Domestic, foreign policy challenges to haunt Bush

His flag-waving inauguration on Thursday will begin the countdown for an intense period of activity as he attempts to stare down critics and gain congressional approval for changing Social Security, the tax code and the legal system before his chances for action narrow with the mid-term elections in 2006.

"These are big goals," he told USA Today. "But I'm the kind of person that believes in trying to solve big problems before they become acute."

Fierce partisan politics could complicate Bush's plans for domestic policy changes.

And foreign crises have a way of disrupting the best laid plans of a president.

The insurgency in Iraq threatens to make it more difficult to get an elected government in place in Iraq that will allow the ultimate departure of US troops, starting this year. He is trying to launch a new Middle East peace initiative, while keeping North Korea and Iran from becoming nuclear powers.