Obama to take on challenges left by Bush

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Source: CCTV.com | 01-13-2009 14:04

While President Bush leaves behind a number of thorny issues, president-elect Barack Obama is vowing to bring change to the United States.

On Monday, Obama says he will fundamentally alter the way the second half of the 700 billion US dollar financial bailout fund is spent, focusing some of the relief on housing and small businesses.

President-elect Barack Obama meets with Mexico's President Felipe Calderon in Washington, Monday, Jan. 12, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

He announced the decision during a meeting with visiting Mexican president Felipe Calderon in Washington.

It is a long-standing tradition that the incoming American president meets his Mexican counterpart before taking office.

Obama and Calderon on Monday discussed topics such as the North American Free Trade Agreement, border security, immigration and crime.

In addition to his performance at the key diplomatic event, the incoming president also showed his determination to rescue the country's ailing financial system.

He said he had asked President Bush to submit a request to Congress, so that the second half of the 700 billion US dollar bailout money would be available soon after he takes office.

Obama was disappointed with a lack of tough restrictions and oversight on how the money was spent during Bush's tenure.

He is vowing to prevent the same situation from happening again.

Barack Obama, US President-elect, said, "So, my commitment is that we are going to fundamentally change some of the practices in using this next phase of the programme."

Meanwhile, some expect swift change in Washington's policies on the war on terror, including the Guantanamo Bay US military prison in Cuba.

Advisers on the Obama transition team said the president-elect is preparing to issue an executive order in the first days of his administration to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay.

They say the order, once issued, would start the process of deciding what to do with the estimated 250 al-Qaida and Taliban suspects and potential witnesses who are being held there.

Most of the detainees have not been charged with a crime.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei