This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7938625.stm
The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Obama diary: The first 100 days | Obama diary: The first 100 days |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Barack Obama was elected on a message of change. Now he is in office, change is expected both in foreign and domestic policy. Here the BBC's team in Washington tracks developments in the first 100 days of the Obama presidency. | Barack Obama was elected on a message of change. Now he is in office, change is expected both in foreign and domestic policy. Here the BBC's team in Washington tracks developments in the first 100 days of the Obama presidency. |
| MONDAY 16 MARCH - DAY 56 | MONDAY 16 MARCH - DAY 56 |
| 1711 EST Talks with Hamas? | |
| Kim Ghattas: The idea of Washington talking to Hamas has popped up again with British MPs meeting the Hamas leader in Damascus, Khaled Meshaal, over the weekend, and the publication of a report in the Boston Globe about a letter to Obama urging him to consider talking to the militants to see if they can be persuaded to disarm and join the peace process. | |
| A senior US official insists it's unlikely to happen because of legislation restricting any contact with the group, which is listed as a terrorist organisation by the State Department. | |
| It's possible, of course, that the Obama administration would consider secret talks through unofficial channels to test the waters, but there's no sign of that yet. | |
| A seasoned Middle East hand also notes that talks with Hamas would further undermine the Palestinian Authority. There might be some room for manoeuvre if the Palestinians form a government of national unity, that includes technocrats loosely affiliated with Hamas. | |
| 1514 EST Polling Obama | 1514 EST Polling Obama |
| President Obama's approval ratings have - like those of his predecessors - gone down since he entered the White House. The BBC's North America Editor Justin Webb takes a look at how President Obama's post-inauguration polling slump measures up to previous presidents'. | President Obama's approval ratings have - like those of his predecessors - gone down since he entered the White House. The BBC's North America Editor Justin Webb takes a look at how President Obama's post-inauguration polling slump measures up to previous presidents'. |
| 1428 EST Bonus bashing | 1428 EST Bonus bashing |
| James Coomarasamy: President Obama has called on his Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to use all legal means to block the controversial bonuses that have been awarded to executives at the insurance giant AIG. | James Coomarasamy: President Obama has called on his Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to use all legal means to block the controversial bonuses that have been awarded to executives at the insurance giant AIG. |
| AIG, which received about $180bn in public bailout money, has announced that it intends to pay out $165m in executive bonuses. | AIG, which received about $180bn in public bailout money, has announced that it intends to pay out $165m in executive bonuses. |
| President Obama didn't mince his words. Tapping into the growing sense of public anger here, he said it was hard to understand how a corporation in financial distress due to recklessness and greed could offer its derivatives traders any bonuses, let alone $165m. He said he'd asked his Treasury Secretary to pursue every legal avenue to block the bonuses, describing them as an "outrage" to taxpayers who were keeping the huge insurance company afloat. | President Obama didn't mince his words. Tapping into the growing sense of public anger here, he said it was hard to understand how a corporation in financial distress due to recklessness and greed could offer its derivatives traders any bonuses, let alone $165m. He said he'd asked his Treasury Secretary to pursue every legal avenue to block the bonuses, describing them as an "outrage" to taxpayers who were keeping the huge insurance company afloat. |
| "This isn't just a matter of dollars and cents," the president added. "It's about our fundamental values." | "This isn't just a matter of dollars and cents," the president added. "It's about our fundamental values." |
| SATURDAY 14 MARCH - DAY 54 1253 EST Cover star | SATURDAY 14 MARCH - DAY 54 1253 EST Cover star |
| Rajini Vaidyanathan: Michelle Obama has given her first sit-down TV interview since she became First Lady. | Rajini Vaidyanathan: Michelle Obama has given her first sit-down TV interview since she became First Lady. |
| In the interview, which was broadcast on ABC's Good Morning America, Mrs Obama covers a range of topics, from her interest in helping military families, to her husband's handling of the economic crisis, and of course her role as "mom-in-chief". | In the interview, which was broadcast on ABC's Good Morning America, Mrs Obama covers a range of topics, from her interest in helping military families, to her husband's handling of the economic crisis, and of course her role as "mom-in-chief". |
| Nothing she says in the interview is particularly unexpected - Mrs Obama is as comfortable talking about serious issues and causes as she is joking about the huge interest in her toned arms. The First Lady has conducted several high profile interviews recently, not just with the political media, but also magazines like "People", "Vogue" and Oprah Winfrey's "O". In all those instances she's featured as the cover star. | Nothing she says in the interview is particularly unexpected - Mrs Obama is as comfortable talking about serious issues and causes as she is joking about the huge interest in her toned arms. The First Lady has conducted several high profile interviews recently, not just with the political media, but also magazines like "People", "Vogue" and Oprah Winfrey's "O". In all those instances she's featured as the cover star. |
