Saving the world in his spare time: Obama and Kenya.

[Occam Bandage]

(Just in contrast to a rather hateful little thread elsewhere.)

He is a busy man, what with the White House to win, but Barack Obama can still make time to lend his niceness to places that need it. Kenya, the home of his late father, is in turmoil. The president, Mwai Kibaki, says he won a surprise re-election last month. The opposition leader, Raila Odinga, says Mr Kibaki cheated.

There is ample evidence of foul play. In several places, on-the-spot counts showed Mr Odinga winning, but the results were changed before being announced nationally. Mr Odinga's tribe, the Luo, are furious. Many have taken up arms. At least 500 people have been killed, some of them while seeking shelter in churches, and 200,000-plus have fled their homes.

In between campaign stops, Mr Obama is trying to help. He broadcast an appeal for calm on Voice of America. “Despite irregularities in the vote tabulation, now is not the time to throw strong democracy away,” he said. “Now is the time for this terrible violence to end.” He spoke with Mr Odinga by telephone, urging him to meet Mr Kibaki without preconditions to effect a reconciliation. He has apparently tried to get in touch with Mr Kibaki, too, but without success.

Mr Obama's father was of the same tribe as the opposition leader. Mr Odinga even claims to be related to the Obamas, though Mr Obama has not confirmed this. Mr Obama's loyalties, however, are post-tribal: he wants, characteristically, both sides to sit down and talk about it. Kenyans will at least listen to him. They usually prefer their leaders somewhat older than Mr Obama, but they will make an exception for someone who still has a chance of soon becoming the most powerful man in the world. Whether he can bring peace in his spare time is another question, though. Luos joke bitterly that America will have a Luo president before Kenya does.

http://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10498963

[Occam Bandage]

1. kick

[mckeown1128]

2. K&R

[cooolandrew]

3. It shows how much Barack can handle at the same time. He can juggle many issues at once.

[DeepModem Mom]

4. K&R