But there was little mention of
America's Continental allies or foreign concerns in his address to Congress last night. It was, instead, a
time for words on the economy; it was a time to address the financial
tsunami that has washed away everything in its wake; it was a time for
President Obama to to help calm the fears closest to America's heart.

The world will have to wait.

And
so it should. Dealing with the problems inside America's borders should
be any president's first responsibility. He has promises to keep to his
own constituents. But the world will not wait for long, and when
President Obama turns his eyes toward foreign affairs he will see a
host of issues clawing for attention.

Iraq is certainly the
most noticeable, and the world is still waiting to see if Obama will
make good on his promises. So far, those promises look likely to be
delayed. The Guardian reported today that Obama is extending his
timeline to withdraw from Iraq by three months, with an
announcement coming Friday. Next is Afghanistan, which Obama will need
to work out with Brown and NATO officials, since
British troops currently dominate the military forces there. Then there
are the nuclear vibes coming from North Korea and Iran. The
Arab-Israeli conflict will give him plenty to deal with. China is a can
of worms. Russia, an ever-ominous force.

Obama skimmed over his
long foreign policy "to-do" list last night, stating that his
administration is currently "reviewing" policies on the wars in both
Iraq and Afghanistan, forging "a new and comprehensive strategy for
Afghanistan and Pakistan to defeat al-Qaida and combat extremism," working "toward a secure and lasting peace between Israel and
her neighbors" by appointing an envoy specific to the cause, and
strengthening "old alliances" as well as forging "new ones to combat
terrorism, nuclear proliferation, "pandemic disease," "cyber threats"
and "crushing poverty."

He finished his world overview with a few points on the coming G-20 summit, which Britain is hosting on April 2nd:

"We are working with the nations of the G-20 to restore confidence in
our financial system, avoid the possibility of escalating
protectionism, and spur demand for American goods in markets across the
globe. For the world depends on us to have a strong economy, just as
our economy depends on the strength of the world's."

During
the summit, Obama will be faced with proposals from the European Union
and asked for his support. A group of European leaders will be pitching
an economic proposal crafted by the EU, which includes harsher
consequences for the offshore "tax havens" that allegedly harbor an estimated $7 trillion in untaxable funds and overall
tighter market regulation.

For years, the European Union has
been craving more engagement with American leaders and more recognition
as a global power. Hopes were high during election season for a new
administration that would have a less insular perspective than the
last and reach out to foreign allies as confidants and advisers. Obama
spoke to that desire last night, stating that America is "showing the
world that a new era of
engagement has begun." The president added, "For we know that America
cannot meet the threats
of this century alone, but the world cannot meet them without America."
For the European Union, these words suggest the potential of a shifting
dynamic in the western world, one in which "global interdependence," as
one EU official defined it, is more important than dominant power. The
hope in Europe is that America will rescind some the arrogance of the
Bush years and work in partnership with the rest of the world, allowing
outside voices to inform decision making.

Obama
was rushed by crowds of eager politicians as he left the House chamber, each
wanting to shake his hand or catch his eye. It was an appropriate
image, defining his relationship with the rest of the world in the
years to come. There is a lot to do. Too much, it seems, for one man or
one administration. For now, just keeping his head above the sea of
outstretched hands is going to be hard work for America's new president.