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With barely time to savour his triumph, Barack Obama has been confronted with various international crises to test his mettle.The U.S. President-elect faces threats from Russia, Israel and Afghanistan as it emerged his election team's computers were hacked by a 'foreign entity' during the election.Officials at the FBI and the White House believe the hackers sought to gather information on the evolution of both his and Senator John McCain's policy positions with the idea of using that information in negotiations with the next administration.Obama technical experts later speculated the hackers were Russian or Chinese, and security ended the intrusion, Newsweek reported.The first of the challenges thrown at the President-elect, who received his first national security intelligence briefing yesterday, came from the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.He threatened to base warheads along the Polish border if Obama goes ahead with a Bush administration plan to create a missile shield in Eastern Europe.Then Israel warned Obama last night that his claim that he was ready to open talks with Iran could be seen in the Middle East as a sign of weakness.Furthermore, Afghanistan's president Hamid Karzai demanded that Obama 'put an end to civilian casualties' by changing U.S. military tactics to avoid airstrikes in the war on the Taliban. He spoke out after seven wedding party guests were accidentally killed by an American airstrike.It was as he was locked away in his Chicago home, that Obama received his first national intelligence briefing as he wrestled with appointments for his Cabinet.During the day he ventured out twice, once to visit his local gym and then his downtown offices.Each time he was escorted by a convoy of black vehicles carrying heavily armed secret service agents.Aides said he planned no public appearances until later in the week.It also emerged that both Obama and McCain's computers were hacked into by a 'foreign entity' during the campaign.Newsweek magazine revealed the FBI and the Secret Service had been called in, with one agent warning the Obama campaign: 'You have a problem way bigger than what you understand... You have been compromised, and a serious amount of files have been loaded off your system.'Federal agents told Mr Obama's team in late August that Mr McCain's campaign computer system had been similarly compromised, with a McCain aide confirming to Newsweek that the computer system had been hacked and the FBI involved.The hacking may have been Obama's first skirmish with what was believed to be a foreign entity.Russian President Dmitry Medvedev was the first to lay down a challenge to America's new leader-by increasing tension in a stand-off reminiscent of the Cold War.In a provocative speech from the Kremlin, he threatened to base warheads along the Polish border if Mr Obama goes forward with a Bush administration plan to create a missile shield in Eastern Europe.Then Israel warned last night that the new U.S. Commander-in-Chief's campaign claim that he was ready to open talks with Iran could be seen in the Middle East as a sign of weakness.After eight years of staunch support from President Bush, the Israelis are now watching Mr Obama closely - even though he does not take power until January - looking for indicators as to how he will handle the nuclear threat from Tehran.'We live in a neighbourhood in which dialogue - in a situation where you have brought sanctions and you then shift to dialogue - is liable to be interpreted as weakness,' said Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni.Asked if she supported any U.S. talks with Iran, she quickly said: 'The answer is no.'In a step that will further increase Israel's anxiety about Obama, Tehran announced last night that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had broken a 29-year tradition and sent his congratulations to the President-elect-the first time an Iranian leader has offered such wishes since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Ahmadinejad congratulated the Democrat on 'attracting the majority of voters in the election'.He said he hoped Obama will 'use the opportunity to serve the (American) people and leave a good name for history' during his term in office...By David Gardner
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