An unprecedented colored man as President in America's White House brought more than just a skin-deep change in the face of the New America.

For one, President Barrack Obama is rectifying the error of a war in Iraq where then outgoing president George Bush, the Junior got a "shoe-to-kill" order from a peeved media man. The Iraqi suspect missed hitting his used shoe in the face of Junior Bush - but he made a direct hit on his message. "America, get out of here!"

The USA should pull out of Iraq pronto and wage its war against terror elsewhere. Obama listened.

Today, Obama is shifting the War against Terror into the hearts of Afghanistan and Pakistan. There, the notorious terror monsters, starring the Taliban and Al Quaeda, are still plotting violence and murder all over the world - encouraged no doubt because of the inept, corrupt and wayward governments of both countries.

In Afghanistan, poppy and drugs business flourish while Pakistan allowed a beloved former prime minister Benazir Bhutto murdered along its main street.

Obama is allocating US$1.5 billion to aid Afghanistan's development. While reducing military presence in Iraq, America will instead inject a wholistic antidote in both countries. American Troops will train the locals to fight their wars eventually. American Engineers and economists will speed up the infrastructure while statesmen will demand more accountability and transparency from these governments.

That said, America has enjoined the United Nations and other allies to dance in the same direction as Washington and aid the beleaguered countries now seemingly hostaged by terrorists.

Second, the "New America" is facing up the grim reality of its financial thinness, aided by years of overconfidence, overextension in credit and loose deregulation. The global financial meltdown that started at Wall Street - the worst in 70 years - and demanding close to a trillion in taxpayers' Bail-Out support has weakened America - more by perception compared to reality. But, unfortunately - in business, perception is everything.

America has lived on credit and operated budgets afflicted by yawning deficits through the years. Consider that China's debt risk in terms of government treasury bills in America is US$2 trillion, more than twice the bail-out total. One gets the picture as to who will suffer more in the end - the saver or the user.

America, along with Japan will no longer be the Zeus of commerce and finance in the coming years. In their place, in relative terms of growth will be China, India, Russia and Brazil known by their acronym BRIC which is expected to have a combined GDP better than the present combine of G-7 nations by the year 2027.

This year the GDP of China is expected to grow +7% and India +5% compared to the contraction of America by -3% and a worse -6% of Japan. And although Brazil's runaway GDP growth will be 0% this year (at least not negative) it has lifted 20 million Brazilians out of the poverty line while America might end up with 2 million jobless Yankees in a year.

With its financials shut and new battle fronts opened in Afghanistan and Pakistan, there are doubts whether Washington will do anything foolish in curbing the growth of nuclear powderkegs of Iran and North Korea. America will - perhaps - merely be content that its allies in the region of Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Jordan continue to be prosperous in the Middle East and South Korea in Asia.

America's Globocop role will hereby diminish as a matter of choice. Its anti-terror rhetoric and acts will not wane, however.

But who really knows? A globally defaced, financially weakened, morally chastened and spiritually humbled America, however, may yet be the touchstone that will recharge the proud, intelligent and creative Americans to claim part of its now fading glory - at the next turn. Will they?

President Obama may have won a bruising primary battle with Hillary and a McCain wrestling bout.

Little did he realize that the horrors upon warming his seat at the White House throne could be these daunting.

In this life-and death race for survival for America, there are no Dark Horses, Obama included (pun intended).

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