The former American foreign minister Colin Paul says that when he was proposed for vice president, he consulted his wife Elima, who asked him not to accept it out of fear for his life. Then, Paul expressed his refusal officially. In contrast, Barak Obama, in one of the most interesting American elections in history, is running for president of the U.S., supported by a big team of secret security guards who investigate people, inspect vehicles and are on the watch for everything being said everywhere, searching for anyone aiming to assassinate the first African American presidential candidate.

The news of the white youths charged with conspiring to kill Obama created a serious disturbance, especially after Obama’s coming nearer to the White House than his competitor John McCain. In fact, assassination is an important part of the American political history. Racism is still present in this multi-populated country in spite of the positive changes that affected the American society in general in terms of racial relations, and this is proven by Obama’s massive popularity among black voters.
 
Targeting a leader is a possibility that should be taken into great consideration; it is one of the most violent strategies used to demonstrate a point of view. Undoubtedly, Obama has been under threat since the day he decided to stand as a candidate for the U.S. presidency. Worries about his life will continue to increase if he becomes the president of the U.S. Obama is an unlucky man who has enemies from different sects of the American society. Thus, he is under risk either from the radical Islamic Al-Qaeda, which considers assassinating the American president of highest priority, or from the white American groups that reject that the U.S. presidency be taken by any other race. Moreover, the president, whoever he may be, or whatever his political trends are, is always targeted by extremely dangerous, armed organizations. The president may even be a target of maniacs, such as in what happened to the former American president Ronald Regan, who was about to die after he was shot by a bullet that nearly reached his heart from the gun of a young man whom the court later judged should be sent to a mental hospital.

Targeting Obama will cause a stir more than targeting any other American leader, because it will arouse the feeling of racial hatred and support the conspiracy theory that still is the first reference to illustrate the murder of President John Kennedy thus far. A lot of people talk about the possibility of Obama’s assassination and doubt that he sets foot in the White House. Therefore, Obama’s safety is the main preoccupation of the American security departments, because they understand the risks and dangers to which he is exposed and what happens if they fail to protect him. In fact, the agenda of the American president and his life in general have changed, as they have of all the leaders of the world, after the increase of terrorist threats. Hence, Obama is no longer allowed to go among the people and mix with them as before. The election period presents the highest risk, as candidates are exposed to large crowds on open stages many times during the year. However, after he wins and enters the White House as a president, it will be difficult to shake hands with him or even to see him except through TV sets. There are no open processions or presidents on cars moving slowly to greet people any longer. The age of goodness is gone and has been substituted by the age of secret detectives ـــ the cost of terrorism.