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Obama pledges to do what is necessary to kick start recovery

Apr 1, 2009, 18:52 GMT

$Britain\'s Prime Minister Gordon Brown (L) and US President Barack Obama speak during a press conference at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London, Britain, on 01 April 2009. US President Obama is attending the summit of the Group of 20 leaders to discuss and seek answers to the global economic meltdown. EPA/ANTHONY DEVLIN / POOL$

Britain\'s Prime Minister Gordon Brown (L) and US President Barack Obama speak during a press conference at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London, Britain, on 01 April 2009. US President Obama is attending the summit of the Group of 20 leaders to discuss and seek answers to the global economic meltdown. EPA/ANTHONY DEVLIN / POOL

London - US President Barack Obama wound up his first day on the world political stage Wednesday, pledging to do all he could to face down the global recession as fresh tensions emerged over how to tackling the world economy's biggest downturn since the World War II.

While Obama highlighted the consensus that had been reached among the leaders of the Group of 20 (G20) world's biggest economies ahead of their Thursday summit on the global crisis, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy threw down the gauntlet on market reform.

'The United States is committed...to doing whatever it takes to stimulate growth and demand, and to ensure that a crisis like this never happens again,' Obama said at a joint press conference with G20 host, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

The president also rejected talk of deep divisions between the world's big economic powers gathering in London for a summit on the global economic crisis, while he also laid out new foreign policy directions for his administration.

The differences between world leaders attending the G20 meeting of the leading industrialized nations and emerging economies had been 'vastly overstated,' Obama said.

But speaking at a joint press conference with Sarkozy, an unusually combative Merkel said the time for laying 'the foundations for the new financial architecture is now.'

Obama later joined the other world G20 leaders for a reception at Buckingham Palace and a working dinner at Brown's official residence at Number 10 Downing Street.

The the head sof the G20 governments, which also include those of Canada and Italy as well China and India, gathered in London for the summit against the backdrop of an unprecedented security alert in the British capital to deal with mass demonstrations.

While protestors clashed with police outside the Bank of England in London's financial centre, anti-war protestors descended on the American embassy in the city.

On his first trip outside North America since becoming president, Obama agreed at his first face-to-face meeting with Russian President Dimitry Medvedev for talks on a new nuclear arms deal.

The agreement formed part of an effort on the part of both Moscow and Washington to begin a new chapter in US-Russian relations, which hit a low point during the presidency of George W Bush.

For many world leaders, however, the London summit represents their first chance to meet the new US chief executive, with Obama also hold talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao.

The US and Chinese leaders also signalled plans to open a new dialogue between Washington and Beijing by committing themselves to working together to tackle the economic crisis. Obama is to visit both China and Moscow later in the year.

In his remarks to reporters, Obama also raised hopes for a more open dialogue with Iran as well as calling for steps to secure a lasting peace between the Palestinians and Israelis and to stabilize and rebuild Afghanistan.

At their joint press conference, both Brown and Obama emphasized their concerns for the human fallout from recession and called on the summit to agree to reforming the rules governing global markets.

Commenting on reports of a rift between the US and Europe over Washington's calls for additional fiscal stimulus packages to help spur growth, Obama said governments around the world have launched their own plans for warding off the recession.

'I think there's broad recognition that in the midst of the greatest crisis we have seen since the '30s, that governments are going to have to act, and certainly the US does not intend to act alone - and we are not,' said Obama.

Acknowledging that 2009 was likely to be difficult year for people around the world, Obama said that people were concerned about 'losing their jobs, losing their homes losing their savings and losing their pensions.

'We have a responsibility to act with a sense of urgency,' said Obama.

At their press conference, Brown said that he and Obama had agreed that the world leaders had to clean up the banking system so that an economic recovery could take hold.

But the two leaders also expressed optimism about the London summit reaching agreement on world market reform and improved international economic co-ordination to tackle the global recession.

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The problem is in expectationsApr 1st, 2009 - 19:46:11

The public is looking for a quick cure, and there is none. Europe is looking to increase regulation; but forgoing investment to kick-start their own economies.

The world has a capacity to make 90 million vehicles, but the market can only absorb about 60 million. Something has to happen on the supply-side - GM is paying the price now.

Between Obama, the Fed, and the Treasury, they've provided all kinds of impetus. The GOP is still battling the last election, and does not understand that the public no longer wants to hear about 'tax cuts for the rich' as a solution - the performance of the past 8 years destroyed that case. Giving tax break to corporations making products no one wants, or can pay for, will just cost us more in terms of the National Debt.

Any party with Limbaugh and SP4 as spokespeople has a problem - and all the news on Palin be un-invited as a speaker, and her other issues, makes the GOP a laughingstock - Steele is also a joke.

90 percent of the National Debt was created under Reagan and the two Bushes.

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and the Republican'tApr 1st, 2009 - 22:51:23

sit around propose more of the same old same old and continue to loose their senate and congress seats. The Grand Old Party my as*.

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aApr 2nd, 2009 - 15:31:59

Barack Obama as next President of The United States of America

The die is cast and for reasons that only a privileged few know, you Sir, will be the next President of the United States of America. Your next 4 years will be a turning point in US history and planet earth. CHANGE, your advisors and high stake investors offer the nation will undoubtedly be the same rhetoric and empty promises that make up a political campaign, that campaigns for appointment for any public office in America.

The White House will be the Black House to some, the Aryan Brothers of America will not be so happy, but yet will blame you and your staff if you fail, which will reinforce their belief that the Aryan Nation is the true leader for America. The religious zealots will be busy bees making nests to survive the onslaught of lies, corruption and deceit. Business enterprises and other competing nations will capitalize off of your inexperience in the art of corruption and murder. The organized crime organizations from different nations including our own will benefit from the lack of control over national crime.

Military governments including our own will test your tolerance to pain and deception and trick you into needless and profitable domestic and international conflict. You will no doubt attempt to colorize your staff to soften the race conflict once in office.

As President you will be President. Nations will respect you only for your title of office. Americans will soon see after your appointment as President that your intentions were manipulated by those that make the rules. You will fill the spot in history as planned, and nothing more.

You will never while in office be able to pull the troops from conflict in any land we are engaged in. As a matter of fact we as a nation will be engaged in a new conflict of war, which will galvanize Americans to seek a different form of government and a different and honest Congress.

You will attempt to shore up Americas problems with false promise and lies, because you cannot directly affect the CHANGE you promised.

Your frustration will be your downfall while in office, and your co-dependence on those that you trust will also add to your demise.

Our Armed Forces in rank will respect you as good soldiers they are, but those under them will not, and for good reasons, that only a good soldier knows.

America will not be America until its government respects the People, and tells the truth. America is a Republic, not a Democracy or Fascist Government or is it?

Until you can walk thru the streets and neighborhoods of America unaided by Secret Service or any other law enforcement agency you will not be respected by the many, only by the fearful and selfish few. Americans can protect their leaders if they are honest and respectful of the people they were elected to serve. Our Government has forsaken us for many hundreds of years, and now we will wait until your 4 years are finished for us to come to fruition.

CHANGE FOR AMERICA FOR AMERICANS!
The American Republic
A Sovereign Republic