Obama’s First 100 Days

I was mesmerized by the possibility – when it was still a “possibility” – of the first Black US President. I cheered when he had beaten Hilary Clinton as Democrats’ presidential candidate. I watched with interest as he debated with the “old school” personified by John McCain. And I completely rejoiced when he finally won the US presidency. Now that he’s nearing his first one hundred days in office, we would love to know if he’s being true to his campaign plans and promises.

When Barack Obama ascended into the US presidency, he was bringing with himself the hope and aspiration of not just his nation but the whole world. Given the truth that “when the US sneezes the whole world catches cold,” the Obama presidency has been seen as an occasion to remake the US not only for its own agenda but also to transform its role abroad.

Of course, one need not forget the context within which Obama had to realize his gargantuan task. There is, first of all, the acid test posed by the punishing global economic crisis. Then, domestically, he’s facing too the poisoned political environment of which he is part. And, abroad, US allies and foes are scheming either in support or against his country and the American agenda.

Despite all these, however, he seems to have steadied the American nerves. He is being credited for unleashing a huge government intervention in the economy by passing a historic US$787 billion stimulus bill. Likewise, he is now pushing for high-stake environmental and health care reforms. Also, abroad, he has projected an image of a listening US president. He has afforded the Russians the respect that they have been craving for. He reached out to the Muslim world. And, he is on the track wanting to terminate the years of enmity between the US and Cuba and Iran. He is initiating fundamental diplomatic policy changes towards China, Mexico and Cuba. He apologized to Europe for the past US arrogance. Signaling about his respect for human rights, he ordered the closure of Guantanamo Bay prison facilities and outlawed the use of torture. And, as he promised, he has ordered the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. Obama doubled down on Afghanistan and Pakistan. He also ditched US non-participation in the global effort to thwart climate change. And, he’s leading the calling for a world free of nuclear weapons.

All of these achievements are even more appreciated when one tries to remember that during the presidential campaign, the camp of John McCain was portraying him as “inexperienced”.

But more than anything else, Obama is steadily giving hint to the immense self-confidence that he has in himself and in his administration.