Obama Is Going To Need Our Help.

[liberalmuse]

Obama may be 'extraordinary man for extraordinary times': analysts

SYDNEY (AFP) – In the days since Barack Obama won an historic victory in the United States' presidential election, the world has presented him with a to-do list of astonishing proportions.

For starters, he has been asked to end wars, fix the global economy, rid the world of hunger, sort out the Middle East and save the planet from climate change. Oh, and if he can make the US a more civilised place with less of the aggression and swagger that accompanied his predecessor's administration, that would be appreciated too.

Almost as surprising as the weight of expectations on Obama's thin shoulders is the fact that a lot of people around the world, including cold-eyed academic analysts, believe he has a chance of meeting at least some of them.

"Given the sky high expectations on Obama, no mortal, no matter how far above the water he walks, could meet all those expectations," Geoffrey Garrett, head of the University of Sydney's US Studies Centre, told AFP.

"But let's say Obama meets the expectations on him 50 to 75 percent, that would still be an extraordinary achievement -- and I think he has got it in him."
Among the unprecedented challenges facing Obama, the top two are the US-led meltdown in the global economy and the so-called war on terrorism.
"Extraordinary times require extraordinary leadership -- and sometimes give birth to extraordinary leadership," said Garrett.

Among the unprecedented challenges facing Obama, the top two are the US-led meltdown in the global economy and the so-called war on terrorism.
"Extraordinary times require extraordinary leadership -- and sometimes give birth to extraordinary leadership," said Garrett. "The optimistic rendering would say Obama really is a once-in-a-generation politician. The world today calls for once-in-a-generation leadership and he can provide it."

When Obama takes office on January 20 -- as what one Australian newspaper called "commander-cool-in-chief" after he was pictured emerging from a gym in cap and shades -- he will inherit two wars of his own.

More here...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081110/pl_afp/uspoliticsobamaworld