What Team Obama will do on Day One - Lalit K Jha in Washington, DC

January 19, 2009 13:39 IST

Soon after Barack Obama is sworn in as the 44th President of the United States, a small team of key aides will move into the White House to give a jump start to the administration's agenda.

Vans will take about 20 senior officials of the incoming Obama Administration to the White House even before the inauguration ceeremony ends on Tuesday afternoon.

On Wednesday, the first full working day of the new President, Obama has convened meetings for his top two challenges - the economy and foreign policy, specially the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Obama will meet his key economic advisors and top economic officials to give a final shape to the mega economic stimulus package so that the process of recovery and reinvestment of American economy begins at the earliest. Obama believes this is very important to generate confidence among the investors, people and the business class.

The same day, Obama will meet his key military commanders to discuss the options available in Afghanistan and Iraq. A key aide told a news channel on Sunday that Obama will ask his commanders to come up with a plan to withdraw troops from Iraq within 16 months. He will seek a new plan from them so that the war in Afghanistan is won and it does not become a haven for terrorists again.

The Middle East will also be on the priorities list.

'Well, I think that the events around the world demand that he act quickly, and I think you'll see him act quickly,' David Axelrod, senior advisor to Obama told CNN in an interview. 'The president- elect has said repeatedly that he intends to engage early and aggressively with diplomacy all over the world and using the men and women, the professionals who are in place, who are great, and, where appropriate, special envoys,' he said.

Media reports said Team Obama has prepared a series of executive orders for Obama to sign so that the administration kicks off running soon thereafter.

These orders are expected to vary from routine ones regarding the continuity of the government to one on Guantanamo Bay, closing it down.