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By Clayton Swisher in Middle East on March 21st, 2010
Photo by AFP

This one is for all the marbles. Democrats seem poised to squeak through President Obama's landmark healthcare legislation late on Sunday, and the repercussions could be profound, especially on America's Middle East policy.

Forget for a moment that Obama's domestic approval ratings are at their lowest - less than 50 per cent - or that he has disappointed many around the world by failing to fulfil major objectives, like the closing of the Guantanamo Bay prison.  

By scoring a victory of this scale - one that has eluded American presidents for close to 100 years -  Obama could not only bring the bounce back to the step of his administration, but provide himself the bandwidth to focus on some of the changes he campaigned on.

By Tania Page in Europe on January 28th, 2010
Photo by EPA
Bill Clinton is here with his hand out for Haiti.
 
As an orator the former US president was in fine form. He made a passionate plea for immediate cash and – perhaps just as importantly – long term investment.
 
He seems to have aged since the earthquake, Haiti is a country very close to his (and Hillary’s) heart. They honeymooned there and since the country was hit by several serious hurricanes in 2008, Mr Clinton has been the UN’s Special Envoy to Haiti.
 
Despite the familiar images of the terrible destruction in Haiti and the loss of life, he’s convinced the country will "rise from the ashes".
 
By Omar Chatriwala in Americas on January 17th, 2010

Share your videos about the catastrophe with Al Jazeera

Days after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake devastated Haiti, relief workers are still struggling to help thousands of people affected.

As international organisations rush to contain a developing humanitarian crisis, Al Jazeera has teams in and around  Port-au-Prince, the Haitian capital, covering the story as it unfolds. The following are some of the video reports they've filed.

By Rob Reynolds in Americas on November 10th, 2009
Photo by AFP

It’s worth paying attention to President Barack Obama’s remarks at the Fort Hood memorial service on Tuesday, because they may have significant political impact.

In the past, presidents have seized the opportunity of a shared moment of national shock or grief to strengthen their role as a leader and unifier.

RONALD REAGAN

President Ronald Reagan, who was a gifted orator and had great speechwriters, really rose to the occasion after the space shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986. Millions of Americans—including many school kids—had watched the tragedy unfold live on television, and there was a deep feeling of trauma in the country.

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