Obama's Middle East Challenge

UPDATED ON: WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2009
16:34 MECCA TIME, 13:34 GMT
Courtesy Of Al-Jazeera

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Empire focuses on how the most powerful office in the world will now be occupied by an unlikely president at a critical time for the US both at home and abroad.

George Bush has handed over the reigns of power to Barack Obama amidst much criticism of current US foreign policy, particularly in the Middle East.

The most powerful man in the world may be new to the job but he has surrounded himself with establishment stalwarts.
The new administration has an old look to it, but President Obama's team will be tasked with implementing policies and practices that will seek to heal America in the minds of its own population and, to assuage the distrust felt in many other parts of the world.

We discuss the means by which such intentions will be enacted as well as asking if the Obama doctrine is any different to that which has gone before. What can the world really expect.

This episode of Empire was shown on Al Jazeera from 21 January 2009.