Democracy: A New Hope?

It was previously reported that Democratic Presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama was a member of the Kenyan Luo ethnic community down his estranged father's side. This family tie has now been reported to connect Sen. Obama with the Kenyan Opposition Leader Raila Odinga, who recently fought in the national election against the incumbent Kenyan leader, President Mwai Kibaki.

In an admirable attempt to bolster his foreign policy credentials, Sen. Obama has reportedly spoken to both leaders at the centre of the crisis which followed the now alledgedly fraudulant election. Although currently unsure what significance Sen. Obama's comments have had; in embodying multiculturalism Sen. Obama is able to weigh into international crises where, in the last decade, America has lacked credibility (see GITMO, water-boarding, and other anti-democratic activities) and been unable to leverage a viable solution.

Through actions such as this Obama may be tactically drawing a line between current norms in US foreign policy, which Bush has entrenched, and Republic candidates and Sen. Clinton are unwilling to resist.

Here's to hoping that the next US President's Foreign Policy Doctrine will be tough mediation and not shock and awe annihilation.