Obama, Martinelli y el TPC

Betty Brannan Jaén
WASHINGTON, EU
economia@prensa.com

Según Inside U.S. Trade, una publicación que circula en el Congreso de Estados Unidos (EU), el mandatario Barack Obama llamó al presidente electo panameño, Ricardo Martinelli, el pasado 8 de mayo, para decirle que deseaba enviar el tratado de promoción comercial (TPC) de Panamá y EU al Capitolio en mayo.

Desde entonces, sin embargo, según el boletín, “funcionarios estadounidenses han señalado que los esfuerzos para resolver los temas tributarios han sido más difíciles de lo anticipado”. Agregó, “funcionarios tienen la esperanza de que Martinelli sea más flexible sobre [el tema tributario] que su antecesor, Martín Torrijos”.

Por otro lado, el diario Roll Call informó que los cabilderos que trabajan a favor del TPC están usando el argumento contrario: que Martinelli dará más problemas sobre el tema tributario que Torrijos. “Los que respaldan el acuerdo advierten que todo el plan podría hundirse si no es aprobado para fines de junio, cuando el presidente Torrijos abandone su cargo. Los cabilderos creen que el próximo gobierno panameño estará menos dispuesto a concluir el acuerdo, especialmente las disposiciones laborales y tributarias que la Cámara de Representantes está buscando”, declaró Roll Call.

El viceministro de Relaciones Exteriores designado, Melitón Arrocha, confirmó que hubo una llamada. “El objetivo principal fue felicitarlo por su reciente elección. También abordaron los principales temas de la agenda bilateral, pero no tengo mayores detalles”, dijo.

Hope for a new way forward with the Muslim world

Waleed Aly
January 22, 2009

IT WAS a sentence of astonishing density: "To the Muslim world: we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect."

This is the only remark in Barack Obama's inaugural speech directed by name to a specific part of the world, other than America. It expresses an urgency in seeking to mend these most damaged of America's international relationships.

And it does so with a rare diplomatic touch: instantly rejecting the approach of the Bush era — "a new way forward" — and conveying a deep understanding of why the global Muslim view of America has soured so terribly in recent years.

That is the genius of Mr Obama's newly articulated formula, "mutual interest and mutual respect".

Scarcely could there be a more succinct summary of everything George Bush's approach was not.

"Respect" especially is an immaculate choice of words.

Gallup polling of 35 Muslim majority countries published last year showed that their most pervasive gripe towards the West was a general feeling of being humiliated and treated as inferior.

What they craved more than anything was for the West to reverse its perceived "disrespect for Islam".

Mr Obama has either studied well or is receiving good advice.
That, of course, does not imply any radical policy shifts beyond the less militant tone.

America's stance on Israel, for instance, seems unlikely to shift significantly: both Mr Obama's chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, and his soon-to-be Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, are as pro-Israeli as anyone in Washington.

If any (unlikely) seismic shift awaits, it may be discerned in Mr Obama's message to autocratic regimes: "We will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist." Except, at least in the Muslim world, many of those clenched fists belong to US allies.

Is Mr Obama really prepared to apply pressure to them where Mr Bush was not? It would be a bold move, not least because democracy risks bringing anti-American forces to power in the short term.

But should he make it, Mr Obama might just win the Muslim hearts he apparently seeks. And as a "way forward", that's about as "new" as you can get.

Waleed Aly lectures in politics at Monash University. He was in Washington for the inauguration.

África celebra triunfo de Obama

Servicios Internacionales. —

África, el continente de donde es oriundo el padre de Barack Obama, retumbó con su triunfo en las elecciones primarias del Partido Demócrata en Estados Unidos, que lo convirtieron en el primer candidato presidencial afroamericano a la Casa Blanca. Su progenitor, del mismo nombre, nació en Kenia. Igual júbilo hubo en Yakarta, Indonesia, donde Obama tuvo parte de su crianza. Hispanoamérica también hizo suya la victoria de Obama por ser un representante de las minorías norteamericanas. Europa se ha declarado enamorada de su personalidad.

How McCain Benefits From a Longer Primary Race

The New York Times Article click here

Mitt Romney’s decision to quit the Republican race is terrific news for John McCain. It removes the challenger with both the money and the message to hurt John McCain politically, even if he couldn’t win the Republican nomination for himself. An expensive broadcast attack on Mr. McCain’s conservative credentials is the last thing the Arizona senator needs right now.

Mr. McCain does not, however, need the Republican race to end now — so long as it’s the right kind of Republican race. As it happens, that is the kind of race that Mike Huckabee can provide him. Two Huckabee aides said in fact the former Arkansas governor will remain in the race.
How can a longer primary campaign good for Mr. McCain? So long as it’s civil, it keeps him in the news as a winner in Republican primaries, and provides a forum for Mr. McCain to continue traveling the country and spreading his message in a relaxed, unthreatening political environment. Think of it as the heavyweight boxing champion drawing TV coverage for workouts with his sparring partner. Mike Huckabee has so far shown neither the inclination to attack John McCain, nor the ability to expand his support significantly beyond his base of conservative Christians. That means his chances of actually taking the Republican nomination away from John McCain are much closer to none than to slim.
And why would Mike Huckabee want to run such a friendly campaign? Because he knows all this, and would like to spend the next few weeks building the case for his selection as John McCain’s vice presidential nominee.