Obama deserves A+
US President Barack Obama promised to bring change to America. After years of mismanagement under George W. Bush and his bunch of neo-con acolytes, most Americans were crying for change. In the name of war against terrorism, Bush turned even many friends of the United States into enemies. He seemed to have followed Roman tyrant Caligula's dictum: "Let them hate as long as they fear." Under Bush, the world came to hate America without fearing it. He also left behind a massive budget deficit and an economy in deep recession. In short, President Obama faced a great challenge to bring about a total transformation of the American policy.
Few American presidents have reached as high as President Barack Obama in their first 100 days in office. He has completely changed the direction of both domestic and foreign policies. He ordered the prison at Guantanamo Bay closed. He lobbied for new relationship with China and Russia. He opened up the possibility of a dialogue with Iran. He made United States a key player in combating global warming. On the eve of his 100 days in power, The New York Times found President Obama has a 68 per cent approval rate among the public.
Faced with the enormous task -- two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, a crumbling economy, continuing threat of terrorism, environmental degradation -- President Obama has shown courage and fortitude. He has quickly moved to stop the collapse of the banking system, kick-start the slumping economy by his massive injection of public funds and moved to address America's lost image in the world. It has been refreshing to see how President Obama was greeted enthusiastically by Europeans in stark contrast with how George W. Bush was treated with contempt whenever he went abroad. Obama has made people outside love Americans again.
In foreign policy, sheer scope of what Henry Kissinger calls "Obama's vast diplomatic agenda" has restored America's leadership in the world. He has brought in a new relationship with China and Russia; raised hopes for a more balanced Middle East policy; pushed arms control higher in the agenda and made the US a key player in combating global warming. Beyond doubt, Obama has the potential to be a great president --- most creative and inspirational since Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
And yet, most commentators reacted circumspectly to President Obama's first 100 days in office. Mostly, they have given him either a B or B+ for his performance. They tend to ignore that he's transformed America's face. He's given Americans a new sense of direction, a common purpose and goal. And he regained America's trust. For all this, he deserves an A+...
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