2009 was not exactly the most memorable year. If anything, it’s notable for being one of the gloomiest years of late. Bank accounts are drying up, foreclosures are through the roof, and unemployment is the highest its been in nearly three decades. In all parts of the world, there aren’t many who can look back with fondness on 2009. Still, we certainly finished the decade with some important milestones and no shortage of things to look back on. As we close out the first decade of the new millennium, we present The Year in Review 2009.

Part 1: New Governments

Obama’s First Year

An aerial view of Washington's National Mall shows some of the millions who gathered to watch the inauguration

In one of the bright spots in 2009, President Barack Obama, the former Senator from Illinois and the 44th president of the United States, was inaugurated and took office. Obama became the first black president of the United States; his father is black and was born in Kenya and his mother is white and from Kansas. After winning the 2008 election over Republican candidate John McCain, he was sworn into office by Chief Justice John Roberts on January 20th in front of the Capitol Building. His Vice President, Joe Biden, also took his oath. Much like during his campaign, supporters came out in force to watch him take office. The same groups who had come out to vote for him (many of which had not voted in large numbers in the previous election) flocked to his inauguration. Obama’s inauguration brought the largest crowd in presidential history to the National Mall in Washington D.C. Many more gathered in front of television screens across the country and across the globe to watch our new president be sworn in. It was truly a global event. Television news networks showed footage from Europe to Africa to here in the U.S. as people celebrated a new president like never before. Rick Warren, the pastor at a California megachurch, offered the invocation for the ceremony. Aretha Franklin followed with her rendition of “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee”. Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Gabriela Montero, and and Anthony McGill performed John Williams’ “Air and Simple Gifts”. After Biden was sworn in by Justice Stevens, Obama was given his oath by Chief Justice John Roberts. With Barack’s hand on the same bible used by Abraham Lincoln in 1861, Roberts rearranged a few words of the constitutionally prescribed oath. Just to be sure, the oath was retaken the next day. In his address to the American public, Obama stressed the importance of restoring responsibility, both accountability in D.C. and in the duty of Americans to improve the country and the world. He stressed traditional values like honesty, courage, and patriotism and reinforced his intention to stay within the tradition of the presidency. After parting with a final call to action, the festivities began.

After the celebration subsided, it was time for Obama to begin the work he had promised to carry out during his campaign. “Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America,” he said during his inaugural address. He wasted little time. President Obama has been remarkably involved with Congress. He established various czars (high level aides who oversee a specific initiative) for everything from cars to schools to try to work with all government agencies to effect reform. He’s been active on social networking websites like Facebook and Twitter and has used these platforms to rally supporters and have them write their members of Congress and voice their opinion. A $787 billion stimulus package largely based on his goals was passed earlier this year. Just this month major healthcare reforms were passed.  Not all the news out of the White House has been good. On December 1st, Obama announced his plan to send an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan in an effort to push back the Taliban. And there still exist the many economic problems back in the U.S., from unemployment to foreclosure. President Obama wasted no time getting started on his agenda in 2009 and he’ll continue to work towards his many goals yet to be completed in 2010, the second year of his presidency.

Conflict in the Middle East

Iraq

U.S. Soldiers take cover in Baghdad

2009 was a year of one step forward in the Middle East, but ten steps back. As part of an agreement which went into effect on January 1, 2009, the U.S. began to pulls its troops back from Iraqi cities and turn control over to Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki. Iraqis expressed skepticism as to whether their security forces could maintain order in the country torn apart by a turbulent battle between foreign armies, the national government, and militant groups including Al-Qaeda. Nevertheless, as British troops withdraw completely and U.S. forces turn control over to the Iraqis, the civilian death toll has dropped to its lowest level since before the 2003 invasion, according to the Iraqi Interior Ministry. As Iraq’s economy continues to grow, the country looks to be on the path to peace and success. While it has been long, costly, and brutal, the Iraq War appears to be a success.

Israel

In Israel, January 2009 was a bloody month. After months of rocket attacks from Gaza which had intensified when Hamas declared the end of a six month ceasefire, Israel conducted air strikes on suspected weapon-stores and centers of militant operations, including government buildings and military installations. Hamas, the controlling government in Gaza, continued to fire rockets at civilian targets in southern Israel, reaching as far North as the city of Beersheba, where a rocket destroyed an empty kindergarten classroom. An Israel ground attack began on January 3 and ended just over two weeks later when Israel declared a ceasefire and Hamas later agreed. Approximately 1,200 Palestinians were killed during the conflict as well as 13 Israelis.

