World Celebrates Obama's Inauguration

(CBS)  In Kenya, the land of his father, they sang Barack Obama's name.

In Donegal, Ireland, they cheered in what claims to be the land of his distant cousin, and wrote new lyrics. "There's no one as Irish as Barack O'Bama!"

They rang the ceremonial bell in the town in Japan that bears his name. Yes, it's called Obama, Japan.

Never have so many felt so close, from so far away, CBS News correspondent Mark Phillips reports.

In Russia, one man said, "all of a sudden we have this smart guy running the United States."

The world seemed to stop to watch the man many see as their new leader too.

"Barack Obama really does seem to be the first American president who is also in many ways quite genuinely the world's president," said Constanze Stelzenmuller of the German Marshall Fund.

And he will inherit the world's problems. But Obama, perhaps more than any before him, is being carried along on a river of good will.

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For a more in-depth look at how some of America's friends and foes reacted to the inauguration of Barack Obama, see the latest from CBS News staff around the globe in our World Watch blog.

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"He seems to have an understanding of the way that all parts of the new world work, including in Africa, including in Asia," said Sir Jeremy Greenstock, a former British Ambassador to the United Nations. "It's not just a rebooting. I think a lot of us feel America needs new software and Barack Obama looks like he can provide new software."

Around the world, they listened most carefully when he spoke to them.

And in the village where his father was born, they may have cheered loudest of all.

Well, not everyone cheered. In Gaza and the West Bank they've seen American presidents come and go - and nothing change.

One resident of Ramallah said: "Writing a speech - it's so easy to write a speech. But it doesn't mean that what he is saying, and he's just a president and he's not going to do anything new in Palestine."

But elsewhere, he's already done something new.

In Paris, Maria Laloux said: "For me it's a miracle. Martin Luther Kind said, 'we shall overcome.' We did today."

At least for a day, he's done for the world what he's done for America - given it hope.

[liberalme]

It''''s great to see all the sore losers finally get their comeupance. And they really show their class and expertise by attacking Obama before he has a chance to prove his qualities. At least liberals gave Bush eight years to prove he was an idiot.



Posted by expatriate2 at 03:00 PM : Jan 21, 2009

Yeah, and it''s all in writing---every time he gave a speech! LOL

[liberalme]

exactly. Obama has 3 1/2 years, thats all, that is all the antichrist gets. Look out. There will be peace, but it will be a false peace. Then all he// will break loose and you will see the real antichrist.

Posted by croft1111

Wasn''t Bush the one who could see Putins soul? If that''s not anti-christ--Bush thinks he IS GOD!!

[libra217]

Bible prophecy speaks of this event...Man of middle eastern decent the world falls in love with..

Posted by rudedogrulz at 03:25 PM : Jan 21, 2009

Sorry to burst your bubble, but President Obama is NOT of Middle Eastern descent.

[jsd330]

Cutting aid to israel, Egypt and other middle eastern countries is a good start. Keep that money where it belongs.

posted by getoffmine1

Good post. That is what the U.S. needs to do cut off all the welfare to these other countries, we get nothing but problems from them in return.

[getoffmine1]

I see good signs already for Americans. Posted by getoffmine1 at 01:38 PM : Jan 21, 2009
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I saw the stock market fall below 8,000 yesterday...How can that be a good sign?

Posted by msay3 at 02:09 PM : Jan 21, 2009

It is up today. We need to start somewhere. Cutting aid to Israel, Egypt and other middle eastern countries is a good start. Keep that money here where it belongs.

[msay3]

I see good signs already for Americans. Posted by getoffmine1 at 01:38 PM : Jan 21, 2009
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I saw the stock market fall below 8,000 yesterday...How can that be a good sign?

[getoffmine1]

I see good signs already for Americans. Go to President Obama''s web site and he has a poll asking Americans what they think of aid to Israel.
http://citizensbriefingbook.change.gov/ideas/viewIdea.apexp?id=087800000004lmt&srPos=1&srKp=087&srS=1#comm
It looks like an overwhelming majority feel that aid is either to high or should not be given at all.
I find it encouraging that the President wants to hear from the majority, because we should always get our way.
It might be bad news for Israel, but as an American I say who cares? Let Israel solve her won problems.

[deathofusa]

N
ow leeana58, don''''t be silly. EVERYONE knows that D. Cheney is the antiChrist.
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Posted by raflin0010 at 12:37 PM : Jan 21, 2009


Nah, everyone knows that D. Cheney is Darth Vader.

[deathofusa]

Obama wants to create a huge Civilian Security Force
"We cannot continue to rely only on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that we''''ve set," he said Wednesday. "We''''ve got to have a civilian national security force that''''s just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded."
http://www.chicagotribune

Is this an attempt at an American version of the Hitler Youth?
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Posted by Hacker1001 at 07:52 AM : Jan 21, 2009


Sounds more like the Gestapo.

[leeanna58]

I''m glad that Obama is hailed world-wide as the President of the World. Maybe he is the Messiah after all. The whole thing is quite amazing. What a love story.

Or maybe he is the anti-Christ. Who knows?