Barack Obama has tough task to get US back on its feet.
Newspapers across the world have been building up towards the ten year anniversary since the globe was in total stand-still. The scenes at 9/11 still shock me and it is one of those events where you knew where you were and what you were doing at that moment. For me, I was a ten-year-old boy who had very little knowledge of politics and news. I, among other primary school pupils, were told to go home early and I recall watching both BBC and ITV News truly gobsmacked by what happened. The day after, back at school - my teacher told the class to draw-up a memory of 9/11 such as the twin towers falling or anything which would remind them of it.
Regarding 9/11, Channel 4 have this week covered the event thoroughly going through the men behind the bombings of the twin towers, producing new and exclusive footage of the disaster etc. However the actual event isn't the sole purpose of this blog post. I want to focus on what happened afterwards as the world has turned drastic corners which have affected everyone of us, particularly in the United States.
During the time of 9/11, George W. Bush was the President and despite his minimal reaction at a school when the planes struck the World Trade Centre, New York City and further attacks at The Pentagon, Arlington near Washington, people still trusted his words that the culprits will be punished. He did so by sending his troops to Afghanistan a month after the terror attacks attempting to defeat the Taliban forces. Today, this war is costing the American economy almost half a trillion dollars (dated 9th September 2011), decision which was initially praised by Bush supporters and global leaders who followed US' lead.
However, since the Twin Towers fell and the Afghan War started, multiculturalism sharply declined and more social neglect went towards the Middle Easterns and other ethnic minorities compared to before these events. This continued when Bush's America-led coalition forces controversially invaded Iraq to bring Saddam Hussein down. That's cost US over three-quarters-of-a-trillion dollars, consequently leading to markets crashing on September 2008, the worst recession in an awfully long time. Seeing Lehman Brothers employees walking out of their offices with boxes full of their belongings wasn't a pretty sight.
This was all under Bush's name. People began to have had enough. They felt it was time for a change. New tactics and more awareness politically and financially was needed to bring US forward and move on from the fear of another 9/11.
In November 2008, United States chose a Democrat President - their first black leader in Barack Obama. He was the man who the majority of Americans thought could do the world of good for the US. So much pressure was put on him and yet people still not pleased. The economy is still crippled despite having troops out of Iraq and are on the process of leaving Afghanistan, the health system (not mentioned before) has been hugely criticised over the years and unemployment is at an all time high. People aren't impressed and it's Obama's job to turn things around.
It is a difficult job to thrill over 300 million US citizens however only 43% approve of Barack Obama, much lower than how both George Bush's and Bill Clinton were rated during their third year of Presidency. Pressure is certainly on him but it's not all doom-and-gloom. Democrats could feel a little more comfortable over the Republican's unknown future. Still four candidates are itching to grab one of the biggest role in modern American politics and become the opposition leader but it's unclear who will take this job. It's all too close and there is no clear indication yet, according to those all important polls of who will compete against Obama.
There is political upheaval across the world, no doubt - especially from what we've seen in the Middle East and northern Africa, and in America believe-it-or-not is similar but obviously not as extreme. Time is running out for Obama as that 43% statistic could fall to below the 40 mark, not for the first time and if he wants to be President for a further four years, he has to unite his country. The job is hard but it's do-able. No doubt, his "honeymoon period" has been long gone but he needs to get America's self belief like in 2008 when Obama won the election.
One way of doing that is in a sense, moving on from 9/11. Don't think of it as a sinister comment. Eye-witnesses and families of 2,996 who died at the World Trade Centre and The Pentagon have been scarred for life. However, we seem to link any sort of extremism action to 9/11 such as the 7/7 bombings in London and the July 22 massacre in Norway and it creates more hatred towards one another. We fear terrorism and the Taliban and other group take advantage of this, they know politicians are not really prepared apart from the further securities at airports but I want more organisation by world leaders.
The world can't go back to normal after the attacks ten years ago but we must accept we cannot change the past.
I heard Obama's speech yesterday, desparately trying to increase his ratings and attempting to take some positive actions regarding the frail job market, however, he needs to ensure his people have trust in him. Under his name, they've killed Osama Bin Laden which helped but there is still a "threat" of terrorism and Obama has to lead all the other countries ensuring them that they're doing everything to make the world safer. He only has until November 2012 and if he loses the election, it's up to the next person to try and contribute. Time and patience is running out though. US are still the powerhouse of the world and we look up to them - now they have to show their gratification.
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