President Obama shines at Americas summit

[cal04]

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/obama-shines-at-americas-summit-20090419-aazo.html

US President Barack Obama was on Saturday basking in the glow of his promise to build a "new chapter" with Latin America and an offer to start talks with Cuba.

Obama, who was attending the America's summit in Trinidad and Tobago, was warmly welcomed wherever he went -- including by one of the United States' fiercest critics, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

(snip)
Most of the leaders from other countries represented seemed keen to greet or be seen close to him.

There was no doubting Obama's popularity outside the summit, too.

In Trinidad, a nation with a large part of the population descended from African slaves, the United States' first black president was seen as a hero.

That was in contrast with the reception given to Bush at the last Summit of the Americas in Argentina in 2005. Then, Bush dodged anti-US protests and left early after an altercation with Chavez.

[Mz Pip]

1. Diplomacy combined

with intelligence is a winning combination. How terrific is it to see our leader greeted with open arms as opposed to clenched fists.

[theoldman]

2. Obama keeps amazing me.

I worry about him stumbling but he keeps on trucking. A person can only be popular all over the world by doing the right thing for the majority of people. Bush was only popular with a few people in the US.

[dbackjon]

3. This is one area that Obama is excelling at - great to see.