High Expectations for Obama's Speech in Egypt

Following on the heels of his meetings with a number of Middle East leaders, President Barack Obama travels next week to Egypt where, on June 4th, he will deliver a much anticipated speech to the Muslim world.

Already the topic of great speculation, there are several elements that should be considered by both the president and his audience in anticipation of his remarks.

First, expectations for the speech are high, and not without justification.

Throughout his short, but extraordinary, career, Obama has displayed a penchant for taking on big issues with big speeches. He rebounded from a defeat during the presidential primaries with a remarkable speech in New Hampshire that helped to define and infuse new hope into his campaign. When confronted with a media assault over his pastor's intemperate words, that threatened to derail his campaign, Obama responded with an inspiring speech on race, so insightful and eloquent that it will be quoted for generations.

As president, he has also taken on serious challenges with major speeches. His remarks before a joint session of Congress provided the new president the opportunity to lay out his plans to respond to the growing economic crisis. More recently, Obama travelled to Notre Dame University, the nation's premiere Catholic university, to appeal for greater civility and understanding in addressing the controversial issues of abortion and stem cell research. And when opponents persisted in deriding his decisions to ban the use of "enhanced interrogation techniques" and to close the prison facility at Guantanamo Bay, he confronted his critics directly in a speech delivered from the National Archives. With the original US Constitution and Bill of Rights as a backdrop, Obama made clear that his decisions to stop torture and indefinite imprisonment without judicial recourse were grounded in core American values derived from our Constitution.

With this background, it is reasonable for many across the Arab world to assume that Obama is coming to Cairo to deliver a "big speech." He has, after all, been planning and talking about this for over a year, since he first announced during the campaign his intention to travel abroad to speak directly to the Muslim world.

And since he is going to Cairo, at the heart of the Arab world, it is also reasonable that there are high expectations that the president will speak about the core Arab concern -- the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and not in passing. The regional context demands much more.

This introduces a second set of factors that need be considered.

President Obama's election created hope among many Arabs and Muslims, but not all. A recent poll we, at Zogby International, conducted in six Arab countries shows that in Morocco, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Obama is viewed quite favorably, and there is appreciation for early steps he has taken to restore America's image and rebuild US-Arab relations. But in Egypt and Jordan, deep skepticism remains.

Therefore, when the president travels to Egypt, it is important to recognize that he will face a nation hardened in its negative view of the US and its role in the region, and unconvinced that this or any American president can or will change policy.

Most Egyptians still view the US unfavorably. Three-quarters give President Obama a negative job rating for his first three months in office, and the same percentage say that they do not believe that he will be "evenhanded in dealing with the Arab-Israeli conflict" -- the issue which almost 6 in 10 Egyptians say is the most critical challenge facing their region.

All this points to the steep hill which President Obama must climb as he struggles to convince a weary Egyptian and Arab public that he is committed to changing direction in the wake of failed US leadership that preceded his ascent to the Oval Office. While he might have faced a more supportive audience in the United Arab Emirates or the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, it is Egypt where attitudes toward America are harshest that Obama faces his greatest challenge, and it is here that the US President has chosen to deliver his speech. It is Egypt that is allied with the US, shares borders with Israel and has signed peace agreements with that state. It is in Egypt that public opinion has been the most soured by Israeli behavior (especially in the wake of the Gaza wars of 2006 and 2009), is least convinced of the prospects that a just peace can be established and of the ability of the US to be evenhanded.

All this being said, it is precisely because of the persistence of these strong negative attitudes that Obama's decision to go to Egypt was the right choice. It is there that the US President must convince skeptical Arabs that the change he promised is real. Given Egypt's sheer size and the importance of its role in the region, if President Obama can't sell his message there it may not have its desired impact anywhere.

What emerges from these considerations is the fact that despite the many domestic challenges facing this new president, he is determined to confront, head-on, a major foreign policy issue and to do so, as he did at Notre Dame, directly and dramatically. And he has chosen to do this where the audience may be the hardest to convince and where the change he has promised is most urgently sought.

This is why expectations are high and dare not be let down. This speech must be more than banal clichés ("we are not at war with Muslims") or a repetition of hollow visions. It must be bigger, more consequential and more substantial. It is a tall order, but given Obama's modus operandi, I'm counting on him to prove me right.

Comments

[We-Are-The-Ones]

The President faces excessively high expectations wherever he goes, whatever he does, and whoever he talks to. People are so thirsty for sane leadership in the US that they are demanding and impatient.

