As seen from the left, both in the United States and in Europe, Barack Obama's recent trip was a signal failure.

What, it may be asked, did the left expect of him?

They expected a clear repudiation of President George Bush's war policy. But Obama is subtle, and it is too much - especially in the midst of a presidential campaign - to expect clarity of him. The left has already chosen sides: Palestinians against Israel; peace, almost at any price, against war; anti-Americanism against pro-Europeanism.

A view from the left: Obama's European Trip

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