I was very happy to see Obama finally inaugurated. I have been following this man from about the time it was rumoured he would run for the nomination. I think the most interesting interview that ’sold’ him for me was with Letterman in ‘06 or ‘07 (can’t remember when, exactly).

Many of my friends are a little cynical about him, and it’s easy to understand why after the recent history of US Presidents. When the best one in 20 years is Bill Clinton, you have to wonder where it’s all going.

Thankfully, Obama seems to have his heart in the right place, and the will and the authority to do the right things. Gitmo will be closed, I have no doubt – and the people unfairly imprisoned during the reign of G.W.Bush will be freed.

I hold a slim sliver of hope that Bush will be indicted for High Crimes against the U.S., but I have a feeling the Obama will want to focus on the future, and not the past, and that a long and protracted court-case bringing Bush to task for his crimes during the past 8 years would be more destructive than anything else he could do.

No, Obama will most likely want to focus on healing his country. And, in turn, the world will be healed, for democracy and freedom’s heart lies in the United States.

America has been holding it’s breath for the past 8 years, and with it so has the world. We’ve missed its leadership and its example. And now, with new leadership, I think the whole world breathes out in a collective sigh of relief. No war declared on Iran in the last minute, no crazy ploy to stay in power, none of the crackpot conspiracy theories played out in the end.

Welcome back, America. We’ve missed you.