Muslim members of my family."

He emphasised that "the language we use matters. My job is to communicate to the American people that the Muslim world is filled with extraordinary people who simply want to live their lives and see their children live better lives.

"My job to the Muslim world is to communicate that the Americans are not your enemy. We sometimes make mistakes. We have not been perfect& We're not going to wait until the end of my administration to deal with Palestinian and Israeli peace."

What was most welcome were Obama's remarks about the US having a stake in the well-being of the Muslim world.

He reassured Muslims that the United States was not their enemy and acknowledged that the US had made mistakes in the region by "dictating rather than listening" - which is the closest thing to an apology.

It is a refreshing change to have an administration that recognises all the complexities of the Middle East.

The unresolved Arab-Israeli dispute is impacting all other issues, as the Gaza war proved.

Obama told Al Arabiya, regarding the Arab Israeli dispute: "We're going to start now. It may take a long time to do, but we're going to do it now."

But the real challenge for Obama and his team is to exert real pressure on the belligerent Israelis and to weigh in on the Jewish state to fulfil United Nations resolutions.

Only then will the Obama administration be taken seriously as it is not enough to just have good intentions.

For a lasting peace and to unlock all other crises that have bedevilled the region, the Obama administration has to live up to the expectations and exercise its leadership role in an unbiased manner.

If there is no clear pressure and break from America's usual policies towards Israel, then Obama and the idealists in his camp and in the region will be in for a rude awakening.

Obama said it best: I will be judged "not by my words but by my actions."

And we will wait and follow his deeds and actions, and not his good words, for the next four years before rendering our verdict.

Dr Abdullah Al Shayji is a Professor of International Relations and the Head of the American Studies Unit- Kuwait University.