"So,
one hundred days have passed. What will Obama be able to boast of on his next
“anniversary”- in a half year or a year? Having taken the Oval Office, Obama finds
himself in a very different role that that of a senator or presidential
candidate. On him depends the future of America. And yes, in fact, the future
of the entire world. It is he who must decide. Such is the solitude of the
White House."
Summing things up is an absorbing
preoccupation. Even if so far, there isn't much to sum up. Today, United States
President Barack Obama will mark his first hundred days in the White House. He will
even give a special
press conference. There he will tell how hard, or, perhaps, how easy it is,
to work in the Oval office.
Every
politician has to make lots of promises. Has Barack Hussein Obama begun
fulfilling his? He has kept at least one. He gave his girls a doggie. A cute Portuguese
water dog puppy named Bo [photo, left]. And while it's true that Obama
threatened to get the family dog from a shelter for abandoned animals, he chose
one from an elite breeder under the protection of family friends - the powerful
Kennedy clan.
Some of Obama's promises certainly
cannot be rushed. The entire world saw images of one of his rallies in
Florida in February, when a dark skinned woman [Henrietta Hughes] threw
herself toward the newly-elected president. She asked him for help: “It is very
difficult for me – I have an urgent need, unemployment and homelessness … live
in a trailer with my entire family.” Obama embraced and kissed the suppliant,
saying, “We're gonna do everything we can to help you.” But Hughes still has to
visit the unemployment office regularly, no work has been offered to her, and
she still has no permanent housing. No fairytale materialized.
However, it's of course
understandable that one can't give to every outstretched hand. Obama is an
engaging and proactive person. Even while taking the oath of office, he enthralled
the Supreme Court Justice administering the oath to the point of confusion and
so had to retake it. Recently there was a new embarrassment: speaking
at the National Academy of Sciences, Obama “skipped” ahead of the
teleprompter. He only stopped when he realized he was introducing his advisors
all over again. Let's give some credit here: he never hesitated and continued
the speech.
The question is, will he able
to manage far more serious challenges as playfully, be they global crises, the complex
international situation or the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? It's too early to judge,
although he had taken some important steps. Arriving at the decision to compete
for the presidency, Obama probably couldn't have predicted having to pull the
country out of an economic ditch - the deepest since the Great Depression, if not
deeper. To this end, the president proposed a multibillion dollar “stimulus” for
the American economy, which should serve to fuel a resumption of economic
growth.
With regard to
international relations, Barack Obama had to rake out the Augean stables left by his predecessor [see below]. And although
the State Department crafted a button bearing the dubious label “Overload,” a fresh start in relations with Russia has
been launched. Presidents of the two countries have been able to firmly
establish where our positions converge - and where they differ. And they have agreed
on holding a new meeting - this time, in Russia. Now the diplomats and experts have
the laborious process of drafting the new START III treaty. Relations are on
the upswing. After all, an “overload” during periods of “resetting” is a common
occurrence.
Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
[Editor's Note: In
Greek mythology, Augeas, King of Elis, is best known for his stables, which -
until Hercules came along - housed the largest number of cattle in the country
- and which had never been cleaned out].
But in regard to Iraq
and Afghanistan, he still has to sweat it out. Attention now shifts to the
“Afghan front.” American forces are soon to withdraw from Iraq, leaving,
however, some tens of thousands to support the local army. And to Afghanistan, reinforcements
will be sent. But the problem is growing - and it seems that the fire has spread
to neighboring Pakistan.
And in the Iranian direction,
things are far from easy. Just as we saw a glimmer of hope for improved
relations and a possibility of direct contact and talks, a Teheran court put on
trail an American of Iranian origin - journalist Roxanna Saberi - thereby “erasing”
all prospects for an opening.
So, one hundred days have
passed. What will Obama be able to boast of on his next “anniversary”- in a half
year or a year? Having taken the Oval Office, Obama finds himself in a very
different role that that of a senator or presidential candidate. On him depends
the future of America. And yes, in fact, the future of the entire world. It is
he who must decide. Such is the solitude of the White House.
