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.

Israel bids goodbye to the Cease Fire

Allegedly in response to repeated rocket attacks from Gaza - though I wonder if it has more to do with the election battle with Netanyahu - Prime Minster Ehud Olmert ordered massive air strikes in the Gaza Strip. The attacks were on Hamas, and included a number of quite specific targets.

Black smoke billowed over Gaza City, where the dead and wounded lay scattered on the ground after more than 30 air strikes destroyed several security compounds, including two where Hamas was hosting graduation ceremonies for new recruits.

Among the dead were the Hamas-appointed police chief, Tawfiq Jabber, the head of Hamas's security and protection unit, and the governor of central Gaza, according to medical workers.

If anyone thought President-Elect Obama would be entering office able to focus on a single crisis, it is time to revise that opinion. Here is hoping Obama's team can handle both a sagging economy, a war in Iraq, and a near-war in Israel all at the same time.