Obama who is hi? Is he the leader of United States? I'm not sure. I think he is just actor who is playing the biggest staging in the world and his role – to be a President.

In my opinion President is just marionette in hands of ‘top persons. Almost all over the time of US history the real power have had only the groups of businessmen, who's the most important goals are money and power. All politic based on keeping in save interests of ‘real leaders' of US. If somebody would want to change situation it might be impossible because ‘they' can move out everybody who will be on their way including President, his command or somebody else. The history knows a lot of murdered US presidents.

Of course Obama like others Presidents make a lot of politics’ decision himself but hi is not independent enough. I think it looks like presidents of company with theirs shareholders who is really leads.

What about B.Obama has done from his inauguration last year? Of course it is too early make some decisions about politic of the White House now but can we be optimistic if after the year nothing happened? Can we say that something may change if in Iraq and Afghanistan still war operations and people dieing, crisis increases and moreover US again somewhere looking for terrorists and nuclear weapons?!

I think the politic of USA will never change if they would not change system. And the name of this system is ‘money power’. Till that time when in our planet there are people who concentrate the levers of power, every things would be only in interest of these people. We need look inside problems deeper and do not be afraid of changes.

Azat K

Obama's Brilliant First Year

Obama’s first year is successful or failure are argued by people, according to the recent survey I see that someone think that he do a lots of positive tings to America at the same time saved the economical crisis on the contrast other people who with negative view that Obama make USA social system worse and worse he do nothing.
We can not define a president what he did is good or bad in his first year. For my perspective, I think Obama is the most suitable leader of American, at least I think the direction of American is right. Obviously when Obama came upon the stage he face a lots of difficultly things like the worse time of economical and Iraq War social health care legislation, but he never give up!
In first place when American goes into recession he consecutive serious new policies saved the economic. Everyone known USA is the finical center of the word so we can infer that Obama make the word economical situation rise rapidly in last year. Second he changed the relationship with other country established new foreign policy. Obama has already significantly reoriented policy toward Iran, China, Russia, Iraq, Israel, and the Islamic world. The third he said he will close Guantanamo, and granted Nobel Peace Prize. But there still a lots negative news about him that he will announce a new strategy in Afghanistan, and the Guantanamo has yet to be closed.

Stay in crisis or to the future

One year ago,the speech has given by Barack Obama stilled ringing in our ears:'we need change' and 'yes,we can'. Nowaday,the world has not changed yet,the crises in the USA have not solved,the situation is still not ooptimistically.Can Barack Obama fulfill his destinies and save the United States in this difficult period?Is there a joke or a legend in the USA?

Obama's domestic policies have two main aspects: First of all , to provide jobs for the people who out of work,and stressed repeatedly that created the opportunity of jobs was the best way to save the American economy;second,let the citizens in the USA could own the healthy insurance.Then,he introduced the economic plan,which also achieved some positive results so far.Such as the economy of the US has grown 3.5% ,could be a little better than before.

However,according to data released by the White House,so far, so much money have given by the govement is going to create 640 thousands jobs,but the amount of people who lost their job from the crisis are millions.It would cost 160 thousands of dollars to provide a job,it obviously is not worth to do it.On the other, there are two main issues in the U.S. health care system:one is millions of people in the United States without healthy insurance;another one is the costs of healthy insurance is too high.It causes a huge dispute in the USA and even led some people to protest on the street.

In addition,Obama proposed the idea of a world without nuclear world, many people thought that would be too naive. It would take a long time to do this.But it's worth to mention is that the troops of the USA will withdraw gradually from Iraq,the suitation would change to a positive way.In such a difficult time to be the leader of the strongest country in te world is not an easy thing.We will wait and see whether he is able to lead the United States to a new future or not.

Shen Li

Barack Obama and the new face of uncle Sam

Can the sensation become a legend, we do not know, but we know all of the legends was a sensation for their period of time. There are many legends in the American democratic history, such as Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Franklin Roosevelt and John Kennedy but is Barack Obama one of them? Can he be the leader of the nation in the most difficult times?

last Wednesday was the 1 anniversary of president Obamas inauguration or maybe the anniversary of Obamas broken promises. He promised many unbelievable thinks such as word without nuclear bombs and normal relation between USA and many problematic countries, he said that he is going to close the Guantanamo within one year, reshape the healthcare system and many other very respectable things that people never heard before from American president candidates, he told "Yes we can" and he could, he won the president elections and became the first Afro-American president of the USA and the new face of the big government and was elected not only by the American nation but by all of the word.

Now after one year of his presidentship we can see something changes, for example the war in Iraq is going to be finished, there are some reforms in the US banking system, the economic stimulus package has helped in some areas, such as important maintenance work and he trying to speak with the islamic word.

