Memo To World: Barack Obama is not yet president

There has been a storm of criticism of President-Elect Barack Obama over his silence on the subject of Israel's action in the Gaza Strip. International commentators, especially those in Britain and the Arab world, are furious that during a crisis of this magnitude, the president-elect takes the time to go on vacation and says nothing substantive to the Press.

Arab commentators and editorialists say there is growing disappointment at Obama's detachment - and that his failure to distance himself from George Bush's strongly pro-Israeli stance is encouraging the belief that he either shares Bush's bias or simply does not care.

The Al-Jazeera satellite television station recently broadcast footage of Obama on holiday in Hawaii, wearing shorts and playing golf, juxtaposed with scenes of bloodshed and mayhem in Gaza. Its report criticising "the deafening silence from the Obama team" suggested Obama is losing a battle of perceptions among Muslims that he may not realize has even begun.

While part of me wants to snidely point out that this is the problem with running on "change" and not policy, I really have to remind the world Barack Obama is not president yet. Asking him to step up and begin taking action is like asking for a violent coup in the USA. Until January 19, George W. Bush is still President and official American foreign policy is set by him. And Barack Obama - and the American people - understand this. An orderly transition of power is key to a successful democratic republic. And the fact that Obama remains silent at this time merely raises his reputation among those who would otherwise be his political foes.

So, foreign powers, please stop criticizing Obama on this point and start wondering why, after years of complaining about American interventionism, your own governments are not acting but instead standing around waiting for America to intervene.