I was one of the millions glued to TV or radio that night in November 2008 when Chicago seemed the centre of the universe.

I was so excited when Obama decided to sprinkle his fairy dust all over college green.

I really wanted Boston to become more like Berlin as he tried to civilise his health system.

He wasn’t Dubya.

He wasn’t Blair. That was a big selling point.

There were some good moments. He seemed to actually understand that the world actually did like the States when it used its power in a measured and humane way. He seemed to understand our needs.

Then he went and got himself re-elected and he realised four more years meant four years and I’m outta here, baby.

In the mean time, the world became a far more dangerous place. It would be great to think the world was one big Coca-cola ad where we all love each other.

It isn’t. There are people in the world for whom the term ‘common humanity’ means very little. They kidnap pre-teen girls. They terrorise whole populations and now they chop journalists’ heads off.

These are not human values. These are not civilised values.

How does Obama respond? His admission that he had not concocted a strategy was breathtakingly dangerous. We used to mock Dubya whem he disappeared to play golf for the summer and yet this is what Obama has done this year.

Yes, I know he has a war-weary nation to convince. Yes, I know the divide between executive and legislature is as deep as it ever was but the world is a dangerous place.

Does Obama understand this?

Has anybody Cheney’s number? (A line I never thought would end any Undaunted).