Multiplicity of problems surprised Obama in White House

US president Barack Obama said the multiplicity of problems he faced at one time was something that "surprised" him as he completed 100 days in office on Thursday.
 
Obama, who came to the power at a time when US was fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and moving fast towards an economic crisis, said he has to face more problems than the typical president faces.
 
"I am surprised, compared to where I started, when we first announced for the race, by the number of critical issues that appear to be coming to a head all at the same time," Obama said on a question at a press conference on the occasion of his completing 100 days in office.

The first African American president of the United States said he did not anticipate that the economy, which appeared relatively strong on the surface when he joined the fray, would plunge into the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

Initially, he said, Iraq was a central issue and "The economy appeared on the surface to still be relatively strong. There were underlying problems that I was seeing with health care for families and our education system and college affordability and so forth, but obviously, I didn't anticipate the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression."

Obama said, "The typical president, I think, has two or three big problems; we've got seven or eight big problems. So we've had to move very quickly."

Asked what trouble him during this period, Obama said he was "sobered" to see that "change in Washington comes slow".
       
"I'd say less troubled but sobered by the fact that change in Washington comes slow. That there is still a certain quotient of political posturing and bickering that takes place even when we're in the middle of really big crises.
 
"I would like to think that everybody would say let's take a timeout on some of the political games, focus our attention for at least this year, and then we can start running for something next year. And that hasn't happened as much as I would have liked," he said.

Obama, also the commander-in-chief of the US armed forces, said he is "profoundly impressed" by the sacrifice made by the servicemen for the nation.

"I will tell you that, when I meet our servicemen and women, enchanted is probably not the word I would use. But I am so profoundly impressed and grateful to them for what they do," he said.
       
The president said these soldiers are "really good at their job. They are willing to make extraordinary sacrifices on our behalf. They do so without complaint. They are fiercely loyal to this country. The more I interact with our servicemen and women, from the top brass down to the lowliest private, I'm grateful to them."

Obama said he is "humbled" by the fact that though the presidency is "extraordinarily powerful," the real strength lies in the American people.

"I am humbled by the fact that the presidency is extraordinarily powerful, but we are just part of a much broader tapestry of American life and there are a lot of different power centres. I can't just press a button and suddenly have the bankers do exactly what I want or turn on a switch and suddenly, Congress falls in line," Obama said.
       
"I'm humbled by the American people who have shown extraordinary patience and, I think, a recognition that we're not going to solve all these problems overnight.