The historical and controversial first month of President Barack Obama. (Part One)

President Obama was sworn in on January 20, 2009

Part 1 of 3: The Inauguration, GITMO, Freedom of Information Act

As U.S. President Barack Obama's first month in office comes to a close, we take a look back at the significant, and sometimes controversial moves he made. Towards the end of April, we will also take a look back at Obama's first 100 days.

With enormous anticipation and lofty expectations, Barack Obama became the 44th President of the United States of America in front of the National Mall, where nearly 2 million people gathered for the historic event, on January 20, 2009.

Faced with a controversial War in Iraq and Afghanistan, an economic downturn not seen in decades, and an overwhelmingly supportive American population, largely in reaction to the previous Bush administration, Obama was charged to bring about the "change" and "unification" he campaigned so tirelessly on.

"As I take the sacred oath of the highest office in the land, I am humbled by the responsibility placed upon my shoulders, renewed by the courage and decency of the American people, and fortified by my faith in an awesome God," said Obama in his first official Presidential Proclamation.

The First Family

Obama's first week in office was met with both criticism and applause as he issued four widely talked about Presidential Memoranda:

• January 21, 2009 - Pay Freeze
• January 21,2009 - Reinforcing the Freedom of Information Act
• January 22,2009 - The plan to close detention facilities and full review of those detained at Guantanamo Bay
• January 23,2009 - Reassessing the Mexico City Policy and assistance for Volunteer Population Planning

The pay freeze was initiated for all senior White House as a symbolic effort during the economic downturn. "It is only appropriate that senior officials on the White House staff forgo pay increases until further notice," wrote Obama, "The United States is in a period of severe economic stress. Too many Americans have lost their jobs, their homes, their health insurance, or a substantial part of their retirement savings, and many more feel uncertain about the future."

Obama furthered the idea of accountability and openness within the government by creating an accessible White House blog, as well as a weekly address to Americans via online media hubs such as You Tube and the official White House website.

His administration has also been quick to set up government websites to assist, explain and allow citizens to actively engage themselves in the passage of new laws, and participate and communicate with newly formed committees. 2008 saw the launch of both the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act website and the Middle Class Task Force.

"The Freedom of Information Act should be administered with a clear presumption: In the face of doubt, openness prevails. The Government should not keep information confidential merely because public officials might be embarrassed by disclosure, because errors and failures might be revealed, or because of speculative or abstract fears. Nondisclosure should never be based on an effort to protect the personal interests of Government officials at the expense of those they are supposed to serve. In responding to requests under the FOIA, executive branch agencies (agencies) should act promptly and in a spirit of cooperation, recognizing that such agencies are servants of the public."

An international poll conducted by WorldPublicOpinion.org

On January 22, however, to a large amount of criticism, Obama set in motion the plan to close the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base and other detention facilities within one year.

"I have today signed an Executive Order entitled Review and Disposition of Individuals Detained at the Guantánamo Bay Naval Base and Closure of Detention Facilities ("Review and Disposition Order"), which mandates a review, coordinated by the Attorney General, of the status of all individuals that the Department of Defense is currently detaining at the Guantánamo Bay Naval Base, in order to effect their prompt and appropriate disposition."

Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, located in Cuba, has operated a detention facility since 1987. Housing alleged enemy combatants captured in Iraq and Afghanistan, GITMO had been at the forefront of controversy during the Bush administration.

A poll conducted in 2006 revealed that large groups in Europe and India felt that America lost its standing as a leader in human rights issues due to the camp's practices.

Scrutiny by the United Nations and the European Union, as well as documented allegations of infringements upon human rights issues, including torture, and Geneva Convention law made the detention center a key issue for both Obama and Republican Presidential candidate John McCain during the 2008 election. Both pledged to implement its eventual closure. 

While supporters of the memorandum believe this a positive step away from previous policies, opponents do not believe the closure is feasible logistically and is direct conflict in terms of national security during the War on Terrorism. Bush administrative officials maintained that the imprisoned alleged enemy combatants were not under direct jurisdiction of the Geneva Convention, nor were there any human rights violations.

According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, "Every person in enemy hands must have some status under international law: he is either a prisoner of war and, as such, covered by the Third Convention, a civilian covered by the Fourth Convention, [or] a member of the medical personnel of the armed forces who is covered by the First Convention. There is no intermediate status; nobody in enemy hands can fall outside the law."

Alleged enemy combatant, Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri, was also named separately in the memorandum to be held under full review, as he is not a prisoner of Guantanamo Bay. Al-Marri has been held within the United States for five years.

"It is equally in the interests of the United States that the executive branch undertake a prompt and thorough review of the factual and legal basis for al-Marri's continued detention, and identify and thoroughly evaluate alternative dispositions."

On Monday, Part 2 of 3:  Mexico City Policy, The Pope, Cabinet Controversy