Communication Beat

Obama’s impending visit to Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel and the Palestinian territories in the West Bank has generated a lot of interesting buzz. Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama will be in the Middle East beginning July 22. While in the Middle East, the Democratic nominee will meet with Israeli President Shimon Peres and other prominent Israeli political personalities. Obama will also meet with Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority President. Earlier in the campaign, Senator John McCain criticized Obama for his failure to visit Iraq in a long time. Now, it seems like McCain has changed his mind as he and the Republicans, are calling the trip a political stunt and a major media event. Obama’s trip will certainly be a media circus as it has been reported that at least 3 major broadcast reporters will be joining him. However, his arrival in Iraq might be met with conflicting emotions due to his support for the withdrawal of U.S. troops. Though many Iraqis share his dream of the pulling out of American forces in the country, many are also confused because it might lead to chaos. Others are more concerned about the possible loss of security gains once the troops pull out. Whether Obama’s visit will be met with praise or conflict, at the end of the day, what will matter most will be its impact on American voters.