I don't think the people in the Middle East were ever going to let Bush and company revel in the joy of their little crusade. Bush simply appeared too arrogant with his own personal role in the whole thing and just rubbed people everywhere the wrong way. It's no small wonder the revolutions in Iran and elsewhere occurred after Bush's departure.

Not so much that I think people over there view Obama as 'one of their own', but I'm not sure even a strong war hero type like McCain (whose strong personality and history go over well in places like that) would have received the assistance that the Obama administration did.

In addition to the troops of course, AND the foundations set by the Bush administration in the war on terror, I think it's to the credit of the Obama administration for always trying to forge ties and offer a practical and pragmatic approach to foreign affairs.