| So far, Michelle Obama isn't shying away from the huge interest surrounding her and her family, but is instead, giving the media enough material to sustain it. | So far, Michelle Obama isn't shying away from the huge interest surrounding her and her family, but is instead, giving the media enough material to sustain it. |
| For her it's a chance to promote her pet causes like helping military families. But it could also come in handy for her husband, who has huge political challenges to deal with in terms of the economic crisis . Showing the American public that the Obamas are a down-to-earth family who can relate to people's problems could help President Obama convince voters that his stimulus package will help them. | For her it's a chance to promote her pet causes like helping military families. But it could also come in handy for her husband, who has huge political challenges to deal with in terms of the economic crisis . Showing the American public that the Obamas are a down-to-earth family who can relate to people's problems could help President Obama convince voters that his stimulus package will help them. |
| FRIDAY 13 MARCH - DAY 53 | FRIDAY 13 MARCH - DAY 53 |
| 1250 EST Transatlantic split | 1250 EST Transatlantic split |
| Kim Ghattas: There's a split between Washington and London over Hezbollah. | Kim Ghattas: There's a split between Washington and London over Hezbollah. |
| The UK decided to restart low-level contact with the political wing of the militant Lebanese group last week, but a senior US official said he was unhappy with the decision and would have liked Britain to explain "the difference between the political, military and social wings of Hezbollah because we don't see a difference between the integrated leadership as they see it." | The UK decided to restart low-level contact with the political wing of the militant Lebanese group last week, but a senior US official said he was unhappy with the decision and would have liked Britain to explain "the difference between the political, military and social wings of Hezbollah because we don't see a difference between the integrated leadership as they see it." |
| The US lists Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation and blames it for the 1983 bomb attack on the US Marine barracks in Beirut which killed 241 Marines. Washington believes that Imad Mughinyyeh, a top Hezbollah commander was the mastermind. He was killed last year in Damascus and the US official said life in Lebanon was "marred" by posters "extolling the virtues" of Imad Mughniyyeh all over south Beirut, a Hezbollah stronghold. | The US lists Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation and blames it for the 1983 bomb attack on the US Marine barracks in Beirut which killed 241 Marines. Washington believes that Imad Mughinyyeh, a top Hezbollah commander was the mastermind. He was killed last year in Damascus and the US official said life in Lebanon was "marred" by posters "extolling the virtues" of Imad Mughniyyeh all over south Beirut, a Hezbollah stronghold. |
| Asked if they had been informed about the British decision, the official said that "informed under a previous administration" was a more accurate description. This suggests the Obama team had not been given enough notice. A British diplomat told me the decision was driven by the belief that it is possible to encourage Hezbollah to move away from violence and become an integral part of Lebanese politics. | Asked if they had been informed about the British decision, the official said that "informed under a previous administration" was a more accurate description. This suggests the Obama team had not been given enough notice. A British diplomat told me the decision was driven by the belief that it is possible to encourage Hezbollah to move away from violence and become an integral part of Lebanese politics. |
| I put it to him that the same argument could be made for engaging Hamas; he said the Palestinian group had to first recognise Israel's right to exist. | I put it to him that the same argument could be made for engaging Hamas; he said the Palestinian group had to first recognise Israel's right to exist. |
| But Hezbollah doesn't recognise Israel's right to exist either... | But Hezbollah doesn't recognise Israel's right to exist either... |
| THURSDAY 12 MARCH - DAY 52 | THURSDAY 12 MARCH - DAY 52 |
| 1300 EST Freeman's fall | 1300 EST Freeman's fall |
| Richard Lister: The withdrawal of the Obama administration's nominee to Chair the National Intelligence Committee has triggered a debate about the power of the Israeli lobby. | Richard Lister: The withdrawal of the Obama administration's nominee to Chair the National Intelligence Committee has triggered a debate about the power of the Israeli lobby. |
| In a letter explaining his withdrawal from the appointment process, Charles Freeman launched a blistering attack on what he called the "Israel lobby". | In a letter explaining his withdrawal from the appointment process, Charles Freeman launched a blistering attack on what he called the "Israel lobby". |
| He said it had lied about his record, smeared his character and attacked his credibility. Had he become Chair of the National Intelligence Committee, Mr Freeman said, the attacks would have continued and undermined America's intelligence agencies. | He said it had lied about his record, smeared his character and attacked his credibility. Had he become Chair of the National Intelligence Committee, Mr Freeman said, the attacks would have continued and undermined America's intelligence agencies. |
