The U.S. election surprised even those who predicted a close race. One authority on probability equated it with the likelihood that a tossed coin would land on its edge—and remain upright! Suspicion has given way to angry accusations, motivated by bitterness and resentment. Internally, officials claim and citizens expect all wounds to heal and business to go on as usual. However, the world has been watching and evaluating the spectacle! Has the United States' image, and more importantly, its power and prestige, been compromised?

As noted in the November issue of World News and Prophecy, U.S. citizens have focused their attention inward over the past year, due to a protracted, competitive and divisive presidential campaign. Instead of the fracas dissolving into post-election harmony, it blossomed into a never-before-experienced (in the United States) contentiousness. Will the tight election results permanently harm the U.S. internally? A convincing majority of its citizens said, "No" in a November 26-27 poll conducted jointly by CNN, USA Today and Gallup. Since a democratic government's effectiveness is directly proportional to the confidence of its electorate, that's a strong indicator that the country will weather the crisis. (Of course, how much people come together and how well the major political parties are able to cooperate remains to be seen.)

There's a more important question to address: What effect has the election had on the United States' standing in the world community? "Phrases like 'shambles,' 'Mickey Mouse' and 'banana republic' have popped up in newspaper headlines around the world," reports T.R. Reid of the Washington Post foreign service in "The Whole World's Watching America's Presidential Follie...."

Some have suggested that the highly competitive electoral procedure damaged the country's international authority. Has the image of the United States been diminished before the world's nations to the point that the country has lost its effectiveness as the leader of the free world? Using a parody on the famous E.F. Hutton commercial, "When the new U.S. administration speaks, will anyone listen?"

Early indications are that many are ready, willing and eager to jump on the bandwagon of criticism of the United State.... Nations less wealthy than the United States (much of the world) and less powerful (all the remaining nations) reflect their resentment over U.S. dominance in political, economic and environmental world issue....

World press titters at the tallying

Some have been openly sarcastic over the impasse generated by the Florida vote count, recounts and related court challenge.... Fidel Castro offered to send "election monitors" to Florida, as did former Russian President Boris Yeltsin. A Russian television commentator, reporting on the Florida quagmire, said with a smirk, "Just like Russia!" London's Daily Mirror ran a front-page photo of Vice President Gore and Governor Bush over the headline "Forrest Chump...." India (where thousands have died during election campaigns!) has had much fun at U.S. expense. Even Italy, with its revolving door democracy, has joined the gallery of critic....

Excerpts from the world press lay bare the taunts—and something more.

The Belfast News Letter (U.K.) warns, "As democracy flourishes in places where it has been suppressed for too long, it is vital that the leader of the U.S. carries into the international arena the confidence and credibility associated with an indisputable mandate" [emphasis added throughout]. It's clear to all that no clear mandate exist....

Iranian criticism comes as no surprise. Former President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani declared, "The recent scandal in the U.S. election shows how hollow their democratic claims are, and that democracy is invalid there."

South Africa's Financial Mail categorically asserts that the U.S. presidency, and the country's influence, have suffered. "No doubt, it reassures Americans to take the view that the Presidential election fiasco reflects the closeness of the race rather than any intrinsic weakness in their electoral system. In fact, they are wrong.... In the long run, U.S. society won't suffer from this unedifying struggle. But the image of the presidency, and the whole body politic, will be tarnished. It's already suggested that [the new president] will find it hard to assert any moral superiority, especially abroad. But you can be sure he'll try."

Notice the thinly veiled resentment towards the United States, coupled with insinuations of a perceived haughtiness and self-righteousness on the part of the United States in its international dealing.... The point isn't to judge whether the United States has been so or not, but rather to observe the mood of the international community towards "Uncle Sam." The election has invited all to show their true sentiment....

Jibes reveal hard feelings

Beyond the comedy, one can hear serious voices labeling the United States as a hypocrite guilty of the weaknesses it has projected onto other.... Egyptian editor Samir Ragab posed, "Now can the U.S., the self-styled standard-bearer of democracy and freedom in the world, question the integrity of the Egyptian elections? Absolutely not" (ibid., Reid).

Reid notes that many Mexican commentators reflect the sting that country has felt from U.S. scolding. In their delight over a "Latin-American" type of muddle, they point out that the presidential election may have hurt the international image of the United State.... Political scientist Rafael Segovia put forward this thoughtful comment. "The United States is like the most rich and powerful man in the world, but in the end, still just a man."

Wounds opened between political parties and their supporters within the United States may well close over with little scarring. That's not likely to be the case with international denigration, for the election has changed the status quo. "[The presidential campaign] has left the playing field wide open for those whose vision is to oppose America to seek its destruction. The America-haters have all the energy now in Europe and the Middle East.... The notion that the very reason America has the prosperity it does is because of its values, institutions and deeply imbedded ideals goes unarticulated these days" ("Democracy in America Is Looking Pale" by Ching Cheong, November 10, 2000, Singapore Press Holdings).

