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U.S. President Barack Obama's administration came to the White House during a difficult period. The economic crisis forced it to make greater allowances for the domestic situation in developing its foreign policy than is customary for U.S. politics. And apart from the country's economic woes, the new administration cannot help but be concerned about the problems created by former President George W. Bush -- troubles that not only wound national pride but constitute a direct threat to the United States' traditional leadership role in the world. Observers unanimously note the weakening of Washington's global standing, pointing to its tarnished image, its relative loss of influence in South America and its failure to meet its stated goal of spreading democracy in the Middle East.