Bush administration will be facing daunting challenges around the world. Gigantic humanitarian problems coupled with on-going war in Iraq and the proposed election there and unresolved Middle East problem remain to be addressed during the second term in office.

Bush administration has already embarked on a massive scale of relief operation in the tsunami affected region, which will bring dividend in the ultimate analysis. The visit of departing Secretary of State Colin Powell in the affected region along with Jeb Bush, governor of Florida State would help establish rapport with the governments and people of the battered regions. Bush administration's efforts to inject massive scale relief in Indonesia, which is the largest Muslim country in the world, is seen as useful diplomacy.

The on-going war in Iraq has increased expenditure beyond imagination. Bush administration is likely to place request with the Congress for $ 80 billion emergency spending in Iraq. That means that defence budget would be increased. Geoffrey Kemp, an analyst at Nixon Centre commented adversely by saying, "We can't have a war that is at this point unwinnable and costs soaring, and a military that desperately needs more support." Stalled peace process in the occupied Arab territories between Palestinians and Israelis is another area of concern, which needs to be addressed as a part of election campaign pledge. Lopsided handling of the peace process by President Bush during his first term in office has led to misgivings and misunderstanding not only in Arab and Muslim countries, but in European countries as well. Road map drawn up by UN, European Union, Russia and the United States should receive priority of the Bush administration, if they care to improve the tarnished image in the comity of nations. On environmental issue Bush administration has been condemned by the world community because of walking out of the Kyoto protocol.

World attention is focused on the ensuing election in Iraq on January 30. Although puppet government has been in place in Iraq, Bush administration has been conducting business there, including maintaining law and order and fighting the insurgents as well. Since many countries are withdrawing troops from Iraq, Bush administration has been trying to maintain a semblance of a military coalition in Iraq. Bush administration has recently clashed with President Putin on the issue of Chechens and the election in Ukraine. There has been distinct differences of opinion between America and Russia. President Bush will have the opportunity to meet European leaders in February on the occasion of the summit of European Union. He may have to face difficulties in bringing European leaders into confidence because of the way he is handling Iraq issue and the problem in the Middle East. European countries are willing to resolve the outstanding problem between Palestinians and Israelis.

Former American diplomats at a recent seminar at George Town institute for the study of diplomacy, which was chaired by former defence secretary James R. Schlesinger, held the opinion that "President Bush has least flexibility post-Iraq, broad resistance to US leadership initiatives diminished US influence in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, demonstrable limits on assembling coalition of the willing, stretched US forces and skepticism about America's veracity and competence."

In another area Bush administration will have serious problem, which relates to deficits of trade. Through diplomacy the administration will encourage investors to buy more products and there have been talks in the Congress about increase of tariff on imported products as well. The issue of trade deficits and related matters, including food security, came up for discussion during confirmation hearing in the Congress of the nomination of Secretary of Agriculture, Governor Mike Jahnns of Nebraska state, who has been nominated by the President.

America is having deficit in trade worth $ 600 billion. Members of the Senate agriculture committee emphasised on devising ways and means to encounter trade deficits aggressively. One Senator emphatically said that there is no reason to open markets in Japan and Russia for American beef and poultry, which remains closed on flimsy ground. Governor Mike was urged to look into the complaint of Canadians regarding mad cow disease. Canada is having another problem on the supply of inexpensive prescription drugs to about two million Americans, which Bush administration is likely to stop.

Misuse of copyright by China has received attention of the Committee during confirmation hearing of the nomination of Secretary of Commerce, Carlos Gutierrez, a Cuban origin American. Many countries in Asia, including Bangladesh would likely be affected this year when non-quota and duty free system under the generalised system of preference would be abolished. The announcement of appointment of Robert B. Zoellick, America's trade representative as Deputy Secretary of State under Dr. Condoleezza Rice is seen as the administration would pursue economic diplomacy vigorously as has been the trend of the present day world. Another significant appointment is Nicolas Burns, a career diplomat, presently Ambassador to NATO, as Under Secretary of State for political affairs.

It gives the impression that Bush administration would put emphasis on developing favourable trade relations with many countries and improving relations with NATO member countries in particular.

Mohammad Amjad Hossain, a former diplomat, now resides in Virginia