More comments on the Obama speech, the crisis in Egypt, Lebanon and other international issues can be found on Twitter, @GugaChacra.
Sputnik Moment. The president admitted that the U.S. needs to innovate and to invest in education and infrastructure in order to compete with China and India. The two Asian countries have advanced their education of children in math and science. Brazil was not mentioned. It may be part of BRIC, but Brazilians are still not put in the same league.
Travel to Brazil. Finally, after two years and having been to every other country in the world, Obama decided to stop ignoring South America and will visit the continent for the first time. Besides El Salvador in Central America, he will go to Brazil and Chile in March. And, ironically, he said that he will launch a new Alliance for Progress. It is the same name as the initiative begun by President John F. Kennedy in 1961, which was created to establish cooperation between North and South America.
Arab World. To my understanding, Obama sent a message to Egypt and other dictatorships in the region, in his speech supporting Tunisia: “… the will of the people proved more powerful than the writ of a dictator. And tonight, let us be clear: The United States of America stands with the people of Tunisia and supports the democratic aspirations of all people.” (http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/01/25/remarks-president-state-union-address)
Israel and Palestine. I think that the president, like much of international public opinion, is tiring. Let’s not even mention the conflict. Not even a simple phrase like “An independent, democratic and viable Palestinian state living, side by side with Israel, in peace and security … remains the only solution to the Arab–Israeli conflict and to the long-term stability of the entire region and the world.”
(http://www.un.int/brazil/speech/10d-mlrv-csnu-middleeast-2107.html)
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