Obama, Asia - 2025 and Challenges

As I was switching channels today, I happened to see a report being presented on a news channel, "ASIA 2025". Curious to know what it was, I got myself hitting the internet, biggest source of knowledge today, (though not everything is authenticated, but at least we get an idea). After a brief search of ASIA 2025, I got an eye catching statement in the search engine - "American influence will fade by 2025: NIC report". I couldn't resist myself and started with the article.

NIC - National Intelligence Council, is an independent US Government body and reports to the Director of National Intelligence. Not surprising to say that a body from US predicting that US is not to be a major player in economy, and military power of US will decline. A reference quote from the report "....has forecasted that the political, economic and military influence of America will substantially decline over the next two decades". So what waits Mr. Barack Obama in office, struggle to keep afloat the US economy, its military power against other countries as a priority. Also mentioned in the report is that, this report labeled "Global Trends 2025" will be tabled in white house by the time Mr. Obama will be in office on Jan 20. This shows that the US has felt a sense of threat and are worried internally about their economy. No doubt that they are already struggling with current economic crisis, just imagine what this report might be for Mr. Obama.  After reading this article, the first thing that comes to my mind is, how far is Mr. Obama's "YES WE CAN” be reachable? Poor Mr. Obama, his predecessor has already done the damage by investing huge amount in wars and left nothing for his own country except the credit crunch.

Is Mr. Obama is a worried man internally, yes definitely, for Mr. Obama, the President's seat will be a hot seat which has numerous issues attached to it. To add to the worries, he has Israel to deal with and the crisis in the middle east, not many will be silent form the middle east once he assumes the office and on the other hand the PAK crisis of terrorist, well Mr. President, a very hectic schedule awaiting for you ahead.

Also according to the report, it is stated that India and China will at the top of the super powers list by 2025. Well, has this led the worry of US? I would say YES, to some extent because the way we are seeing the US pressurizing PAK for its role in the Mumbai terror attack, such high amount of pressure was not seen before, wonder why? Once a faithful ally of PAK, US is now shifting its focus to India. One such instance can be seen when US lobbied hard for the nuclear deal in India's favor. Did US get a feeling that India will be its prominent ally in future? A clear case of getting itself prepared for the future.

As a person, I feel that Mr. Obama is much intelligent than his predecessor, at least that is what I came to know from his election campaigns. So will he take a quick decision on Iraq war and withdraw troops or continue with his troops in the desert and drown more into credit crunch, or will he take a U-turn against Israel and condemn its attacks on Gaza and make middle east feel that he is their man? Well, to me Mr. Obama is a mystery man until he assumes office and gets his work going.

Regards,

Sabahuddin Ahmed