| The American Israel Public Affairs Committee - one of Washington's most influential lobby groups - has denied taking a formal position on Mr Freeman. But many other pro-Israeli commentators had strongly attacked the appointment, accusing him of being too close to Saudi Arabia, a country where he was once the US Ambassador. | The American Israel Public Affairs Committee - one of Washington's most influential lobby groups - has denied taking a formal position on Mr Freeman. But many other pro-Israeli commentators had strongly attacked the appointment, accusing him of being too close to Saudi Arabia, a country where he was once the US Ambassador. |
| His criticisms of Israeli government policy and past comments in favour of the Chinese government were also highlighted. | His criticisms of Israeli government policy and past comments in favour of the Chinese government were also highlighted. |
| Mr Freeman had been touted by the Administration as someone who could examine both sides of an argument. Mr Freeman said his treatment raises questions about the Obama team's ability to make independent decisions about Middle East policy. | Mr Freeman had been touted by the Administration as someone who could examine both sides of an argument. Mr Freeman said his treatment raises questions about the Obama team's ability to make independent decisions about Middle East policy. |
| WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH - DAY 51 | WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH - DAY 51 |
| 1738 EST Guantanamo manoeuvres | 1738 EST Guantanamo manoeuvres |
| Jonathan Beale: It's slow progress, but Team Obama are inching their way towards the goal of closing down Guantanamo. | Jonathan Beale: It's slow progress, but Team Obama are inching their way towards the goal of closing down Guantanamo. |
| Attorney General Eric Holder has today named two officials to lead a Task Force reviewing interrogation and detention policy. | Attorney General Eric Holder has today named two officials to lead a Task Force reviewing interrogation and detention policy. |
| More announcements could follow - including the possible appointment of a Special Envoy specifically charged with closing down the prison camp. | More announcements could follow - including the possible appointment of a Special Envoy specifically charged with closing down the prison camp. |
| The name in the frame is Dan Fried - currently the senior US diplomat dealing with Europe. The hope is that Mr Fried can utilise his contacts on the continent. | The name in the frame is Dan Fried - currently the senior US diplomat dealing with Europe. The hope is that Mr Fried can utilise his contacts on the continent. |
| But getting European countries to agree to resettle detainees - at least the ones cleared for release - will not prove easy. Mr Fried should know - he was part of the Bush administration that tried and largely failed. | But getting European countries to agree to resettle detainees - at least the ones cleared for release - will not prove easy. Mr Fried should know - he was part of the Bush administration that tried and largely failed. |
| While everyone in Europe thinks it's a smashing idea to close down Guantanamo, they are hardly falling over each other to make it happen. | While everyone in Europe thinks it's a smashing idea to close down Guantanamo, they are hardly falling over each other to make it happen. |
| 1236 EST G20 agenda | 1236 EST G20 agenda |
| Richard Lister: President Obama has set out his priorities for the forthcoming G20 summit in London. | Richard Lister: President Obama has set out his priorities for the forthcoming G20 summit in London. |
| He described the summit as a critical meeting at a critical time, and said that no matter what reforms the United States puts in place, a continuing deterioration in the global economy would set America back. | He described the summit as a critical meeting at a critical time, and said that no matter what reforms the United States puts in place, a continuing deterioration in the global economy would set America back. |
| With that in mind he said he had two goals for the G20; to press for concerted international action to jumpstart the world economy and overhaul the regulations governing the financial industry. | With that in mind he said he had two goals for the G20; to press for concerted international action to jumpstart the world economy and overhaul the regulations governing the financial industry. |
| Although he didn't criticise other nations directly he made clear he expected them to follow America's lead in putting large-scale fiscal stimulus measures in place. The US Congress has already approved a spending package worth almost eight hundred billion dollars and leading members of the Democratic party have suggested further such measures may yet be required. | Although he didn't criticise other nations directly he made clear he expected them to follow America's lead in putting large-scale fiscal stimulus measures in place. The US Congress has already approved a spending package worth almost eight hundred billion dollars and leading members of the Democratic party have suggested further such measures may yet be required. |
| He also warned against the dangers of protectionism, saying it's important for countries to continue to embrace world trade and ensure that emerging markets remain stable. | He also warned against the dangers of protectionism, saying it's important for countries to continue to embrace world trade and ensure that emerging markets remain stable. |
| 0930 EST Doing too much? | 0930 EST Doing too much? |
| World News America presenter Matt Frei takes a look at President Obama's ambitious policy agenda and asks - has he bitten off more than he can chew? | World News America presenter Matt Frei takes a look at President Obama's ambitious policy agenda and asks - has he bitten off more than he can chew? |
| Obama diary: Days 1-10Obama diary: Days 11-20Obama diary: Days 21-30Obama diary: Days 31-40Obama diary: Days 41-50Obama diary: Contributors | Obama diary: Days 1-10Obama diary: Days 11-20Obama diary: Days 21-30Obama diary: Days 31-40Obama diary: Days 41-50Obama diary: Contributors |