By Lubna Abdel-Aziz With the scorching summer heat, malaise has set in, ushering a season of discontent. It is of little comfort for all to watch the leading nation of the world in a state of frustration, disillusion and confusion. How did it happen when only less than two years ago a euphoric tide of optimism and hope carried the first black president to the highest office of the United States o America? Without the aid of a Monica Lewinski, or an illegitimate war, Barack Obama, How did the 44th American President manage to sink his popularity so low -- by himself. What a time it was for all Americans and beyond! A charming, intellectual, able black American was not only running for President, but was likely to win. He first had to defeat the capable Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination, and the blue blooded hero John McCain in the general election. He did both, fighting, persevering, talking his way across the continent. He mesmerized audiences with his mellow voice, his superior oratorical skill, and his cool confidence. His message of hope stirred the hearts of the young, the hopeful, the underdogs, and the minorities. His promise of 'change' was what everyone wished to hear. After years of Bush's fumbles and stumbles, and the hopeless, endless war in the heart of the Middle East, change was imperative. Once settled in the White House, all dreams of hope and change quickly vanished. Was it a question of promising too much, too soon, and delivering too little too late, or vice versa? There was more goodwill for this president to succeed than any other in recent memory. Having just returned from a visit to the US, I detected the anger and frustration of all those who were madly enthusiastic about him only one year ago. The same can be said of people around the world, who sincerely wished for the first black American President to succeed. Here in the Middle East his popularity knew no bounds. He was a hero, a saviour, a favourite son come to the rescue, to right all wrongs, and remedy all ills. According to a recent survey by the prestigious PEW Research Center, Mr. Obama's popularity has taken a nose dive, not only on his home turf, but in all Muslim countries. Seven countries with a Muslim majority show a diminishing percentage of trust towards Mr. Obama. His favourable ratings suffered most in Pakistan, where he has now dipped to only 8%. Egypt is not much better. People in Egypt idolized the American president. Quite flattered by Obama's choice of Egypt as the epicenter of the Middle Eastern world, from which he could deliver his historic message of goodwill and promise of a change in American foreign policy. Egyptians were elated. The auditorium of Cairo University was bursting with love and admiration. I witnessed the deafening applause following his every phrase and cries of "We love you Obama" filled the air. Obama spoke with eloquence and elegance, choosing the right words and significant meanings. Despite the ever present Teleprompters Egyptians trusted and believed him, so did the rest of the Muslim world. Months and months later, they came to realize his words were without substance or action just sounds filling the vacuum in the air, for mere moments, and then gone forevermore. Now only 17% of Egyptians have a positive view of President Obama. A similar slump is witnessed in Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon, Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Simultaneously, relations with Israel have also soured and Obama finds little support, East or West, Right or Left. Despite his image building efforts in the Islamic world, his fruitless results left a dismal impact on Muslim sentiments. Obama's candidacy was a bright light in an otherwise darkened sky. The knight in shining armour was the answer of a guilt-driven America that wished to absolve itself of the sins of their fathers. They bought, persecuted, tortured, and tormented their African slaves. Their blood still stains their white hands. Sending Obama to the White House was symbolic of their redemption. They buried the Ku Klux Klan forever and washed the blood off their hands. How could he squander such wealth in so short a time? By saying too much and doing too little Obama lost his stature. Mumbling inefficient answers to impromptu questions to the media erased the image of the intellectual orator. His excessive irresponsible spending did nothing to help the dismal economy. His long effort to change the health care system, reputed to be the best in the world and regardless of overwhelming opposition, left his friends and foes unhappy and bitter. Bribing several of the senators with extra funds for their states in order to win their votes was simply conducting business as usual, partisan, corrupt, and behind closed doors. His disregard for the lives of American citizens lost in Arizona's border, and condemning publically the Arizona law to protect its citizens from the massive illegal immigration, Mr. Obama has revealed that he is more interested in securing the Latino vote, than he is in protecting American citizens. His slow, inadequate reaction to, possibly 100,000 barrels of oil, gushing daily in the Gulf of Mexico, destroying the seashore, industries and livelihood of four states and more, he has dug for himself a hole from which he may or may never rebound. While Louisiana was burning, Emperor Obama was playing the fiddle, or golf, or basketball. The truth is that Obama came to the presidency unprepared, with little experience, no managerial skills, little knowledge, and practically no knowledge except for his rhetoric and pleasant demeanour. Certainly America was ready for a block president, not this black president. Still America proved to the world that it has come full circle and is now colour blind. Those disillusioned voters now "confused, perplexed, and evermore uneasy, about what Obama is really up to" have only themselves to blame. Had they done their homework, they would have learned how this young lawyer from Chicago came to climb the ladder of success. Perhaps now, they would be contemplating instead, a President Clinton or a President McCain. However, when it comes to meaningless, empty words, and broken promises, Obama surpasses both by far. An acre of performance is worth the world of promise -- James Howell (1594 -- 1666)
