Audacious hopes amid bleak time

Barrack Obama offered his worried countrymen a change from troubled times. He hoped audaciously to change the itinerary of things towards a prospective future, to recuperate the lost repute, to stabilize the ‘New world’. He allayed and overcame there colored apprehension with the heartening and inspiring phrase ‘YES WE CAN’. Americans demonstrated an awe-inspiring response and vindicated why they are titled the New World. This has been a great achievement for ‘US of A’ in general and Obama in particular. But with great victory comes great expectations. People have bestowed their faith in Obama’s words by empowering him. With great power comes great responsibility. Few of the daunting tasks beforehand are rescue world economy, tackle climate change and revive the United States. An elaborated view of these tasks could be as follows-

GUANTANAMO

The World will applaud if Mr. Obama keeps his promise of closing the Guantanamo detention camp but that will not fade away the Islamic extremist.

IRAQ

After training a decent Iraqi army, which has boosted the confidence of Iraq government, the assurance to withdraw combat forces seems attainable. But still Iraq is far from stability. Given the lack of space being provided to the pre-dominating Sunnis by present Shia dominated Iraqi government the possibility of a civil war can not be discarded.

IRAN

It will be easier said than done for next president to restrain Iran from developing nuke power, which in spite of all US coercion and economic sanctions is yet busy enriching its uranium store. Mr. Obama is willing to initiate talks with Iran. Given Iran’s interest in energy exports from Gulf nation, hostility with Taliban and security of Iran itself the chances of fruitful talks are fair enough. An Iran in peace with US implies abating of Iran’s nuclear pursuit and lessening its voice for dissolution of Israel and it might end it support for Hamas in Palestine and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Yet given Iran’s unsurpassed record US must be vigilant.

AFGHANISTAN

Winning the war in Afghan would prove even harder. Given discontent of Afghani people with its inefficient and corrupt government chances of restoring peace there looks dim. Mr. Obama may hope that US policy of counter insurgency which worked in Iraq may work in Afghanistan.

PAKISTAN

One of the most worrying fronts is Pakistan which is being used by afghan insurgents as a sanctuary. The US-Pak relations have gone scratchy under Musharaffs time and are further deteriorated under Asif Ali Zardari. Pak is at the verge of democratic collapse because of political crisis, an economic crisis, a jihadist insurgency, a coup prone army having links with Taliban. Only time will tell whether or not, Obama will take a tough stance against it as promised.

To be continued.......