The world is eagerly watching how the first ever black president of the world's only superpower would deal with the enormous challenges that preceded his entry to the Oval Office succeeding George W. Bush, the most unpopular US president in modern times.
The US financial collapse that led to an international crisis tops the list of problems inherited by President Barack H. Obama. They are followed by the worsening situation in Palestine, unfinished war in Iraq, redefining his country's policies and priorities, particularly in the war on terror in so far as it relates to Afghanistan and Pakistan and Iran's nuclear ambitions. Any misstep in dealing with these issues could have dire consequences.
I hope that all far-sighted political analysts and columnists both inside and outside the US would pay special attention to enlighten the path to be taken by Obama. They should desist from negative criticism so that the positive changes hoped and promised by the new president could be realized.
Instead of raising irrelevant objections to the new president's recovery plans, the GOP should rally round him until at least the economic downturn makes a turnaround. The US opposition party should not forget that its own president and his men did most of the damage and, so, it is quite logical that they should support any effort to undo the damages. Any economic crisis in the US would have worldwide repercussions but its first victims would be the poorest millions in the Third World.
The second issue Obama has to tackle is the Middle East crisis, which is arguably the toughest and potentially the most dangerous issue that the world has been facing over the past 60 years.
It is not a secret that successive US governments had failed to reach an equitable solution to the Arab-Israeli dispute and thus allowed the situation to worsen. However, it is not clear the extent of neutrality Obama would take after Israel's traumatic military operation in Palestinian territories. No conflict will be solved if the peace broker is not honest.
With regard to Iraq, it is quite apparent that Obama is inching forward with his stated strategy of ending the occupation as early as it is practically possible. But it is not that easy as some quarters suggest. The withdrawal of US forces from Iraq is related to Washington's support to the Afghan government and increasing of NATO operations in Afghanistan with the risk of collateral damages in US-Pak relations.
It was, by all standards, a grave error for Obama to have issued orders to strike tribal areas in Pakistan just four days after his assuming the office. The Guardian newspaper reported that the strikes made with the permission of the president killed 18 civilians. Such indiscriminate bombing would only deepen the civilian discontent and hatred of the US and thus indirectly strengthening the terrorists.
With regard to Iran, I believe that Obama would follow a policy different from that of Bush. Obama has already made it clear that he would prefer a policy of dialogue and direct negotiation between the US and Iran. If it succeeds it would, undoubtedly, be a great victory for the new president.
