When Hattan Alghamdi came to America, he experienced something he never expected.
It was an experience he said he wishes the rest of the world could know.
"The people in America are absolutely the friendliest people in the world, really, I mean the whole world," Alghamdi said. "I don't think people around the world really understand how nice Americans are."
Alghamdi, a senior from Saudi Arabia studying industrial technology, said the reason the friendliness came as a surprise was because of the war in Iraq and military presence in the Middle East.
He said seven years of war is too much for people in the Middle East and in America. For people not in the Iraq and Iran regions, he said it is impossible to comprehend the amount of innocent lives either lost or affected by the war.
But if America wants to rebuild its image in the Middle East, Alghamdi said Sen. Barack Obama is the key.
"Most people in Saudi Arabia want Obama as president because he brings hope for peace," he said. "First, you must fix problems within your own country, then go outside to help. I think Obama will do that."
Though Alghamdi said he said he supported Obama and his desire to remove troops from Iraq quickly, he said he thinks Sen. John McCain's cautiousness is not unwarranted.
Alghamdi said the turmoil in the Middle East was bad before the United States invaded Iraq and if troops were to leave today, it would be even worse.
"I think the army should leave eventually, but they have to be careful because of the mess of the situation," he said. "If troops left Iraq tomorrow, there would be no Iraq left."
Naseer Mohammed, a graduate student studying computer sciences from India, agreed Obama would be the nominee he would vote for if he could.
Mohammed said his country's relationship with the United States has remained strong, but Obama would provide exciting changes.
"Relations continue to improve even with the reign of Bush," Mohammed said. "I just think if Obama is president he would help here and in India. He is young, energetic, educated and wants to make changes."
As far as the war goes, Mohammed said he understands America needed to do something about Saddam Hussein and Al-Qaeda, but said he thought the mission has lost all focus.
"I wish the war would end," Mohammed said. "There is no reason American soldiers and innocent people have to keep dying."
Abdullah Al Mari, a graduate student from Saudi Arabia in management information systems said he favored Obama because McCain seems like a military man and the next move by the United States in the war on terror is too crucial.
Al Mari said the growing tension between Iran and the United States has major consequences for his home country.
If America invades Iran, Al Mari said he worries the threats made from Iran to Saudi Arabia could come true.
"Saudi Arabia is right next to Iran and all they have to do is launch a few missiles and it could destroy us," Al Mari said. "Obama has said he wants to talk to these countries and not invade them, which I think would help a lot of people."
Jeff Engelhardt can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 268 or jengel@siu.edu.
