The man is in office for only three days now, but - what a relief: substance and style differ drastically not only from his predecessor but from the common image of a typical politician as well. Barack Obama transforms the rules of the political leadership game by taking the red pill - to speak in terms of The Matrix.

Just some thoughts on the inaugural address and on the values it communicated:

• Openness: As the International Herald Tribune has pointed out the new president’s family members speak of a number of different languages like English, Indonesian, French, Cantonese, German, Hebrew and African languages including Swahili, Luo and Igbo. And many members of the new administration also have strong connections to foreign countries which should support multilateral politics as well. “For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness… We say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world’s resources without regard to effect.  For the world has changed, and we must change with it. “

• Truth: Obama addresses problems openly. “Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real.  They are serious and they are many.  They will not be met easily or in a short span of time.” No blaming of others. No illusions.

• Ethics: “We reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals.” Like it was expected, one of Obamas first measures was to stop the violation of international law in Guantanamo. And torture is not an option any more.

• The power of persuasion: Reclaiming leadership not by military force but by the power of something I would call an “open source intelligence mindset”. That means: watch the world, analyze processes and structures, prepare for consequences - and then act in line with one’s own values while explaining why and to what end: “We seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect.” And that absolutely does not work when you divide the rest of the world into friend or foe or use any other one-dimensional measure.