IDF soldiers wait for orders in Gaza

Both sides were widely criticized for alleged war crimes. Hamas, classified as a terrorist organization by nations including the U.S., the U.K., and Canada, was widely accused of firing rockets indiscriminately into civilian areas and using its citizens as human shields, placing them in buildings housing weapons to avoid airstrikes. Israel, on numerous occasions, dropped pamphlets (over 2 million) and made phone calls in areas which they were targeting, but often civilians would either elect to remain in target buildings. Hamas was also accused of hiding munitions in mosques and shielding them with civilians. Air strikes also destroyed many of the tunnels used to smuggle in weapons. Israel has been criticized for its use of white phosphorus. While military experts mentioned that white phosphorous was the chemical for a smokescreen to avoid snipers and rockets, multiple civilians were reported to have been burned by the gas. Israel maintains that it used white phosphorous within international guidelines. Hundreds of thousands of Gaza residents were also either displaced or left without running water by air strikes. A UN report headed by Judge Richard Goldstone held both Israel and Hamas responsible for crimes against humanity. Thousands of others did not receive proper medical care when Gaza was sealed off. Israel only allowed a limited number of individuals to cross the Israel-Gaza border for treatment, while Hamas largely closed off its border with Egypt, preventing its citizens from receiving medical care. In a decision opposed by Goldstone and the U.S., The UN Human Rights Council, under pressure from Arab and African nations, held Israel fully responsible and declined to indicate any wrongdoing by Hamas. Since a peace agreement was reached in late January, sporadic rocket attacks on Israel have continued, albeit at a much slower rate than in late 2008.

Afghanistan

Taliban commanders plan an attack in Afghanistan in 2006

The fight between coalition forces and the Taliban and al-Qaeda in Afghanistan (NATO, Afghanistan, U.S., U.K.) seems to be never-ending. 304 more Americans died in 2009 as the Taliban has introduced more advanced bombs. 502 coalition troops in total were killed by insurgents. In November, President Obama chose to send an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan in an effort to push the Taliban back. As Iraq becomes more stable, Afghanistan continues to come apart. In its August presidential race between Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah, few voters turned out in response to threats made by the Taliban. There have also been widespread accusations of election fraud. After Afghan officials were pressured into a second run-off vote by the U.S. and its other allies, Abdullah Abdullah withdrew, stating that a “transparent election is not possible.” The incumbent Karzai remained in office. The Afghani democracy is increasingly plagued by corruption and it appears that a stable government is not as close as we’d hoped.

Iran

Iran has become an increasing source of worry for the West in 2009. Its president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is an unashamed critic of the United States, Israel, and the United Kingdom. He famously said that Israel should be “wiped off the map” and that the Holocaust was a myth. UN sanctions have been levied against Iran in response to its refusal to end its nuclear program. The U.S. has also condemned any nuclear program operated by Iran, which it considers to be a sponsor of terrorism. Iran has openly supported Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terrorist organizations.

In its 2009 presidential election, Iran once again became the center of media attention. Mir-Hossein Mousavi, Ahmadinejad’s primary challenger, lost by a large margin despite polls which indicated strong support for him. After a government investigation Iran decided not to overturn the results or run a second vote. Protestors have spoken out against the alleged fraud for months. Protesters have been suppressed with batons, pepper spray, and more recently, bullets. While the violence in Iran in the last several weeks of 2009 have not garnered much mainstream media attention, online media has revealed some of the atrocities which have occurred. Visitors  to social networking website Twitter and video sharing site YouTube have voiced their support and spread some of the footage news channels haven’t shown. Clips from recent weeks can be found on YouTube, but viewer discretion is advised, as these videos often contain blood and brutal scenes.

Pakistan

While Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan often receive the most attention, Pakistan has become a growing concern in 2009. Most of the attackers in Mumbai, India, in 2008 were from Pakistan. The U.S. has destroyed several militant targets in Pakistan with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and continues to use Predator drones to monitor militant groups and destroy them.

No related posts.