Barack Obama completed one year as President on 20 January 2010. The day on which he completed his one year term should have been an occasion for celebration. But the day stored for him a shock in the form of an unexpected defeat of the Democratic party candidate Martha Clokley in the Senate election for Massachussets State which was held by veteran democrat Edward Kennedy for 50 years.
Obama’s dream on the Health Care Insurance bill is now in a limbo, so to say due to lack of majority in the US Senate. His party was one seat short for majority in the Senate. But the victory of Scot Brown, the Republican candidate has delayed his dream of passing the bill at the earliest.
Obama had started facing the heat after the initial euphoria subsided soon after his ascendancy in the White House.
He occupied the Oval office at a difficult time in the history of America. His Predecessor had done all could do to destabilize the economy during his eight year tenure by leaving the economy to the whims and fancies of market forces. Wielding absolute power in his hands- the President of USA is supposed to be the most powerful Head of State in the world – whatever harm he could do internally was replicated externally by declaring wars, in Iraq on the false accusations of keeping Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) and in Afghanistan to capture the Al-Quaeda leader Osama Bin Laden and Ayman Al-Zawahiri dead or alive. Wreacking total destruction of life and property (most of the victims were innocent civilians) but Osama Bin Laden and his Deputy still remain elusive. His successor with a vow to flush out the Al-Quaeda leaders continues the war with renewed vigour simultaneously hoping for an exit before 2011, still the situation in Afghanistan is fast deteriorating.
On 28th January, a meeting to discuss Afghanistan involving major and minor players is scheduled to be held in London.
We were speaking about Obama’s completion of one year in office. On analyzing the defeat in the Senate election, we can very well come to the conclusion that it was the aftermath of growing discontent among the public due to massive unemployment, economic recession and industrial bail-outs on a large scale. The most powerful man of America finds himself powerless ruler. His hope and dream of lifting the fledgelling economy from the deep pitch remain unfulfilled. His ambitious programmes to save the economic situation are being undermined by his powerful opponent, the Grand Old Party of America, who still remain the apostles of market economy with the government remaining mute spectator. A powerful regulatory mechanism still remains a pipe-dream. Any how Obama shows indomitable spirit and determination to assert himself by imposing financial taxes to regain the stimulus already extended to the banks. He is, as per the reports emanating from USA girding up his loins for a fight against the opponents to rescue the tax-payer from whom a stimulus was provided to the financial institutions. How far he is going to succeed in this mission remains to be seen.
Winner of Nobel Prize who during his globe-trotting outshined and fascinated all world leaders and audiences by his powerful oratory skill and frequent appeals for peace and tranquility, however, while accepting the Nobel Prize for peace had to justify his war in Afghanistan with a controversial statement “peace through war”, ie. to bring peace across the Globe sometimes we have to fight wars.
The implementation of US $789 billion bail-out to rescue the failed financial institutions remains insufficient and another bail-out not on the anvil due to staunch opposition from his opponents and his own economic pundits, the unemployment situation is bound to aggravate. Barack Obama on completion of his one year term is really in trouble. Sarah Palin, the Alaska governor who incidentally is now in the garb of a political commentator for the Fox news also (praise the lord) might be nursing a broad smile. As long as she is on the other side to contest against Obama in 2012 he can also keep a wider smile. Ambitions like music knows no boundaries- both keep on smiling.
Robert Gates in India.
American Defence Secretary, Robert Gates visit knowingly or unknowingly coincided with the visit of Malaysian Head Najib-Bin-Abdul Razaak, for a five day visit to India. At a time when South East countries are slowly, gradually distancing themselves from USA, still claiming to be the one and only Super Power, Najib-Bin-Abdul Razaak’s visit to India has great significance. Mr.Razaak is a strong advocate of a multi-polar world. Close on the heels of the visit of Yukio Hatoyama, the Prime Minister of Japan visiting India one month ago who is also thinking on these lines, Razaak’s visit has an added significance.
At a moment like this USA’s new found love for India
has to be very much appreciated. Mr.Gates had the courtesy of warning about threat from across the border and 26/11 model Mumbai carnage likely to occur anywhere in India and in a whispering tone, the growing and ‘dangerous’ influence of China was conveyed along with the promise of extending help in difficult times was really ‘heartening’. India’s role in the infrastructure development of Afghanistan and providing training to the Afghan police were also profusely appreciated. Incidentally India is an invitee to the meeting on Afghanistan to be held in London on 28th January 2010. Read between the lines…
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