One year has passed since Barack Obama, the US president, gave his victory speech in Grant Park in Chicago in front of a euphoric crowd.

For the first time in history a black man had been voted to the most powerful job in the world, and with his election came the promise of a brave new world.

Obama wanted to reach out to Muslim nations, talk to dictators, and bring peace to troubled regions.

He promised a very different path to that of his predecessor. But one year on, confidence in him is declining.

The latest survey among US citizens found his job approval rating was just 53 per cent.

The US is still fighting a war on two fronts, Iran and North Korea still remain defiant, and Obama is accused of losing face in the Middle East because of his lack of progress on the peace process. 

Did Obama offer false hope a year ago? Or is it simply too early to tell?
 
Inside Story, with presenter Shiulie Ghosh, discusses with guests: Marvin Weinbaum, a former intelligence analyst in the US department of state and a current adjunct scholar at the Middle East Institute.

Also joining the show is Richard Weitz, a senior fellow and director of the Center for Political-Military analysis at Hudson Institute, and Rami Khouri, the director of the Issam Fares Institute of Public Policy and International Affairs at the American University of Beirut.

This episode of Inside Story aired from Wednesday, November 4, 2009.