Same Obama, same policies
Defying history which indicated that no president had ever won a second term with 7.4 percent unemployment rate, Barak Obama won the presidential race with a decent margin. He also became the second Democratic President to be re-elected in nearly six decades. Former Massachusetts governor Romney was rejected as many saw him a rich plutocrat who was indifferent to middle class’ pain and the woes of the common man. What is more he showed unconcern about environment and displayed hostility to some of the social issues considered vital by many Americans like abortion and gay marriage. Obama’s more liberal policy on these issues as well as immigration won him the votes of African-Americans and Hispanics. Obama’s victory was an endorsement of the economic policies that stress job growth, health care reforms, tax increases and balanced deficit reduction as well as a rejection of a policy that left people totally at the mercy of the blind market forces.
Obama and Romney had nearly similar views on issues of foreign policy. Whatever differences they displayed during the third and last public debate were less of substance than of style. The two seemed to align on matters like withdrawal from Afghanistan, the dangers of intervening in Syria and the employment of drones to fight terrorists. Each one tried to prove that he would pursue the same national goals more effectively and ensure America’s enduring economic and security goals abroad.
Romney was supported by many Likud legislators publicly. One described Obama as “the most hostile president to Israel in recent decades”. Obama’s victory explodes the myth that none can win the presidential race in the US unless supported by Israel. It remains to be seen if Obama sticks to the commitments made to the Muslim world after his first election, particularly in his speech in Cairo where he promised to “not turn our backs on the legitimate Palestinian aspirations for dignity, opportunity and a state of their own”. Again, will he enter into talks with Iran as he promised in his 2009 interview to Al-Arabiya?
During the third debate Romney had congratulated Obama “on taking out Osama bin Laden and going after the leadership of Al-Qaeda”. There is thus a likelihood of the continuation of the bipartisan policy towards Afghanistan and Pakistan. Islamabad should be prepared for more drone attacks and more pressure for operation in Waziristan. The coming events are already casting their shadows. Afghanistan has welcomed the UN decision to impose sanctions on the Haqqani network. Kabul has also ruled out any peace agreement with the group. Pakistan needs to deal with the situation with realism.
