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Obama diary: The first 100 days Obama diary: The first 100 days
(1 day 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.
FRIDAY 24 APRIL - DAY 95
1522 EDT Obama avoids the G-word
Max Deveson: How do you condemn the mass killing of Armenians by Turks in 1915 as a "genocide", without using the actual word "genocide".
Well, if you're Barack Obama, you refer people to previous statements you have made on the subject.
In 2008, when he was running for president, Mr Obama said: "The Armenian genocide is not an allegation, a personal opinion or a point of view, but rather a widely documented fact supported by an overwhelming body of historical evidence. America deserves a leader who speaks truthfully about the Armenian genocide and responds forcefully to all genocides."
But today, in a statement marking the incident, although Mr Obama described it as "one of the great atrocities of the 20th century", he did not use the word "genocide".
In a nod to his previous assertion, he said: "I have consistently stated my own view of what occurred in 1915, and my view of that history has not changed."
So Mr Obama has not backed down from his position that the massacre qualified as "genocide".
But, as the New Republic's Michael Crowley points out , "Obama's promise was to 'recognise' the genocide as such, using that word, as a matter of US policy", not merely to hold the view in private.
As such, Mr Crowley concludes, the statement "breaks - or, to be charitable, defers - a very explicit campaign promise".
THURSDAY 23 APRIL - DAY 94THURSDAY 23 APRIL - DAY 94
1729 EDT Tough talk on credit cards1729 EDT Tough talk on credit cards
Max Deveson: "The days of any time, any reason rate hikes have to stop."Max Deveson: "The days of any time, any reason rate hikes have to stop."
That was President Obama's message to the credit card companies today . It's a theme he has been pushing since the start of his presidential campaign, but it has taken on more urgency as the economic crisis has deepened.That was President Obama's message to the credit card companies today . It's a theme he has been pushing since the start of his presidential campaign, but it has taken on more urgency as the economic crisis has deepened.
Mr Obama met the CEOs of 13 major card issuers, and told them they needed to scrap unfair interest rate hikes and be more transparent and accountable.Mr Obama met the CEOs of 13 major card issuers, and told them they needed to scrap unfair interest rate hikes and be more transparent and accountable.
The banks are worried that a crackdown on credit card companies will hurt them at a time when they are already suffering.The banks are worried that a crackdown on credit card companies will hurt them at a time when they are already suffering.
But they are unlikely to win much sympathy from voters. The average American household with a credit card held $10,679 in credit card debt at the end of 2008.But they are unlikely to win much sympathy from voters. The average American household with a credit card held $10,679 in credit card debt at the end of 2008.
A bill introduced in Congress yesterday could put in place many of Mr Obama's proposals for the industry.A bill introduced in Congress yesterday could put in place many of Mr Obama's proposals for the industry.
1714 EDT Take your child to work (at the White House) day1714 EDT Take your child to work (at the White House) day
If you work at the White House, then your children get to ask Michelle Obama questions on "Take your Child to Work Day"If you work at the White House, then your children get to ask Michelle Obama questions on "Take your Child to Work Day"
1620 EDT What's on your mind?1620 EDT What's on your mind?
As we approach President Obama's 100th day, do you have any questions for our correspondents here in Washington about the new administration? If you do, our team of experts will attempt to give you some answers.As we approach President Obama's 100th day, do you have any questions for our correspondents here in Washington about the new administration? If you do, our team of experts will attempt to give you some answers.
You can submit your questions here.You can submit your questions here.
WEDNESDAY 22 APRIL - DAY 93WEDNESDAY 22 APRIL - DAY 93
1748 EDT Offshore energy1748 EDT Offshore energy
Max Deveson: President Obama marked Earth Day today by announcing a move to allow renewable energy generation off the US coast.Max Deveson: President Obama marked Earth Day today by announcing a move to allow renewable energy generation off the US coast.
Mr Obama said generating power from wind could satisfy 20% of America's demand for electricity, and that offshore renewable power from wind, waves and ocean currents could create as many as 250,000 jobs.Mr Obama said generating power from wind could satisfy 20% of America's demand for electricity, and that offshore renewable power from wind, waves and ocean currents could create as many as 250,000 jobs.
