US democratic candidate Barack Obama beat Republican Johan McCain in the history-making election on Nov. 5, becoming the first African-American to claim the country's highest office.
It is not easy for an African American to win the election. However, as Obama's supporters reveling for his victory, the president-elect said he prepared to confront the daunting challenges that he had acknowledged during his presidential campaign, including the "gravest financial crisis in one hundred years" and "two wars". "A long road is lying ahead for the US," said Obama frankly.
First measure should be taken to control the gravest financial crisis in one hundred years. Obama faces the challenge of how to carry out the 700-million-US-dollar market-rescue plan Bush administration put forward after assuming the office, and he needs to issue new measures if that one proves ineffective. Over 700,000 Americans have lost their jobs, and five million families suffered from accelerated foreclosures by the end of October this year. It is an ordeal Obama must stand to solve these problems and prevents the financial crisis from further spreading.
Obama will find he is going to carry a heavy fiscal burden when taking office in the White House. According to statistic on budget, fiscal budget in the US government has amounted to 455 million US dollars by the end of September, and will approach 1 trillion next year. The heavy financial burden will doubtlessly hinder Obama's action, and make his promise hard to realize. The Tax Policy Centre estimates that the national health care plan Obama proposed will cost 11.5 billion US dollars in fiscal spending for the first year, and it will amount to one trillion when Obama's first term ends in 2013. Where does money come to fund such an ambitious plan was the questions frequently asked in the presidential campaign. Obama wanted to roll back Bush's tax cuts for the wealthy while cutting some of the government expenditure. However, public opinion and economists believed it was an utterly inadequate measure to increase revenue.
Obama could not underestimate the role of diplomacy though the current economic downturn switches people's mind away from it. It is said that Bush administration does have made some achievement on DPRK's nuclear issues, but on one can be sure side issues will never be raised. In addition, the Iran's nuclear issue is still in a hopeless tangle. Obama prefers to solve the problems through negotiation and economic sanction. But it is still hard to say whether it can achieve the expected results.
Bush had planned to help reach an agreement in Middle East. However, it seems that the goal is difficult to achieve now. Israel's general election early next year will definitely bring more uncertain factors to the Middle East peace process, let along the difference within Palestine state on peace negotiation with Israel. The new leader will have rules to follow if the soft liners who advocate for negotiation are in power; and Obama needs more effective measures if hard liners take power.
Another thorny issue is the "two wars". Although the war in Iraq has been cooled down, the situation in Afghanistan is worsening. Abama advocates for a phased troop withdrawal and transfer of two brigades to Afghanistan in light of the lack of soldiers there. The NATO commander-in-chief in Iraq said that at least 20,000 soldiers were needed there, which will test Obama's diplomatic policies and personal influence. Polls in Europe show that Obama's presidential victory will be conducive to the improved ties between US and its allies. However, it is hard for allies to dispatch more soldiers in light of the national interests and anti-war sentiment.
As the saying goes it is easier to give a promise than to fulfill it. What Obama considers now is to fulfill the promises he made in election campaign, and solve the thorny issues with his political talent and wisdom, and it is not going to be easy.
By People's Daily Online
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