Barack Obama took over the US presidency with a huge swell of goodwill from the American people and many others all over the world, and his stirring rhetoric outlined a new vision of a much more inclusive world. But after more than a year in office, Obama's new and hopeful vision seems like a mirage. People all over the world are waiting to see this rhetoric being converted into action.
In the Middle East, Obama's failure to act is becoming disastrous. His diplomatic opening to Iran has vanished. There is no more talk of negotiations, and all the planning is for what sanctions the US should use to punish Iran. Obama likes to claim a success in Iraq, as US troops hand over to the Iraqis and leave, but Obama's failure to engage with Iran means that the fragile success in Iraq could easily derail. Political success in Iraq needs Iran's cooperation since Iran has got substantial influence in political parties and in militias willing to work for a powerful Iranian influence if required.
But most obviously, Obama has failed in Palestine. Obama's in-coming rhetoric was firmly in support of an equitable and just settlement to the Palestinian-Israeli dispute, and at that time he was clear that colonies were illegal and had to go. Now Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is able to make US Vice-President Joseph Biden look ridiculous by announcing new building on the morning that he arrived in Israel. What is worse is that Obama's administration has done little about this insult, even if there were some harsh words in private.
Obama needs to go back to basics and spell out where he sees the world going. Then he needs to convert this vision into action. He cannot afford to waste another year in office, and the Middle East cannot afford to wait another year.