The president is attempting to create an inextricable link between economic recovery and his ambitious environmental agenda in the minds of the American public.The president is attempting to create an inextricable link between economic recovery and his ambitious environmental agenda in the minds of the American public.
The big test of this strategy will be in Congress. If legislators think that supporting Mr Obama's cap and trade plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will make them more popular, then the president will have succeeded.The big test of this strategy will be in Congress. If legislators think that supporting Mr Obama's cap and trade plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will make them more popular, then the president will have succeeded.
TUESDAY 21 APRIL - DAY 92TUESDAY 21 APRIL - DAY 92
1419 EDT Change of heart on 'torture' prosecutions?1419 EDT Change of heart on 'torture' prosecutions?
James Coomarasamy: Before now, the message from the White House had been clear - it had no intention of pressing charges against Bush Adminsitration officials involved in the controversial interrogation of terrorist suspects. This was the time to look forward, the President had said, not backwards.James Coomarasamy: Before now, the message from the White House had been clear - it had no intention of pressing charges against Bush Adminsitration officials involved in the controversial interrogation of terrorist suspects. This was the time to look forward, the President had said, not backwards.
But - with pressure growing from his own party not to rule out potential prosecutions - Mr Obama has had a change of tone. Asked whether he would give officials the same assurances of immunity he's given to CIA agents who carried out the now-banned forms of interrogation, the President made a distinction:But - with pressure growing from his own party not to rule out potential prosecutions - Mr Obama has had a change of tone. Asked whether he would give officials the same assurances of immunity he's given to CIA agents who carried out the now-banned forms of interrogation, the President made a distinction:
"With respect to those who formulated the legal decisions," he said, "that is going to be more of a decision for the Attorney General"."With respect to those who formulated the legal decisions," he said, "that is going to be more of a decision for the Attorney General".
Mr Obama's remarks come a day after the former US Vice President Dick Cheney publicly defended the interrogation methods and reflect the increasingly complex political situation surrounding the decision by the White House last week to publish the four Justice Department memos outlining the methods.Mr Obama's remarks come a day after the former US Vice President Dick Cheney publicly defended the interrogation methods and reflect the increasingly complex political situation surrounding the decision by the White House last week to publish the four Justice Department memos outlining the methods.
MONDAY 20 APRIL - DAY 91MONDAY 20 APRIL - DAY 91
1811 EDT Navigating engagement with Iran1811 EDT Navigating engagement with Iran
Kim Ghattas: President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's speech at the UN anti-racism conference in Geneva adds another layer to America's complex attempts to engage Tehran.Kim Ghattas: President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's speech at the UN anti-racism conference in Geneva adds another layer to America's complex attempts to engage Tehran.
Ahmadinejad is walking a fine line ahead of the Iranian elections in June. He needs to appeal to an electorate that may be open to the idea of a detente with "the Great Satan", in a country that (despite the image it has abroad) has the least anti-American population in the region.Ahmadinejad is walking a fine line ahead of the Iranian elections in June. He needs to appeal to an electorate that may be open to the idea of a detente with "the Great Satan", in a country that (despite the image it has abroad) has the least anti-American population in the region.
But he also needs to keep the clerics on his side by maintaining his tough anti-Western rethoric. He scored high with the UN speech.But he also needs to keep the clerics on his side by maintaining his tough anti-Western rethoric. He scored high with the UN speech.
The case of journalist Roxana Saberi exemplifies that balancing act. The hard-liners in Iran have demonstrated their unwillingness to engage with Washington, but Ahmadinejad has cleverly intervened to ask that Saberi be allowed a full defence during her appeal. All the while, this is unfolding at the UN.The case of journalist Roxana Saberi exemplifies that balancing act. The hard-liners in Iran have demonstrated their unwillingness to engage with Washington, but Ahmadinejad has cleverly intervened to ask that Saberi be allowed a full defence during her appeal. All the while, this is unfolding at the UN.
The US is not easing the pressure of sanctions for now. In fact, rather interestingly, the man in charge of tightening the screws on Tehran during the Bush years, Stuart Levey, is still in his job at the Treasury department.The US is not easing the pressure of sanctions for now. In fact, rather interestingly, the man in charge of tightening the screws on Tehran during the Bush years, Stuart Levey, is still in his job at the Treasury department.
