Obama's Cairo speech

[alienlovechild 75]

Is everybody tuning out Obama or what?

CAIRO – Stretching out a hand to the Islamic world, President Barack Hussein Obama on Thursday invoked the Quran, his middle name and an American evenhandedness he says too few Muslims see. Obama drew a respectful response from unlikely places — an Iranian cleric called it "an initial step for removing misconceptions."

The president, speaking at a seat of Islamic learning, delivered a 55-minute speech that was heavily promoted, carefully watched and had as its guiding themes the need to "speak the truth" and "seek a new beginning."

"So long as our relationship is defined by our differences, we will empower those who sow hatred rather than peace," the president said.

Obama made no specific references to his predecessor in the White House during his Cairo University speech, but others quickly did.

"There is a change between the language of President Obama and previous speeches made by George Bush," said Fawzi Barhoum, a spokesman for Hamas. But he added that Obama did not specifically note the suffering in Gaza following the three-week Israeli incursion earlier this year.

"So all we can say is that there is a difference in the statements, and the statements of today did not include a mechanism that can translate his wishes and views into actions," said Barhoum, whose group the U.S. considers a terrorist organization.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in advance of the speech that any statements by Obama were just "words, speech and slogan" that would leave in place sanctions designed to persuade the nation to stop its nuclear weapons program.

But Mohammad Ali Abtahi, a cleric who was vice president under reformist President Mohammad Khatami, called the speech "compensation" for a hostile environment created by Bush.

Obama's remarks were designed to reset relations after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and the U.S.-led war in Iraq. Yet he also called sternly for Israel and Palestinians to live up to their obligations in seeking peace, demanded Iran bow to international demands to halt its nuclear weapons program and bid Muslim countries help in eradicating the threat of fundamentalist' violence across the globe.

In doing so, the Christian son of a Kenyan Muslim father and a Kansas mother sought common cause in part by addressing his own roots — and using a middle name that opponents used against him at inflammatory moments in the presidential campaign.

"Much has been made of the fact that an African-American with the name Barack Hussein Obama could be elected president," he said. "But my personal story is not so unique." He went on to say the dream of America exists for all who come there — including nearly 7 million Muslims.

The Israeli government issued a statement saying it, too, hoped for a new era. But it skirted any reference to Obama's calls for a settlement freeze in the West Bank and the creation of an independent Palestinian state — demands that Israel's hawkish prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, continues to reject.

Obama addressed the Israeli-Palestinian dispute pointedly in his address, knowing it goes to the heart of Muslim anger toward the West,

"It is time for us to act on what everyone knows to be true," he said. "Too many tears have flowed. Too much blood has been shed."

Obama seemed upbeat after he spoke, touring the Great Pyramids at Giza. "This is huge!" he yelled at the base of the biggest, his voice echoing off the stone. Around the corner he joked about getting on a camel — and then several of his closest aides promptly did.

Obama's remarks were televised on all radio and television stations in Israel; and with Arabic voice-over translations by Arab satellite stations. The Iranian government jammed signals to block satellite owners from watching.

Obama said it was part of his responsibilities as president "to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear."

He quoted the Quran: "be conscious of God and always speak the truth" to underscore his call for a new relationship based on mutual interest and respect. He referred to Iran by its full name, the Islamic Republic of Iran, said Islamic countries had been victimized by colonialism as well as the Cold War era struggle between the United States and the former Soviet Union.

"As a boy, I spent several years in Indonesia and heard the call of the azaan at the break of dawn and the fall of dusk," he said. "As a young man, I worked in Chicago communities where many found dignity and peace in their Muslim faith."

The battle against terrorists will continue, in Afghanistan, Pakistan and elsewhere, Obama said, despite the animosity the operations have helped created toward the U.S. among Muslims. "America's commitment will not weaken."

But calling Iraq, unlike Afghanistan, "a war of choice," he explained his plan to withdraw American combat troops next year and his reversal of Bush-era policies in the pursuit of terrorists that have enraged Muslims the world over. Obama said flatly that he has banned torture and will close the detested Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba next year.

He asked Muslims to join the fight. "The sooner the extremists are isolated and unwelcome in Muslim communities, the sooner we will all be safer," Obama said.

"Obama's speech is an attempt to mislead people and create more illusions to improve America's aggressive image in the Arab and Islamic world," said a joint statement by eight Damascus, Syria-based radical Palestinian factions, including Hamas.

"It is the first time I have ever heard such affectionate words from an American for Muslims," said Zahid Husain Gardezi, a landowner in the Pakistani city of Multan. "Apparently we can expect America to try to befriend the Muslim world in deeds as well. But let's see how long it will take to see this on the ground."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090604/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama

[Krikit 1,164]

I watched that this morning. I am always impressed by how well he speaks without referencing his notes.

[AlHayatZween 2]

Surprised this took so long to get posted on OT. Was expecting it to be hot topic today...

i liked the speech.

[Nagishkaw 510]

He's so funny!

[scandal 951]

Terrible, just horrible

This reaching out to the Arab/Muslim world MUST STOP. Dialog with 1/5 of the planet is just plain wrong

Out of respect to Ronald Reagan, Obama should announce that we begin bombing in 5 minutes.

[The_Dude 1,142]

Surprised this took so long to get posted on OT. Was expecting it to be hot topic today...

i liked the speech.

Everyone was too busy with the gay penguins

[~PalmTreeGurl~ 154]

I do not agree with Obama. To the enemies (referring to extremists/terrorists) we will never win them over. Obama spends too much of his time talking about islam and muslims. Muslims are not the only Americans in this country and islam is not the only religion. For someone who says hes a christian, he spends less time talking about christianity as he does islam.

