Originally posted by khaltek
The funny thing is, Obama will probably be good for everyone concerned, seeing as he is very much moderate and less hawkish than his predecessor.
I am not saying you are wrong, but you can't just declare Obama will be good for everyone because he is less hawkish. Being less hawkish could actually be the wrong way to go in the region.

A very good point can be made that the culture of the Middle East is HEAVILY based on demonstrations of strength. It is extremely possible that any signs of weakness will be taken advantage of. That has certainly happened in the past. Jimmy Carter's presidency is a perfect example of that.