1751 EDT Reassuring the CIA1751 EDT Reassuring the CIA
James Coomarasamy: On his first visit to CIA headquarters, President Obama told employees that he understands the difficulty they've had over the release of the so-called torture memos.James Coomarasamy: On his first visit to CIA headquarters, President Obama told employees that he understands the difficulty they've had over the release of the so-called torture memos.
But he defended his decision to publish them and offered reassurance that there'd be no legal consequences for the officers who'd acted on their advice.But he defended his decision to publish them and offered reassurance that there'd be no legal consequences for the officers who'd acted on their advice.
Saying his administration had had no alternative but to release the memos, he went on to praise the agency's unsung patriotism.Saying his administration had had no alternative but to release the memos, he went on to praise the agency's unsung patriotism.
He said he understood it was hard to operate against unscrupulous enemies and that the agents must feel as though they were acting with one hand tied behind their backs. But, he said, it was important for US security that they carried out their work to the highest moral standards:He said he understood it was hard to operate against unscrupulous enemies and that the agents must feel as though they were acting with one hand tied behind their backs. But, he said, it was important for US security that they carried out their work to the highest moral standards:
Even if the president's words do help answer the concerns of CIA agents, they're unlikely to silence those who've criticised his decision to release the memos.Even if the president's words do help answer the concerns of CIA agents, they're unlikely to silence those who've criticised his decision to release the memos.
His critics on the right say his action will make the country less secure, while those on the left want him to pursue charges against those who may have tortured prisoners in America's name.His critics on the right say his action will make the country less secure, while those on the left want him to pursue charges against those who may have tortured prisoners in America's name.
1608 EDT First Cabinet meeting1608 EDT First Cabinet meeting
Max Deveson: It's only taken 91 days, but President Obama has finally gathered his full cabinet together for a meeting.Max Deveson: It's only taken 91 days, but President Obama has finally gathered his full cabinet together for a meeting.
Of course, his cabinet appointments required congressional approval before they could take up their positions, so it is not really surprising that it has taken so long for the cabinet to meet. Moreover, unlike in countries like the UK, where the Cabinet meets every week, the Cabinet in the US meets less frequently - policy is generally decided at the White House, and Cabinet Secretaries are charged with implementing it.Of course, his cabinet appointments required congressional approval before they could take up their positions, so it is not really surprising that it has taken so long for the cabinet to meet. Moreover, unlike in countries like the UK, where the Cabinet meets every week, the Cabinet in the US meets less frequently - policy is generally decided at the White House, and Cabinet Secretaries are charged with implementing it.
At the meeting, Mr Obama ordered his Cabinet to find cost saving in their departments, in order to cut $100m from the budget.At the meeting, Mr Obama ordered his Cabinet to find cost saving in their departments, in order to cut $100m from the budget.
He acknowledged that $100m was a "drop in the budget", but that the government needed to win back the confidence of the American people by showing that money was not being wasted.He acknowledged that $100m was a "drop in the budget", but that the government needed to win back the confidence of the American people by showing that money was not being wasted.
"We've got to earn their trust," he said."We've got to earn their trust," he said.
1530 EDT Round the table1530 EDT Round the table
Barack Obama used his first cabinet meeting to challenge his Cabinet Secretaries to search for cost-savings in their departmentsBarack Obama used his first cabinet meeting to challenge his Cabinet Secretaries to search for cost-savings in their departments
Obama diary: Days 1-10 Obama diary: Days 11-20 Obama diary: Days 21-30 Obama diary: Days 31-40 Obama diary: Days 41-50 Obama diary: Days 51-60 Obama diary: Days 61-70 Obama diary: Days 71-80 Obama diary: Days 81-90 Obama diary: ContributorsObama diary: Days 1-10 Obama diary: Days 11-20 Obama diary: Days 21-30 Obama diary: Days 31-40 Obama diary: Days 41-50 Obama diary: Days 51-60 Obama diary: Days 61-70 Obama diary: Days 71-80 Obama diary: Days 81-90 Obama diary: Contributors