What Remains of Obama
Published in ABC Journal
(Spain) on 22 January 2010
by Rafael L. Bardají (link to original)
I do not know how Barack Obama envisioned celebrating his first year in the White House, but I am sure he did not anticipate watching the humiliating defeat of his Senate candidate for Massachusetts. The victory of Republican Scott Brown puts an end to decades of liberal hegemony there as he snatches the majority in the Senate, a necessity for taking on future political initiatives.
In any case, Obama’s first year at the head of the United States is not much to celebrate. Certainly, he saved the financial system, but consumer confidence is far from recuperating and economic indicators will not suddenly become positive. Moreover, the anti-Iraq candidate happened to be the president who carried out Bush’s plans for that country, and the promises of the Nobel Peace Prize have resulted in an increase of combat forces in Afghanistan.
Leaving the obvious contradictions aside, his bets have not gone much better: the hand he extended to the Muslim world, if not to Islamism, has not improved the American image in the world, nor has it lowered the level of terrorist threat, as he has realized recently. Obama has been drawing a red line through others while Iran and the ayatollahs have overtaken all of the U.S. supporters within their borders, brutally repressing their citizens and continuing on the atomic path. North Korea continues without ceding, China has not become more cooperative, and Russia, in spite of its professed love for Washington, is only taking advantage of the president in America’s decline. Even Latin America continually resists populism, no thanks to American help, as can be seen in Honduras or in a Cuba that continues to remain steadfast.
However, the worst is obvious, although showing itself late. The victory of Scott Brown in Massachusetts makes Obama see the truth of what Americans want. Even if not, he is worth more than Zapatero and then some, because we are lost.
In any case, Obama’s first year at the head of the United States is not much to celebrate. Certainly, he saved the financial system, but consumer confidence is far from recuperating and economic indicators will not suddenly become positive. Moreover, the anti-Iraq candidate happened to be the president who carried out Bush’s plans for that country, and the promises of the Nobel Peace Prize have resulted in an increase of combat forces in Afghanistan.
Leaving the obvious contradictions aside, his bets have not gone much better: the hand he extended to the Muslim world, if not to Islamism, has not improved the American image in the world, nor has it lowered the level of terrorist threat, as he has realized recently. Obama has been drawing a red line through others while Iran and the ayatollahs have overtaken all of the U.S. supporters within their borders, brutally repressing their citizens and continuing on the atomic path. North Korea continues without ceding, China has not become more cooperative, and Russia, in spite of its professed love for Washington, is only taking advantage of the president in America’s decline. Even Latin America continually resists populism, no thanks to American help, as can be seen in Honduras or in a Cuba that continues to remain steadfast.
However, the worst is obvious, although showing itself late. The victory of Scott Brown in Massachusetts makes Obama see the truth of what Americans want. Even if not, he is worth more than Zapatero and then some, because we are lost.
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