America's global election

A hopeful, confident, generous-spirited young leader is contending for
the presidency of the United States. But the country's position and
reputation in the world today evokes none of these adjectives. This
world - the crises in Georgia and Pakistan may just be the start - is crowding
in on the election. Iran could yet provide the statutory "October
surprise". In short, America may - may - be ready for Barack Obama,
but the whole world is watching. Could it even have the decisive "vote"? Godfrey
Hodgson, always worth reading, identifies a crucial factor in the campaign.