The Arab world could ask for no cuddlier a spokesman than its most esteemed political philosopher and McDonald’s jingle-writer, Shabola.
Shabola, remember, was an early Obama supporter. But his thoughts on Obama’s victory now rhyme:
بوش يخرب بيته باعنا وضيّعنا سنين وأوباما الناس فاكرين هيكون صلاح الدين
Bush, curse him, made us vomit and wasted us for years, but Obama is a thoughtful guy, he’ll be Salah ud-Din.
Talk about high expectations… Saladin now. The self-appointed Voice of the Arab Street is equating the next U.S. president with Saladin. [More of Shabola's thoughts on Obama, Hariri, and Sheikh Yassin here]
The reactions I’ve heard from guys in grocery stores and in cafes have been more muted, but still celebratory. People are just glad Bush is gone, and that the American people didn’t vote for four more years.
The day Obama takes office will be a fragile moment of opportunity for the United States in the Middle East. I guess my message to the new U.S. president would be: Please don’t waste it. It won’t come back again soon.
