by eburburan

Created on: June 30, 2009   Last Updated: July 06, 2009

The obvious answer to the above question is yes, as our image under eight years of the Bush-Cheney administration had sunk to lows never before seen. Simply put Obama has nowhere to go but up.

Our misguided adventure into Iraq; combined with the previous administration's definition of American Exceptionalism as meaning that the standards of International Law, which we expect other countries to adhere to, don't apply to the United States has caused the citizens of nations once friendly to view Americans as both arrogant and ignorant.

Our insistence upon the right to invade foreign nations upon our sole determination that a country is a threat to American security has alienated many around the world. Our actions in imprisoning citizens of sovereign nations without any form of trial or hearing for indefinite periods of time is viewed negatively by those living abroad.

What angers many overseas is the hypocrisy exhibited by a Bush administration that talks endlessly of the "rape rooms" and "torture chambers" of Saddam Hussein. This same administration though justifies its own use of torture as being a necessary tool in its so-called "War on Terror."

Sadly it's individual Americans who are forced to travel overseas that have suffered from the misguided policies of the previous administration. Formerly Americans were proud of our country when traveling abroad. As a result of the Bush-Cheney administration we now in many cases pretend we are Canadian.

The fruit of our arrogance has been the desertion of our allies in Iraq, many of whom are NATO members. This has served to weaken an alliance, which in the face of a resurgent Russian Federation may be facing critical tests of solidarity in the coming years. Mr. Putin, the real President of Russia has sensed this disunity and is taking advantage of the opportunity presented to assert Russian influence in areas that border that country's large geographical boundaries. These territories provide access to much of the world's natural resources. The fall of the Soviet Union was in large part caused by the economic stresses associated with the cold war combined with the precipitous decline in the price of oil which occurred in the mid-eighties. Putin no doubt senses the opportunity to turn the tables upon his old adversaries by dominating that region of the globe.

Based upon every poll taken in Europe prior to the November election, there was no doubt that Europeans favored the election of Obama by wide margins. Obama has seized upon this using his popularity to begin the painful process of rebuilding the bridges burned by the reckless cowboy arrogance of the Bush-Cheney administration.

The election of an African-American President has shown to the world that racism in our country has to a large extent subsided. Obama's presidency is a message to the world that once again the United States is ready and able to provide both strong and moral leadership to the community of nations.

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