Truthout on Obama's inauguration and first day in office

Dr. Wilmer J. Leon III | A Moment to Be Proud
http://www.truthout.org/012109A
Dr. Wilmer J. Leon III, Truthout: "On January 20, 2009, with the inauguration of America's 44th president, its first African-American president, America took a giant step toward reclaiming its light. This is the moment for Americans to be proud and an invitation for this country to truly be great again."

Obama to Discuss Accelerating Iraq Troop Drawdown
http://www.truthout.org/012109B
Reuters: "Barack Obama on Wednesday will meet top defense and military officials for the first time as president to discuss the possibility of accelerating the drawdown of U.S. troops from Iraq, officials said. Obama, who has pledged to pull U.S. combat forces out of Iraq within 16 months, was also expected to discuss the need for more forces in Afghanistan at the White House with a Pentagon delegation led by Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, officials said."

Judge Suspends Guantanamo Case at Obama's Request
http://www.truthout.org/012109C
Peter Finn, The Washington Post: "A U.S. military judge Wednesday suspended the trial of five detainees accused of involvement in plotting the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, acceding to a request from military prosecutors in accordance with a directive from the new Obama administration late Tuesday. The suspension halts until late May the trial of Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the avowed mastermind of the Sept. 11 plot, and four other accused al-Qaeda members, even though Mohammed and three of the four objected to the delay."

Israel Admits Troops May Have Used Phosphorus Shells in Gaza
http://www.truthout.org/012109D
Peter Beaumont, The Guardian UK: "Israel has admitted - after mounting pressure - that its troops may have used white phosphorus shells in contravention of international law, during its three-week offensive in the Gaza Strip. One of the places most seriously affected by the use of white phosphorus was the main UN compound in Gaza City, which was hit by three shells on 15 January. The same munition was used in a strike on the al-Quds hospital in Gaza City the same day."

Iraq Attacks Kill Seven, Wound 22
http://www.truthout.org/012109E
Agence France-Presse: "Seven people died and at least 22 were wounded in a string of attacks across Iraq on Tuesday, highlighting the continuing violence as new US President Barack Obama pledged to 'leave Iraq to its people.' A car bomb targeting a US patrol in the afternoon killed three civilians and injured eight others in the central Baghdad district of Mansour. The US military said two of its soldiers were injured in the attack."

Tom Engelhardt | The Day the Earth Still Stood: What Will Obama Inherit?
http://www.truthout.org/012109F
Tom Engelhardt, TomDispatch.com, discusses the impact of yesterday's inauguration and the legacy the Bush administration will leave behind.

VIDEO | President Barack Obama Delivers Inaugural Address
http://www.truthout.org/012009Bvideo
Barack Obama, sworn in as the 44th president of the United States, delivers his inaugural address in front of more than a million enthusiastic supporters on Tuesday, January 20, 2009.