But there is still not a big difference between America before and after his election, the problems between US and problematic countries like Iran and Russia still had not solved even after Hillary Clinton and president Medvedev pressed the restart button, Iran is near to have nuclear bombs, Guantanamo yet to be closed, health care programme had been crashed, war in Afghanistan still going and unemployment in US is now more than 10% and it is growing, so where is the beautiful word that Obama spoke about.

Seems that many of these problems can not be solved just by Barack Obama, many of them need the absolutely political reorientation of US and all of the word and there are many extenuating factors on his way such as financial crises and the leaders of some countries who do not want to speak with him.

President Obama did not solve many of the problems of US, whatever, he did something more, he changed the Dynamic of the word and gave the new and more positive image to the US and he was the first person who spoke about the word without nuclear bombs. Conservative and very inflexible society of US could brake in the modern word and maybe he is the person who can adapt this country to the new life.

Can he be like Abraham Lincoln or George Washington and become the new political legend of the new America, we do not Know, but know that he is the start of the new period of Amarican modern history.

Sina AMS

Jan 25, 2010

Newsight of world security

It seems to be a trend that terrorism has been more aggressive in the entire world. Bin Ladon, A well-known godfather of the terrorism, which warned Obama of more attacks in the future. He announced his speech from a tape. The tape should be an ultimatum to the world, and it pointed out U.S government directly.

the brutal tape claim that they will continue to teach U.S congress lessons if the U.S support Israel.It says'It is unfair you enjoy a safe life while our brothers in Gaza suffer greatly... Our attacks will continue as long as you support Israel.'(Page last updated at 16:31 GMT, Sunday, 24 January 2010,bbc news).

they also goes on"America will never dream of security unless we will have it in reality in Palestine." (Page last updated at 16:31 GMT, Sunday, 24 January 2010 bbc news). Which means the terrorism can not bear U.S. government right now, they want to support their brother country Palestine which desire peaceful life in the rest of time.

Up to now. the U.S.government could not react this situation, they are still confirming the authenticity of the tape. But Andy David, Israeli foreign ministry spokesman, which disclosed the terrorists'activity,he says'This is nothing new; he has said this before. Terrorists always look for absurd excuses for their despicable deeds'(Andy David, Israeli foreign ministry spokesman, 2010).

Overall, I agree with Andy David's speech. The terrorism will not launch their lowly action for a long time, besides, it will not exist in the world in the long period of time. In addition, this is a serious challenging that The U.S.government has to face. As far as I am concerned, how could Obama eliminate this block? For him and the whole world, how to compelely eliminate terrorism, this is the most significant issue that we have to face the music together.


Aaron

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/8477413.stm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2mZc9g9Wmo

Newsnight video notes

Promises and efforts

• To normalize relationships with 'problematic' countries (Iran, North Korea, Russia etc).
• Mentioned putting an end to nuclear weapons.
• To close Guantanamo within a year.
• To fix the economy.
• To support the Palestinian movement.
• To reshape the health care system.
• To improve the relationship with muslim communities.
• To cut emissions by 40%. To take a leading role in climate change.
• Provide healthcare for the wider population.

Positives

• He has opened the dialogue with other countries.
• Troops have been withdrawn from Iraq.
• He has changed the dynamic of the political world and created a sense of new opportunities.
• The economic stimulus package has helped in some areas, such as important maintenance work and so on.

Negatives

• Guantanamo has yet to be closed.
• The stimulus package has not helped the employment situation. In fact, 15.5 million Americans are currently out of work.
• The billions of dollars spent on a recovery package have not really helped the regular population.
• National security concerns - people don't feel safer.
• A huge increase in the number of troops in Afghanistan (30,000).
• Overspending has negative implications for future generations.
• Losing popularity due to healthcare reforms - the conservative movement is growing in strength.

Extenuating factors

• He inherited the economic crisis.
• Many international leaders simply do not want to build relations with the US.
• Many of the problems need political reorientation.
• Things take time, so we can't have unrealistic expectations.

Welcome to the Pre-Masters blog!

Hey guys,

This blog is our development and sharing space during this course. We can use it to share ideas and links, keep our resources, and develop our writing and general communication skills.

Topic 1

Obama's first year: Success or failure? Can we be optimistic about the future?

First of all, let's watch a Newsnight programme about Obama's first year. Please watch the programme and take some notes about the current situation. We will later use these notes for our own work. What are the key issues mentioned in the programme?


Here are some more resources for our research on Obama's presidency:

Guardian article

Washington post article

CNN blog article

The Economist article

Another video from iplayer (1 hour)