Why I Am Disappointed in Obama

When Kennedy came to Berlin, I clapped enthusiastically for his famous speech in front of the Schöneberg Town Hall. When Reagan was there, I protested and demonstrated, along with many other thousands.

Obama, as a presidential candidate, was my hope for the future at the time of his visit in 2008. With a civil rights and anti-war advocate in the White House, I had hoped that the U.S. war policy would change dramatically. He had demanded the immediate closure of Guantanamo, the end of the war in Iraq and for the respect of human and civil rights.

But since that time I have become disappointed. Although Obama, as president, risked much concerning domestic policy matters in order to improve the health care of low-income earners, he did not charge the rich with higher taxes. He ended the Iraq War, but that was just finishing what President Bush had already begun. Obama has certainly not become a president of peace.

Hatred and Violence Continue To Be Fuelled

At the same time, the war in Afghanistan was augmented with additional tens of thousands of U.S. soldiers. In addition, targeted killings that employed the use of kill commands and drones escalated dramatically. In the meantime, the withdrawal of U.S. troops had indeed begun, but the killing continued unabated. Instead of ceasefire and negotiations, hatred and violence appeared on the agenda. Obama has ordered the U.S. involvement in the air war in Libya and its extension to take on further and further goals, against the spirit and wording of the U.N. mandate. Moreover, the U.S. is now directly involved in the civil war in Syria despite the danger that the al-Qaida rebels might upgrade. Now, he even justifies the merciless persecution of whistle-blowers like Bradley Manning and Edward Snowden, who published confidential information concerning the civil liberties of people. In the U.S. torture prison of Guantanamo there are still over 100 prisoners without trial, after almost 12 years of waiting and often even without any charge.

Above all, Obama has expanded his dirty war against “international terrorism” on two continents by using killer drones. Every Tuesday, the so-called Terror Tuesday, the president decides in a bug-proof room in the White House about the life and death of real or alleged terrorists in Africa or Pakistan. Many hundreds of targets have already been killed, including many who were killed by mistake or as mere “collateral damage.” Also, German citizens are among the victims. This war policy is not only inhumane and a violation of human rights, it is also unreasonable and wrong as it prevents peaceful solutions. This policy fuels new hatred. Obama turns the spiral of ruthless violence in an asymmetrical war. Offenders should be brought to justice, not simply executed.

Real Joy Cannot Arise

It is unknown whether today is a Terror Tuesday, where decisions about life and death are being made — perhaps from Germany. I also do not know if the protest in Berlin got to Obama among the many official testimonies of friendship. I would like to submit the disappointment of those who had high hopes for him. I would remind him of what he had said to the violation of international humanitarian laws by diversion into detention centers and torture in the fight against international terrorism under Bush. Back then it was “only” about the health and self-determination of the victims, but now it is about the killing. As a Member of Parliament I would like to ask what data the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) has siphoned from Germany and what happened to it. I would like to tell him why I am asking for asylum for Snowden in Germany and why I hold fast to the fact that whistle-blowers must be protected.

No, Obama’s visit has not caused much joy this time, but rather mourning because of so many unfulfilled expectations. What remains is a glimmer of hope that he can get back to the Obama of 2008 when he inspired us with his speech at the Victory Column.