What is Obama to do?

While checking out the A1 section of the Times today, I was instantly drawn to the “World of Advice for Obama on Foreign Policy” article. Centered smack dab in the middle of the paper, it was an easy way to grab at my attention. The clever pun of a ‘world’ of advice also told me it was an international issue (important!)

The lead-which rattled off the unrelenting demands of foreign nations-, built up a sense of the impending global chaos that Obama’s administration will all too soon face. The reader is left to wonder- Well what next? Then proceed to finish up the article to get their questions answered.

The article, which focuses more primarily on foreign efforts to sway the U.S.’s new administration, outlines several abrupt changes in policy. In North Korea, for example, international inspectors are suddenly not allowed to take samples from nuclear tests sites.

I was disappointed at the vague tone of the article. Obama’s responses to ‘talks’ with foreign administration was not really explained at any length. The article was also somewhat ‘jumpy’ in that it narrowed in on Obama, and then fanned out to international policies.

Though the story seemed to tackle the main points, I would have organized it differently. I would have included a quote much earlier along in the article. The first quote was actually located at the end of the column. That is a lot of facts to muddle through for busy readers!

I was surprised to know that the radical change in policies is normal during a presidential transition. Yet the article stresses that this election will bring far greater change, with Obama’s different approach to foreign policy.