Taking It On The Road

All eyes on Obama. Has slogans, will travel. He and his campaign have been inordinately successful thus far in persuading the voting American public of the youth and educated demographic that he's their man. He's different, his agenda is forward-looking and socially emancipating. He's the man for their season of national agony. And those Americans who keep abreast of international news must most certainly be aware that all eyes are on America.

In fact, Europe and Asia and the Middle East appear to be holding their collective breath in admiration and anticipation. What a bold move America is demonstrating; that it is capable of rising above the nasty spectre of racial discrimination to embrace a candidate for the highest office of the land whose personal history embodies all those traits that America most fears. Foreignness is anathema to presidential aspirations.

Middle-of-the-road with a hard nudge at the right crook just before you reach that great American divide, will do it. Normally, that is. But really incredibly twisted decision-making that compelled the country to follow its leader on yet another international invasion of yet another country that happened to tweak its nose, and that great unstoppable free market gone awry has left a taint, a very bad taste in the mouth of America.

Surely we can do better! went the anguished cry of a population sick of sending their youth off to war. Look at us, we're really suffering! went the anguished cry of a demographic that felt it too was as entitled to all the pleasures and real estate ownership and the consumer goods of those who could pay for them, although it stretched their resources far too tightly. Living for the moment, as consumers, and dying for the country's honour, as military conscripts.

So when Barack Obama stands tall and righteously proclaims himself America's long awaited messiah, one can almost imagine that nimbus cradling his courageous head. Promises, promises, but no experience? New to the international stage? He's off to Iraq, Afghanistan, Jordan, Israel, Germany, France and Britain. So there, ye of little faith.

Gone he is, to lavish upon those destinations his undeniable charm and charisma, his valiant offering of self as a gift to America. By which American pride will be restored and respect for that great country's accomplishments and history will be restored to pride of place in the world body which has of late seen it instead as tediously tired and flagrantly bullying. Although nothing much new there.

The "we" in "We are the people we've been waiting for" is travelling abroad to resuscitate America's image abroad. Actually, to give hope to the international elite that a more amenable, less combative United States will evolve. Less fractious and obstreperous on the world stage. More studied and nuanced in its approach to the vexatious problems constantly erupting; social, political, religious, geographical.

He will slip U.S. troops out of Iraq and leave a satisfied Nouri al-Maliki to offer a one-hand clap to American intervention and diplomacy. Those troops will shift into Afghanistan where more body bags will be shipped, just in case. But the timetable for departure will be set, and no mistake. He will take himself to the West Bank - avoiding Gaza - and assure Mahmoud Abbas that America will not abandon the Palestinian people in their time of need.

He will visit the Wailing Wall and slip a piece of white paper into the crevices there, chiding God for allowing the travesty of injustice to carry on so wearyingly long. He will explain confidentially to Shimon Peres and Ehud Olmert and Ehud Barak that indivisibility needn't necessarily mean sole guardianship, that flexibility and open options are the order of his day, along with day-later corrections.

He will embrace Nicolas Sarkozy and fist-bump that energetic busy-body, nudge Gordon Brown as they cross one another's paths, while assuring Angela Merkel that he would never have dreamed of campaigning for public office at the Brandenburg Gate; awkward miscommunication does occur, alas. He will be careful and measured, and statesmanlike, eminently so. And the American public will devour all the plaudits and gushing praise reported by Senator Obama's touring U.S. reporting entourage.

There's nothing quite like U.S.-style show-business. It's like no other business, until compared with politics.