A cathartic moment, a sudden change of vista and a vision of hope -- the election of Barack Obama as the next US president was all these things, despite some ominous signs of things to come, writes Hamid Dabashi

A clear US strategy in Iraq is urgently required to ward off a new surge of violence, but that is easier said than done, warns Saif Nasrawi

Nothing much has changed to reduce US-Russian tensions with the election of Obama -- yet, opines Eric Walberg

All thoughts -- serious and otherwise -- are on 20 January as Americans try to forget their many troubles, says Anayat Durrani

The election of Obama is not just a gain for the African American community; it is a step forward for all, writes James Zogby

What lies behind Obama's charismatic smile? asks Anayat Durrani

Obama's election may change strategic alliances between the US and the EU, predicts Mey Dudin

The former, yes; the latter, well don't hold your breath, advises Azmi Bishara

Obama is the best hope, argues Galal Nassar, for the Liberty Bell to ring once more

Across the Arab and Islamic world people hoped that Obama would win. Now that he has, he should listen to their views, writes Assem El-Kersh

Victory secured, Obama has a lot of work ahead to translate his stirring rhetoric into concrete policy, writes Bassem Hassan

If change is its watchword, the next US administration will have to tackle the root causes, not mere manifestations, of terrorism, writes Ayman El-Amir

By Salama A Salama

Listen to the people of the Middle East and allow them, too, to taste the joy of hope, Ibrahim Nawar counsels the next US commander-in-chief

It is now that Palestinians must set the agenda, embracing the only just solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict -- a single democratic state of all its citizens, writes John Whitbeck

With the world's hopes riding on him, just how Obama brings change to Washington affects us all, writes Hassan Nafaa

Elected on a promise of change, Obama may or may not bring any, writes Ramzy Baroud