Obama draws warmer feelings than predecessor (AP)

[jefferson_dem]

Obama draws warmer feelings than predecessor

By ROBERT H. REID
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

Iraqis gather in a cafe in to watch news coverage of U.S. President Barack Obama's visit to Iraq in Najaf, 160 kilometers (100 miles) south of Baghdad, Tuesday, April 7, 2009. Cheered wildly by U.S. troops, President Barack Obama flew unannounced into Iraq on Tuesday and promptly declared it was time for Iraqis to "take responsibility for their country" after America's commitment of six years and thousands of lives. (AP Photo/Alaa al-Marjani)

BAGHDAD -- The last time an American president showed up in Iraq he was greeted with boos and shoes.

That, as they say, was then.

On Tuesday, Iraqis expressed warmth for a visiting Barack Obama. And in another sign the country is eager to cast aside the legacy of the former administration, a court reduced the jail term for the journalist who hurled his shoes at George W. Bush.

Never mind that President Obama spent just five hours on the ground and did not venture outside the sprawling U.S. military complex around Baghdad International Airport. Sandstorms made traveling into the capital difficult after he made a stopover on the way to Washington from his tour of Europe and Turkey.

Never mind that the new president's timetable for withdrawing U.S. troops is basically the same one accepted by the Bush administration during its final months in office.

Obama isn't Bush, and for many Iraqis that's good enough for now.

"The Iraqi people welcome the new American president in good faith, not like the former President Bush, who is rejected by all Iraqi people from the north to the south," Baghdad resident Rasheed al-Jumaili said.

Few Iraqis caught a glimpse of the president, and government television aired his appearance with Iraq's prime minister only after Air Force One took off for Washington.

Still, many Iraqis find Obama's style, including his openness to the Muslim world, a refreshing change from the previous administration, even though the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan continue.

<SNIP>

http://www.seattlepi.com/national/1107ap_ml_iraq_welcoming_obama.html

[lunatica]

1. Well Bush worked hard to earn their hatred.

Just like he earned every last ounce of hate here.

[JayMusgrove]

2. I guess the shoes flying at Bush was very indicative...

O I have to repeat this.... it really sums up Iraq and Bush.

""The Iraqi people welcome the new American president in good faith, not like the former President Bush, who is rejected by all Iraqi people from the north to the south," Baghdad resident Rasheed al-Jumaili said."


Music to my ears.

[TwilightGardener]

3. Can't believe that completely trashing their country and killing their citizens

on a whim didn't evoke the warm fuzzies for Bush. What's wrong with those people?

[DFW]

4. You beat me to it!

What's an invasion and trashing of your country, after all?