AMERICA HAS CHOSEN NEW LEADERSHIP

Will The Obama-Biden Administration Chart A New Course?

Senators Barack Obama and Joseph Biden will formally take the controls of the U.S. Government machinery on January 20, 2009. They face a mission impossible game board scenario, what with the U.S. economy being at its worst in more than 70 years, two wars overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan, troubles within an ally’s borders…the northwest region of Pakistan, and the unpredictable perils brewing in Iran, North Korea, and other troubled areas around the world. Back in the U.S. their opponents will be looking for any slip-ups to point blame fingers at and may even try to instigate a problem or two for the newly elected leaders to get their feet tangled in, not to mention any final days disasters the Bush team may have left behind. All in all, they’ve got their work cut out for them.

But, these appear to be two exceptional men. They both possess excellent character, high intelligence, good moral fiber and a dedication to public service. They espouse high ideals but appear to be pragmatic enough to keep those ideals firmly grounded in reality. They are already surrounding themselves with the best and the brightest, preparing for the extraordinary challenges they will face. 2009 may prove to be a very interesting year indeed.

The financial crisis is already taking a sour turn: the money is being handed out by the Treasury Department but Congress is now beginning to realize “the car was started and sent down the road before the steering wheel and brakes were properly connected.” The mortgage debacle and the foreclosure epidemic, many say at the heart of this economic crisis, have had little real attention paid to them and no significant actions taken to keep most Americans in their homes.

The two wars have taken a back seat on the news front. Probably just as well. No one in the outgoing administration is going to make any major strategic decisions; the Iraqi government would more than likely put aside any major decisions and wait to see what the new administration will propose. There needs to be a “come to Jesus” meeting with the Iraqis to convince them that American involvement WILL come to an end, and they better be prepared to steer their ship themselves. And no point in bringing the troops home right away…just send them across the border to Afghanistan and finish the fight that was started after 9/11. Tighten the noose around bin Laden and put him where he belongs.

With those problems under control, or at least restrained, America may be able to set about the important task of repairing its image around the world. It seems a very long time ago that people of this global community looked to America as a role model; when others imagined going to America to raise their families and prosper; when children in the remotest of places wore T-shirts with U.S.A. on them. If a different, more inclusive political-economic atmosphere were fostered worldwide, perhaps some of the potential crises we see hanging over our heads will dissipate all by themselves…i.e. maybe the Iranians won’t feel the need to acquire nuclear weapons; maybe the North Koreans will feel secure enough to give up theirs.

In his 1955 book President (then Senator) John F. Kennedy said “…in the days ahead, only the very courageous will be able to take the hard and unpopular decisions necessary for our survival in the struggle with a powerful enemy…And only the very courageous will be able to keep alive the spirit of individualism and dissent which gave birth to this nation, nourished it as an infant and carried it through its severest tests…” Let us hope that Senators Obama and Biden are such men of courage. The people of the world need something to believe in once again…something to be proud of.

ABC News: Great Expectations

The Guardian: Obama's Challenge

U.S. Comgress: John F. Kennedy

The Jerusalem Post: Iranian Threat

Reuters: Global Economic Crisis

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