As predicted, Barack Obama has been elected as the 44th President of the United States of America.
While the world rejoices the end of the Bush Administration which will go down as one of the most inept, and evil regimes in history, the reality of the task ahead begins to sink in.
So now the hard work begins. The past two years of speeches, catch phrases, motivational speaking and promises will all count for zero if no action is taken.
So what does the newly President elect of the United States have to do to restore the reputation of the USA in the worlds eyes?
First is to close the Cuban detention facility at Guantanamo Bay. While the worst of its atrocities may well be behind us, it is a symbol to the rest of the world of the pure evil that was done by the United States. The detainees still incarcerated at Guantanamo Bay should have their cases reviewed, trialed if necessary, and either acquitted or sentenced in the Supreme Court on the US mainland before either:
- Being released back to their homeland if safe or granted refugee status in the US if found innocent
- Or if found guilty, spending time in US prisons on the mainland.
Barack Obama will also need to ensure that the US adheres to the Geneva Convention and ensure that torture is never used by any of its departments ever again. Stress positions, water boarding, dogs and forced feeding for example does not produce credible intelligence so there is no real reason to implement it. Amnesty International is calling on Barack Obama to setup a commission to investigate all human rights abuses committed during the "War on Terror"
Obama will also need to ensure that US contractors working in Iraq are subject to Iraqi law. Currently, all US contractors in Iraq are above the law and cannot be charged by the Iraqi authorities. They literally can kill someone and face no justice.
Global warming is an incoming human rights tsunami which is only getting bigger as time goes on. As the temperature rises, droughts become more prevalent, food shortages increase world wide, the cost of living goes up, wars increase and so on. Obama needs to ensure that the US signs the Kyoto protocol and does its best to ensure that it meets its targets and curb emissions.
My concern with Obama now is that he will give priority to the financial crisis and forget about these other important issues. I am not questioning the future actions that Barack Obama will have on the financial crisis and their validity, but am concerned that other important issues will go unnoticed for a long time. As Bono has been quoted as saying
It is extraordinary to me that you can find $700 billion to save Wall Street and the entire G8 can't find $25 billion to save 25,000 children who die every day of preventable treatable disease and hunger. That's mad, that is mad.
The time for change is now Obama. Ensure that you don't forget what you've preached for the past two years in the primaries and presidential campaign and ensure that the US reputation in the world is restored. Its now up to you.
- Beju -
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