Great expectations rest on Obama"s shoulders

Never, surely, has a US presidential inauguration of the modern era been so eagerly anticipated than that which is taking place in Washington as we closed for press yesterday (Tuesday). The 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, takes up the reins of office at a time of huge and unprecedented challenges at home and abroad, but also at a time of great hope and optimism as a nation pins its beliefs and dreams on a fortysomething senator from Illinois about to fulfil an historic destiny. This extraordinary moment in America"s history, as an African American assumes the most powerful office in the world, has been replete with symbolism, from his taking the oath of office by placing his hand on the bible Abraham Lincoln used when he was inaugurated to the train journey he took to Washington, harking back to the 1861 journey undertaken by his political hero, Lincoln, the man who freed the country"s black slaves. A great spirit of optimism surrounds the new president, and it is not hard to see why. His eloquence and innate ability to engage and connect with people of all classes and creeds marks him out as someone quite special. Americans today have a great yearning to regain some self-respect in a world where their country"s goodwill has been squandered, post-9/11, by the departing President George W Bush, who leaves office with the highest disapproval ratings since the scandal-hit Richard Nixon in 1974. It is a far cry from the almost 90 per cent approval rating Mr Bush enjoyed in the months after the attacks on the Twin Towers in New York, the single event which ultimately defined his presidency. Just before George Bush took office, the United States was the world"s undisputed superpower and one that was at peace with the world, generally. The seismic events of the following eight years, as an unprecedented terrorist attack on its homeland was followed by wars on two fronts, changed everything for Americans and, for much of the rest of the world, changed its perceptions of a country it had held on a pedestal. Now, US citizens have a chance to regain their self-respect and self-confidence through a young leader who, at times, has almost seemed Messianic in his pledges to renew the promise of his nation. Yet, the sense of expectation is so great on the shoulders of this former junior senator that one wonders how he can possibly cope with all that is anticipated of him. Polls are showing a public hugely optimistic about his ability to lead the country out of the economic morass it now finds itself in, with over half of the country"s citizens having high hopes for his time in office. Certainly, President Obama carries with him the hopes not only his own country but the rest of the world, too. But the challenges he faces are mighty. The most intractable of these - and the most urgent - is the global recession, the most severe since the 1930s, which is leading to soaring unemployment, the decimation of industry and a severe banking crisis. There will also be the ending of one war (in Iraq) and the stepping up of another (in Afghanistan), as the new president bids to fulfil his pledge to destroy al-Qaeda and kill Osama bin Laden. There is also a new war in the Middle East to contend with, a thorny Iran and a resurgent Russia, all of which will be clamouring for his attention. There can be no doubt that Mr Obama"s CV is fairly thin for the job of leader of the free world but he makes up for his relative lack of experience with exceptional assurance, great clarity of thinking, outstanding vision and inspirational rhetoric that, at this moment in time, makes him perfect for the job. He will, of course, make mistakes but, unlike the previous incumbent, he will recognise them and learn from them. He has also surrounded himself with a cabinet that has both calibre and quality. His selection of his Democratic Party rival, Hilary Clinton, as his Secretary of State, in particular, showed great leadership qualities and displayed his capacity to lead a strong and energetic team. How long a honeymoon period the American people are prepared to give their new man remains to be seen, but the weight of expectation is so great that one feels people will want to see his policies taking effect before too long, certainly before mid-term elections in two years" time. He is unlikely to waste a day, beginning with putting in place his much-vaunted $850bn stimulus package to deal with the economic crisis. The scale of the challenge, however, must not be underestimated, but the new president needs now to translate his philosophy of hope and change into real governance that will truly make a difference to the lives of ordinary Americans and renew his country in the eyes of the world.