Hes handing America over on a golden plate to our enemies. Do you think the extremists are going to be won over by his speeches? It doesnt matter if he wins over the American people or not, if Extremists dont stop nuking, bombing or beheadhing other people as well as their own, its not going to make a peaceful world!

and from what it seemed like to me, he either didnt talk at all or much about the issues with Iran and N Korea. Muslims Christians, Jews, Buddists, Atheists all are humans on the same level. Terrorism and extremism is on its own level. l

[Krikit 1,164]

And, they're off!

[Peikko 1,575]

Rhetoric is as rhetoric does. I am not much of a one for speeches but the idea seems to be that they set a tone for dialogue. Would that it were true is all I have to say about this.

[My Name Is Nobody 3]

It was very inpirational. I think I cried a little. Just breath taking

[Chica Yeyé 41]

And, they're off!

You know it sister! We just do it to keep you busy

[The_Dude 1,142]

I do not agree with Obama. To the enemies (referring to extremists/terrorists) we will never win them over. Obama spends too much of his time talking about islam and muslims. Muslims are not the only Americans in this country and islam is not the only religion. For someone who says hes a christian, he spends less time talking about christianity as he does islam.

Hes handing America over on a golden plate to our enemies. Do you think the extremists are going to be won over by his speeches? It doesnt matter if he wins over the American people or not, if Extremists dont stop nuking, bombing or beheadhing other people as well as their own, its not going to make a peaceful world!

and from what it seemed like to me, he either didnt talk at all or much about the issues with Iran and N Korea. Muslims Christians, Jews, Buddists, Atheists all are humans on the same level. Terrorism and extremism is on its own level. l

Seriously? So he should have gone to Egypt and talked about Christianity more? He's there to reach out to a part of the world that for the past quarter century our government has alienated and shunned. He was there to try to foster relations with countries that will be major players in the upcoming peace process in Israel/Palestine. The point of his visit wasn't to prostheletize and win a few converts over to Christianity. You completely missed the point of the entire speech and visit to the reagion.

Handing over America to our enemies? Come on, lets try to be real here. I think they know they will never convert the zealots. The attempt here is to extend an olive branch to the MODERATES.

[scandal 951]

I do not agree with Obama. To the enemies (referring to extremists/terrorists) we will never win them over. Obama spends too much of his time talking about islam and muslims. Muslims are not the only Americans in this country and islam is not the only religion. For someone who says hes a christian, he spends less time talking about christianity as he does islam.

Hes handing America over on a golden plate to our enemies. Do you think the extremists are going to be won over by his speeches? It doesnt matter if he wins over the American people or not, if Extremists dont stop nuking, bombing or beheadhing other people as well as their own, its not going to make a peaceful world!

and from what it seemed like to me, he either didnt talk at all or much about the issues with Iran and N Korea. Muslims Christians, Jews, Buddists, Atheists all are humans on the same level. Terrorism and extremism is on its own level. l

Tamara,

The reason Obama, and many people - myself included, think it's imperative to reach out and speak to the Muslim world is precisely because that is where the extremists we face are coming from. I do NOT think, nor does he, that the extremists will be won over by his speeches. It will be very difficult if not impossible to moderate those who are already committed on the path to hatred. The issue is that every terrorist was once a little boy. With a family, and a school, and an imam at mosque. And those little boys need to be prevented from turning to hatred. They need to be given an alternative, a view of the world that gives them hope and dignity and a future - and an alternative that teaches them to respect others with different religions and cultures.

The fight against current al Quaida terrorists will be waged through military, clandestine, and other hard-headed tactics.

But the long term battle is about more than just hunting down those who are already terrorists.

The real strategic fight, the fight for years and even generations to come, is to ensure that the child who is an 8 year old kid in Cairo or Rawalpindi or Riyadh stays more interested in soccer, mathematics, Bollywood movies and -yes- the Koran, and does NOT become interested in seething hatred against Christians, Jews, America, Israel, and the West. And that when that 8 year old becomes an 18 year old a decade from now, he does NOT learn to plant IEDs by the roadside, or to strap on a suicide belt. The only way to win that part of the war is to ensure that the 8-year old's parents, and his school teachers, and his imam, don't preach and encourage that hatred and bigotry.

Our biggest failure since 9/11, bigger than the fact that bin Ladin is still on the loose, bigger still than the Taliban remaining a menacing threat in Afghanistan - is the fact that 8 years later, we've made zero real progress in getting those imams in the madrassahs to tone down the hatred rhetoric and preach true Islam - a benevolent, loving, tolerant Islam - to their young pupils. The kids who were 8 years old on 9/11 are now 15, and many of them have already turned to the darkness. The sooner we engage, the better. There is no time to waste on this subject.

Obama's speech on its own won't turn the tide. But it's a vital and important step in the right direction.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Amen brother. it is called diplomacy ffs. This OMG they are the enemy mentality is very Iron Age.

I seriously wish people would just STOP assessing other people's spirituality. Who the FFFF is who (and this is not directed towards Tamara, it's in general) to say so and so is a good x-ian, catholic, buddhist, muslim, etc. How very arrogant and non-spiritual.

[My Name Is Nobody 3]

Amen brother. it is called diplomacy ffs. This OMG they are the enemy mentality is very Iron Age.

I seriously wish people would just STOP assessing other people's spirituality. Who the FFFF is who (and this is not directed towards Tamara, it's in general) to say so and so is a good x-ian, catholic, buddhist, muslim, etc. How very arrogant and non-spiritual.

I think you need to look at the very top. The Grand Puba himself. Hes the one injecting the spitituality into his speeches. His speech was all about religion not individual people.

Not???