The Arab world is sending a blunt message to Barack Obama: Mr. President, you have disappointed us. Your soaring speeches do not match your policies. You frustrated our hopes. You are no better than George W. Bush.

This comes through in two separate polls released in the United States this week, one from Zogby International and one from the Pew Research Center, and prompt a question: Could anyone have matched the exaggerated expectations and effusive advance praise that were showered on Mr. Obama after he won the presidency in 2008?

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