In general nothing new in the West for 2000 plus years..From the time of slavery till today "tune" is the same. As for Usa, endeed nothing change with mr.Obama in power. As a person I think he is a fine man but to hold post of Usa president means to have "mask" over the very same - face and notining more! Change never come and this famous word which was on lips and minds of majority Usa citizens (and world one to) was utopia...I will say a Change of label and pakage but not the substance! Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq still goes on(with chances for new one looming) with new millitary basses(Iraq and Afghanistan "needs" Usa for "security and prosperity") for fight in forever war against "terrorism"(excuse to have a foothold in Asia and elsewhere) is same policy from Bush era but with more desirable smiling and nice face for world to accept ...I honesly believe that he was thinking to change something for better but he realise that he will indanger his family. If memory serve me right their ex president Kenedy was shot 3(or 4) times in few seconds from deferrent sides but only one killer(Osvald) was stationary on one place....To be president of Usa is just a pubic job and nothing more-some other people decide what policy will be.... In few "democracies" around the globe you can not even be a cleaner in some public toalets unless you past security police(secret or official) check so I don't blame him...Even ,who ever come in power after him- it will be the same.Usa imperialistic plans goes on unless they to hit the wall as all others in previous history. A deja vu history - thats what await them sooner or latter-they to, will find in the end what they looking for! Thank you.

I agree, Zak - President Obama is not as powerful as people hoped. If he is not careful, he will go the way of Lincoln and Kennedy. The enemies he should fear are not in Congress but in his own administration. A lot of very wicked people are burrowed into the bureaucracy.

Obama is a figure-head at best, and an actor at worst. It should be clear to all who care to look hard enough that the last few US presidents have not been calling all the shots (litereally in the case of support for wars). There does appear to be an unelected and unaccountable 'block' of individuals and groups who have significant control / influence over US domestic and foreign policy. The harder someone cares to look at what the President actually says and does, the clearer it becomes that someone else is pulling at least some, if not all, of the strings.