Obama Got Osama (And the Republicans)

As a British observer looking from the outside in, it seems from the time that Barack Obama took the oath of office, as the first African – American President, Republicans made destroying him politically their number one priority. In doing so they have made a variety of outlandish threats and predictions accusing the president of wanting death panels to socialism.

However the recent news events destroyed three of the top lies told by Republicans to try and bring down the president - no matter what the cost to the country.

1. President Obama is soft on terrorism/won't protect the country/is a Muslim sympathizer. From the time Obama took office, he has had to contend with a Republican campaign to portray him as weak on national security. The attacks really took off after the unsuccessful attempt by the "underpants bomber" on Christmas Day 2009.

However, Obama has been more aggressive than his predecessor was in targeting and killing terrorist group leaders, including authorizing more drone attacks. Then, putting nearly 10 long years of frustration to bed, Obama authorized a daring and well-planned operation to kill Osama bin Laden at his retreat in the suburbs of Islamabad.

And while terrorists may be able to strike in the United States no matter what precautions are taken by the president, it is telling that the greatest domestic terrorist attack of the last 100 years took place on President Bush's watch. Based on recent events, Republicans will look idiotic if they again try to engage in scare tactics based on an idea that Obama isn't capable of keeping the American people safe.

2. President Obama wants to raise taxes. These attacks were works of pure fiction, given that Obama campaigned that he wouldn't raise taxes on anyone making more than $250,000 per year, and would cut taxes on most families below that range. And he has done exactly what he promised. But despite the fear mongering tactics of Republicans who promised the American people Obama wanted raise their taxes, he has been a tax-cutting president.

3. President Obama wasn't born in the United States. On April 27 2011, as unnecessary as it was, Obama released his long-form birth certificate, putting the issue to rest once and for all.

The release of Obama's birth certificate has given Americans a lot of questions to ask themselves: Why did Republicans spend so much time on a patently ludicrous accusation, even while the country was grappling with important problems, including a struggling economy, two wars, and national security. What does it say about a party that would conduct its business that way?

I have no hope that the Republicans will change how they operate. But I do hope the American people have taken notice and will react accordingly.

A Sense of Place

For me, there's only one location where I genuinely feel a sense of place - Lord's Cricket Ground.

I can still vividly remember venturing there as an impressionable 14 year old for trials with Middlesex Cricket Club as an aspiring batsman and an occasional spin-bowler.

Entering the gates on the morning of the trail was an exhilarating experience. The smell of linseed oil being liberally applied on cricket bats punctuated the atmosphere. I thought to myself yes, this is where I truly belong.

Up to that stage cricket had been my life. Every ounce of me wanted to become professional cricketer, and the cathedral of cricket, Lord's, was the place I wanted those fantasies to become reality.

I would often dream of striding elegantly across the perfectly manicured and hallowed turf of this famous cricket ground, in my creased ironed whites, bat in hand, ready to commence war with the best bowlers in the world.

It soon dawned on me that my fellow contemporaries all shared the same dream. I rapidly realised I was a Stockport United to their Barcelona. I was way out of my league. I was inconsolable for weeks.

Thirty years on, Lord's still generates a tingling sensation in the back of my spine whenever I attend a match. It’s still a place where I feel I belong – but now only as a mere spectator.

Demise of Terrorism - Don't Count your chickens yet!

It was seven in the morning on Monday 2nd May when I woke up to the news that Osama Bin Laden had been killed in his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

I was ambivalent to the news as I never consider Bin Laden, for many years now, a significant player in al Qaeda terrorism. There was much jubilation across the United States when the news broke.

For President Obama this can only help his re-election in 2012 - the man who gave the order to kill/capture the ultimate bogeyman in the eyes of many Americans.

A note of caution for the President. He many bask in the glory with the inevitable sharp rise in his poll ratings. However, the first President Bush won the first Gulf war against Iraq but was soundly beaten by Bill Clinton at the following presidential election. A week is a long time in politics let alone 18 months. There is also the probability of revenge attacks which may diminish the feel good factor that many Americans are feeling now and call into question President's security credentials

Beware Mr President your second term in office is far from guaranteed.