United Arab Emirates' Gulf News was blunt in its analysis: "Both Republicans and Democrats are now preparing for a way of attrition which has already weakened the credibility of their electoral process and made Americans the laughing stock of the whole world. Countries which have in the past been lectured on anything and everything by the Americans—and this means a majority of the world's nations—are now gleefully poking fun at the Americans and their electoral process.... Americans should therefore brace for more uncertainty, mudslinging and a lot of jeering from an amused international community."

The Belfast Telegraph's lead editorial of November 10th summarized the perspective of a lot of nations: "The nation which likes to style itself as the greatest democracy in the world is having to come to terms with the fact that its electoral system is in shamble.... America is squirming, and if we are to be honest, the rest of the world is loving every minute of it" (quoted by Michael Moran, MSNBC in "Over There: Snickering and Dismay," November 17, 2000).

U.S. has friends and admirers

Other countries, some of which are used to armed uprisings and bloodshed over disputed elections in their homeland, have marveled at and praised the orderly manner of resolving the disputed U.S. presidential vote.

The Nation (Kenya) editorialized, "We cannot help compare our chaotic and pathetically unfair electoral practices with those of the U.S., which, however convoluted and incomprehensible they may seem to us, are at least conducted in a systematic, gentlemanly fashion."

The Irish Times voiced a similar acknowledgment, "Due and fair process, legally defined, is a central part of [the U.S.] political culture, with an exemplary appeal far beyond its shore...."

Israel's Jerusalem Post offered high praise: "The cliffhanger U.S. election may produce bemusement in the world, as the orderly transfer of power seems to be delayed and confused. But this glimmer of instability in the United States only highlights the fundamental strengths of the American system."

Self-interest motivates national comments

Nations are looking at the United States from the viewpoint of their own interest.... Ethnos (Greece) editors were transparent in their point of view—a sardonic appraisal that the election won't benefit them. "Experience teaches us that U.S. presidents come and go but the orientation of American foreign policy remains the same.... Whether a Republican or a Democrat becomes president, nothing will change for Greece. We know that by now."

Aside from their barbs about electoral procedure, Arab countries have also expressed a concern that any new U.S. administration would continue to favor Israel in its foreign policy.

Russian response, other than a few jibes, has also been to assess how likely policy shifts in a new U.S. administration will affect them. "In Russia, commentary has not reflected worry about an earth-shattering crisis; there have been more quips than criticism" (ibid., Reid).

Judging on the basis of what has been said thus far, the U.S. image has been smudged, but it is far from destroyed. While some nations have attempted to make political points by jabbing at the image of the United States, there is little evidence that its position of power and influence has been seriously diminished by the recent presidential election—bizarre though it was.

God's hand sustains U.S. supremacy

Why does the United States continue to dominate the world? A partisan response would say that it's due to the leadership of the current or previous administration.... We do not gainsay the fact that the people in key positions are important to any country. However, we recognize something that many past U.S. presidents have humbly acknowledged - that God's will is the critical determining factor in the country's prominence.

Daniel, an outstanding biblical book of history and prophecy, is a fascinating study in international politics and God's involvement in the rise and fall of nation.... One of the early world powers, the first such power from some perspectives, was the Babylonian Empire under the leadership of Nebuchadnezzar. An egotistical genius, Nebuchadnezzar. found himself stymied by a frighteningly realistic dream. His usual advisers were unable to help, and he turned to a young Daniel who had humbly claimed, "there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets" (Daniel 2:28).

It's been observed that successful people often have a deep-seated ego that enables them to reach further than the average person would attain. Self-image would compel such an individual to claim that the nation's great power was due to his personal leadership.

Daniel acknowledged that, "You O king, are a king of kings"—his leadership ability far exceeded that of any rival. Nonetheless, Daniel continued, Babylon's importance was due to God's hand. "For the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory" (Daniel 2:37).

The implication was that, great as Nebuchadnezzar. was, he was still just a man. How like Segovia's clear-headed summary of what he has learned from the U.S. presidential contest: "The United States is like the most rich and powerful man in the world, but in the end, still just a man."

Without doubt, the hand of God has lifted the United States to its current prominence, and His grace has allowed its standing to continue far beyond any greatness that could be attributable to outstanding leadership, national morality or intrinsic values in its citizenry.

The presidential election spectacle has afforded the nations of the world an opportunity to snicker and mock, but the United States will continue to dominate the world in the immediate future because of God's will. When God withdraws His sustaining hand—and He surely will—the jealousy and anger of the nations hinted at in the above commentaries will be unleashed with a passion. WNP

Additional source: Time Europe