Baracking for Obama

An alternative reaction to Barack Obama's election from the world's press.

While the good folk of Obama (Japan) may be dancing a celebratory hula, and much of the rest of the world seems overwhelmed by Obamamania, there are still some voices that just can't help sprinkling a little rain Barack Obama's parade.

Rupert Murdoch's The Australian, in an article somewhat ominously titled, It's farewell to our great friend Bush argues that, for Australia at least, Obama is a very mixed bag.

The main thrust of this piece seems to be that the Democrats are the party of the Atlantic, while the Republicans have been traditionally more engaged in the Pacific region.

Pointing out that while John McCain made several references to Australia in various policy statements, Obama has shown little interest in the region.

The Japan Times also voices concerns about relations with the new president in a piece called Repeat of Clinton-era friction.

The paper says that, while ties between the US and Japan improved under George Bush "due to similar conservativeness", Tokyo and Washington drifted apart during the Clinton era due to disagreements over auto exports.

The Korea Herald airs similar worries over trade between South Korea and the new Democrat administration

The paper also suggests that Obama's election might be cause for concern for the country which has taken a much more hard line approach to North Korea since the election of its new president.

There are some worries that, as in the past, Kim Jong-il's administration may seek to undermine South Korea by dealing directly with the US over questions of denuclearisation.

The Straits Times in Singapore touches on the fears for Obama's safety in its piece, Obama's safety a challenge, saying the president-elect will face unprecedented threats on his life.

Even in Europe, where it would seems Obama can do no wrong, Le Monde cautions against unbridled "euphoria".

The paper argues that those who rejoice unthinkingly now could well be the first to become disenchanted.

And Der Spiegel questions whether the new president might be too "intellectual" for the internet generations who have elected him.

The Moscow Times says Obama's victory won't change relations with the Kremlin, where anti-Americanism has become the default setting of Russia's rulers.

The more hard line Pravda calls Obama's election A change for the better, but cautions that he "will not change the world, as he claims and he might not even change the USA in the near future at least.

"Powerful lobbies control the strings which control the puppets in Washington."

Finally, The Jerusalem Post says the new administration will bring A shift in tone.

The paper warns that the new government may be more outspoken in its opposition to Israel's settlement activities.

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