Obama set to become 44th US president amid huge expectations

WASHINGTON: Amid high expectations of a change in some controversial policies pursued in the last eight years, Barack Hussein Obama assumes power today as the first ever African-American of the United States. The unprecedented enthusiasm on the historic occasion both domestically and globally rests on the 47-year old Obama’s campaign promises to set America in a new direction aimed at restoring its prestige that especially suffered in the aftermath of the US invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan.

On top of the legal, moral and political questions connected to the two wars, US economic recession is bound to test his skills in the backdrop of the Bush Administration’s unpopular policies.

President George W. Bush leaves office Tuesday with an approval rating of 22 percent as Obama moves into the White House as the 44th president with unrivaled high rating of 83 percent.

The Americans also hope for the beginning of a new era of a better sense of national unity as they see too much division along party lines. So far, Democratic Obama has shown bipartisanship by seeking cooperation from a number of Republicans.

But for those who have converged on Washington to witness the historic moment, the occasion is too big to let the burden of expectations override their joy. Besides a host of American celebrities, hundreds of foreign diplomats, government representatives and members of Congress will attend the inauguration ceremony on the Capitol Hill.

On the eve of inauguration, Washington has been wearing a festive look with a series of concerts and a staggering two million people from across the country and several parts of the world gathering to see the history happen when Obama takes oath. In the process Obama will also becomes the first African American to lead the free world; a day after America marked Martin Luther King day, whose famous “I have a dream” speech is said to be a major inspiration behind Obama’s success.

Vice President-elect Joseph Biden, who recently visited Pakistan and Afghanistan, will also take oath of office.

Meanwhile, citing close aides of the new administration the US media Monday reported that the new president would plunge into foreign policy on his first full day in office on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, former first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton is expected to be confirmed as Secretary of State by the Senate panel on Foreign Relations on Tuesday.

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