Editorial Team: A civil society initiative is working to reopen the Amerika Haus Berlin, where permanent activities were suspended in 2006. A two month series of panel discussions about the US elections of 2008 brought the house back to life, and showed the potential of this open meeting space.
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David Neil Lebhar: While the race between Obama and McCain is too close to call, US voters and the world must realize that the two candidates’ foreign policy positions are not especially different. Furthermore, due to economic instability, domestic concerns, and a shifting geo-political balance, the next president will have to react to international issues through re-defined multilateralism.
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Colin Powell’s endorsement of Barack Obama has demanded the headlines. ++ While endorsements can be forgotten, his other message should not. ++ Obama is not a Muslim, nor an Arab, but “What if he is? Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country?” ++ Where Obama failed - by not knocking down the rumors for fear of giving credence to the idea that if they were somehow true, they
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McCain’s perception of the Middle East conflict deems Israel a critical ally. ++ McCain accepts the military facet of the conflict, while Obama considers diplomacy the tool to triumph over a minority of Islamic extremists. ++ The root cause of Islamic terrorism is also disputed: McCain believes it is an ideological conflict, and Obama assumes that it is driven by poverty and despair. ++ Obama
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A McCain victory could have consequences that reach far beyond party politics. ++ Enormous numbers of young voters support Obama, a generation that could easily become cynical should this seemingly obvious election go sour. ++ Likewise, African Americans could conclude that if Obama can’t do it, no black American ever will. ++ Moreover, the repercussions around the world could be more radical;
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