The D-Day is fast approaching. Red-carpet ready to be unrolled for the powerful man of the powerful country - he is none other than Barack Obama, American President. This is the first time he is visiting India since he got enthroned in White House in 2008. The reins of a country devastated by global meltdown he entered the scene with the determination of lifting the economy out of the abyss left by his predecessor George W Bush Jr. Ever since he occupied the Oval Office, sleepless nights awaited him. The herculean task that awaited him was not that easy to surmount and the man is still fighting his level best, his back pushed to the wall, thanks to hurdles put by the Grand Old Party , The Republican Party of USA. Each populist step taken by him was opposed like the Health Care reforms, hiking the taxes of the wealthy, incentives to the unemployed youth and he had to fight a relentless battle to get a few of the measures passed in both Houses, Congress and the Senate. The unemployment rate is mounting fast with lakhs and lakhs going out of jobs. It now stands at 9.6 percent as per media reports.
Hike in the taxes of the wealthy still remains unresolved with the relentless opposition of Republicans reaching skyhighs, thus costing the exchequer to the tune of US $ 700bn.
The Celebrity definitely might sport warm and broad smiles all the way but the butterflies in his stomach only a few might sense as the most awaited election to the Senate is slated to be held today, 2nd November 2010. Republicans are already sensing victory and their victory almost assured as the President could not uptill now come up to the expectations of the citizens. His inability but lay elsewhere primarily due to the obstacles on the part of Republican Party. That Party brought the country to such a pass ever since George Walker Bush reached White House. Within two terms in office, he could wreak havoc every possible way, first by plunging the country to two infamous wars, one in Iraq, which led to the deaths of millions and millions of innocents as also the then prominent rulers of Iraq including its once powerful head Saddam Hussein, sent to the gallows after summary trials, devastating the whole country along with the much revered Mesopotamian Civilization by round the clock bombardment, second by launching a war in Afghanistan in the aftermath of the 9/11 attack on the twin towers of World Trade Centre. Nothing positive came out of both wars, only harm, more harm at its worst. No Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) found in Iraq as there were none, Osama Bin Laden, couldn't be traced or as Bush's resolve to catch Osama dead or alive went futile.Osama Bin Laden remains still elusive and if alive he must be having a hearty laugh with his cohorts whereever he is. Except for widespread destruction and loss of millions of lives and massive displacement nothing came out of both wars.
And now with new President in the saddle US govt mulls withdrawal of its forces from both nations after reaching a face-saving device. What that powerful nation benefitted by the two wars it got in return was a blackened face or a tarnished image and billions and billions of dollars going down the drains.
Back home, by that time, to be specific by 2008, the global meltdown sent shockwaves across USA and across the whole world which led to the crumbling down of till then much heard of institutions, investment banking corporations, the giant housing bubble burst, rendered millions homeless and jobless. The free market economy even now widely acclaimed among the Republicans was the reason behind the total collapse of the economy. The pitfalls of an unregulated economy were that much frightening and the till then much trumpeted theory that 'markets will correct themselves' touched its nadir. With much such satisfaction and ofcourse with a hearty laugh George Walker Bush vacated the throne and now is safely entrenched at his ranch in Texas with Sr.Bush, his father, Laura Bush and other family members.
Barack Obama inherited a much devastated economy and contrary to his brimming confidence and iron-resolve, due to the massive onslaughts and obstruction tactics of Republicans still finds himself in a predicament.
First he and his entourage is scheduled to visit Mumbai on November 6, the Financial Capital and economic nerve-centre of India, will pay a visit to Taj Hotel, offer floral tributes to the memories of the hundreds done to death by ten militants of Lashkar-E-Taiba followed by a top-level meeting with the business community. His recent measures on the matter of outsourcing of jobs to India will certainly be taken up during the meeting and the hike in the fees of H1B visas E1 visas steeply by his govt affecting Indian students flying to US and traders or employment seeking persons. Whether anything positive would emerge on these remains a moot question. Any how many economic agreements are certain to be reached right there in Mumbai during the meeting. Large-scale investments by US in India and by India in US are supposed to be on the anvil.
On 8th of November he is expected in Delhi where the red-carpet waits to be unravelled to him by our rulers. Issues of contemporary relevance apart, many matters of mutual importance, economic, strategic, external affairs, defence, trade, a wide variety of subjects are certain to come up and many pacts likely to be inked. One thing is for sure defence ties being important a matter of utmost interest as per media reports 126 fighter Air-crafts costing US $9 billion will be finalised to the benefit of an ailing US economy. The ultimate beneficiary will certainly be US and how much India is going to benefit, wait and see. A shrewd and diplomatic leader that Obama is, he would prevail upon India on various matters of his nation's interest. What all are to transpire between both sides remain to be seen.
Let's hope for the best, a warming up of relationships is very much beneficial to both. What you call it, the 'bonhomie', 'camaraderie', welcome signs indeed.
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