For Egyptians ‘on the street’, Obama has become exceptionally popular. Euphoric cries of "Obama, Obama!" greet this semester’s crop of students at the American University in Cairo, reflecting a popular expectation that "Obama will fix it," ‘it’ referring to anything from the global financial crisis to the recent Gaza conflict.
I have a personal correspondent in Egypt - my Daughter. She's in advanced international studies (Institut de Hautes Etudes) in Geneva on scholarship (the school that graduated Kofi Annan many years ago), and is currently working temporarily with a German "Think Tank" with offices in Cairo. She speaks English, German and French, but is completely bumfuzzled with Arabic.
From the Foundation web site, translated by google:
The Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation is a nonprofit, political foundation, based in Germany. With its programs in Germany and abroad, it contributes to the political dialogue and understanding between cultures. Below is an overview of our current activities and projects.
I asked her recently what she was hearing there about Obama, and it turned out that that was her task this last week or so - to assemble some information for publication on exactly that topic. You can read the whole thing Here, Though the Site is principally in German, the English comment piece is her work as an analyst and translator. Below I've excerpted some of the highlights...
For many in Egypt, the new American President gives America’s image abroad a new lease on life — a new face, a new administration, and finally an opportunity to escape the unpopular presidency of George W. Bush. However, the enthusiastic optimism, implying Obama will be able to fix everything, is contrasted by the stark pessimism of "business as usual." In the end, the tone in Egypt remains "wait and see."
As the Daily News’s (Egypt) Abdel-Rahman Hussein noted, "Obama’s actions, not words, are what will matter to Egypt."
Seems Obama's inaugural speech went over rather better in the rest of the world than the sort of lackluster pundit reception here:
The optimism regarding Obama in Egypt dovetails with the favorable reception greeting the new president across the world. Egyptians hope for a new beginning of US-Egyptian relations: "Obama’s inspiring inaugural speech with its uplifting message of hope for a better tomorrow has infused citizens all over the world with a renewed desire to be agents of change," enthused Rania al Malky, Chief Editor of the Daily News Egypt, in a January 24th editorial.
Here's one of what I think will be an immediate influence of Obama's election:
Obama’s election and inauguration represent for Egyptians an example of democratic regime change—lamented by critics in Egypt as not even being the exception to the rule, referring to President Mubarak’s quarter century in power (Daily News Egypt, 23 Jan 09). Raina al Malky, the Daily’s editor-in-chief, summarized what the American election represents for Egyptians: "Youth in Egypt long to experience the fulfillment of having their voices heard, of knowing that they have made a difference."
And Obama's initial orders on taking command had the desired symbolism in the middle east:
Egyptians have positively viewed the closure of the US facility at Guantanamo: "Obama’s decision will go a long way to restoring faith in the United States," claimed an article in the Daily News Egypt. The closure is seen as a "step in the right direction," (Al-Ahram Weekly, 22-28 Jan 09).
And finally, the end of the piece - maybe irrational exuberance?
The ambivalent perception of America’s new president in Egypt, wavering between skepticism and optimism is best reflected by a popular joke circulating in Cairo: A Taxi driver looking with dismay at his car, once again broken down on the side of the road, is cheered up by a bystander with the words: "Obama will fix it."