Observer (UK): Obama's excellent 100 days

[Jackeens]

Obama's excellent 100 days

Editorial
The Observer, Sunday 26 April 2009

This week, Barack Obama will serve his 100th day in office. It is a purely symbolic moment, the roundness of the number attracting attention regardless of whether firm conclusions can be drawn about a president's performance.

But US politics loves symbolism. Besides, one of the most remarkable decisions taken by Mr Obama in his 100 days is sure to be remembered as one of giant historical significance: the release of secret memos relating to the torture of terrorist suspects that was sanctioned by George W Bush's White House.

The easier path would have been to suppress the memos. Their release opens a long process that could see his administration fight a legal and political war of attrition with that of his predecessor. But the right thing to do was to expose the crime. It was right morally, because the treatment meted out to some detainees was, by most independent assessments, an offence under international law and, by any humane judgment, atrocious. It was also right politically, because America's global standing is enhanced when it holds itself to the same standards that it seeks to project in the world.

That decision, among others, means that President Obama has already restored to his country much of the international authority it lost under President Bush. That is more than a symbolic victory within just 100 days.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/apr/26/obama-first-100-days

[firedupdem]

1. rec'd n/t

[otohara]

2. Short & Sweet

I was expecting more

[mzmolly]

3. K and R.

:kick:

[FrenchieCat]

4. Amen!