The cause of change

The Congress has approved 657 billion US. dollars for the war in Iraq and the country is expected to spend an additional 440 to 865 billion dollars on the war in the coming decade, predicted Congressional Budget Office last year.

The soaring cost of war will make US economy even worse amid the grave economic crisis and further strain financial situation.

The United States has tried to establish a Washington-favored world order to ensure its own security. For that end it will resort to interfering in other countries' internal affairs, or even waging wars.

However, the world today has undergone profound changes. Plagued by worsening economic woes caused by financial crisis and ongoing global economic downturn, the United States has to tackle its domestic problems first. Its decline in world political and economic affairs is all the more apparent against the backdrop of the increasingly important role played by emerging economies. That is the underlying reason for a prompt readjustment by the Obama Administration of its Middle East strategies and policies.

Engagement with Iran 

Obama tendered "olive branch" to Iran and Syria right after his inauguration. On March 20, the Iranian New Year, Obama said in a videotaped speech that his administration was committed to addressing issues between the two countries and pursuing "constructive ties".

Meanwhile, four US congressional delegations and one official delegation have visited Syria so far. These moves showed that Obama had revised Bush's containment policies towards Iran and Syria.

Iran nuclear issue is more than a simple non-proliferation issue, but involves deep-seated conflicts between Washington and Tehran. The Bush Administration was confronted with the difficult choice between military action for regime change and engagement with Iran. The former entails taking tougher stance on Iran, urging for further UN Security Council sanctions and preparing politically and militarily for possible military strike against Iran.

By contrast, engagement strategy means normalizing its ties with Iran and integrating Iran into the international system. Observers here noted that the Obama administration seemed to have made its choice over the Iran issue. They hope it is a rational choice that serves the interests of not only the two countries, but the world at large as well.

(Xinhua News Agency April 21, 2009)