[Shirley Fisk]

5/30/09
8:06pm
Alexandria,VA

t.think.I.amk.I.am.alone.when.I.confess.that.I.really.don't.have.a.clear.understanding.of.the.history.of.the.Israeli--Palestinian.conflict.
At.San.Fra­ncisco.Sta­te.Univers­ity.I.was.­a.Jewish.S­tudies.maj­or.but.I.d­on't.think­.I.ever.re­ally.under­stood.the.­issues.
provide.us.with.a.timeline.ofth.a.timeline.of.the.Israeli-Palestinian.conflict.
Americans.need.to.know.what.all.of.the.fighting.is.about.

my.son-in-law.is-law.is.Egyptian.(I'm.living.in.his.house).and.my.ex-husband.is.Moroccan.so.I.am.not.prejudiced.against.Arabs..
I.have.2.s­ons.who.ar­e.half.Ara­b.(Morocca­n)

[festry548]

Why in the world did you type a period between every word in your post?

[Shirley Fisk]

6/1/09
1:38am
Alexandria,VA

My.grandso­n.broke.th­e.space.ba­r.....I.sh­ould.have.­mentioned.­that.

there.is.a.fantastic.example.of.the.kind.of.timeline.which.would.help.top.to.clarify.
these.issues.on.HUFFPO.now--check.out.the.timeline.about.GM.

[OKnight]

for the first time in eight years they get to hear a u.s. President speak English...­.

[denny8844]

To be accurate Standard English

[Nate Russon]

But only if he uses his teleprompter. Otherwise he's lost.

[SadButWiser]

A famous Saudi writer wrote that had Obama, with similar background, been a citizen of any Arab country he would never have made it even as a public servant let alone the President. Arabs do have a favorable view of Obama, and the US as a country, but loath the US government and nothing will change that, unless the USA puts words into action, and punish Israel for its occupation of Palestinian land. It could start with no longer vetoing decisions by the Security Council even just to criticizes Israel.

[FairTalk]

Obama can make good, even wonderful speeches. But as long as the us coddles up to militants, and encourages them to attack our "enemies" all will be for naught.

See this?

Iran summons Pakistan..­.

Jundullah has been identified as a terrorist organization by both Iran and Pakistan and many believe it is linked to the al-Qaida terrorist group. It also allegedly receives support from the U.S. government.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-05/30/content_11458212.htm#

[LadyBeryl]

Since President Obama does NOT "coddle"up to militants, your post is baseless and pointless. But the channeling McCarthy is what Republicans do very well.

[FairTalk]

He is trying to release the Uighur terrorists, even after his own treasury dept has named their leader a top al Qaeda leader. And who is supporting Jundullah in So Pakistan, and why are they attacking Iran?

Your baseless attack on me, referring to McCarthy better suits yourself, I am not a rabid anti-communist, nor am I a republican.

[Realization]

If Obama sticks with American values and interests, he will do fine. Blind support for Israel is not consistent with either. The Middle East needs a just peace.

[LeftLeanWing]

At this level of play, it's not just American values in Play..... It the World's Values and the World's Interest he must conjure.

[Jerry Pecks]

At least Obama views middle-easterners as human beings.

[hangdogit]

Yup -- everyone, not just Israelis anymore.

[misaacm]

All Obama has to do is agree with the Arabs about everything, that those with 99+% of the land in the middle east are 100% victims, 100% of the time. Unfortunately, any move he makes to require the Israelis to reign in their extremists will be met with, more demands. Check out today's editorial from the NYTimes http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/30/opinion/30sat1.html?_r=1&ref=opinion where Abbas responds to Obama's hard work in leaning on Bibi by saying he doesn't have to do anything, just wait for the US to solve all of his problems by forcing Israel to do his bidding.

I wish Obama the best of luck, but the problems of the Arab world are caused by the leaders of the Arab world. We can help by leaving places like Iraq (let them have their civil war they want so badly), but they have to fix their own problems. It is not our fault they are such a disaster.

[jaleh]

Most of the leaders you are talking about have been installed and protected by the U.S. Your last sentence "it is not our fault they are such a disaster", is partly true. The U.S put the Shah of Iran in power and protected him for 25 years for OIL!!!

[PerfectSense]

Jimmy Carter turned Iran over to the Mullahs and world has been a much better place - Oh what it hasn't.

[HoneyRyder]

sounds like a bitter Israeli to me.
Obama is more of a friend to Israel than an Arab country. There are huge wounds between the U.S. and the Arab world and he is trying to heal them before it's too late. Stop being a crybaby.

[ccoppe]

I, too, read the editorial. The spirit of Arafat lives on. The axiom is still true: "The Palestinians never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunit­y."

Abbas and the Palestinian intellectual leadership are not willing to put whatever negligble political capital they have left in the kitty as true partners with the Obama administration for negotiating a lasting peace. They want the U.S. to put in all the effort, take all the up-front risk thus, leaving the PA in the position of plausible deniability after they have sabotaged all efforts at negotiating a lasting agreement with the Israelis.

[Billy Hell]

Poppycrock! What leverage do the Palestinians have against Israel? Get real!

[mommamia526]

Well, Peace is one thing, but comfort is another. It appears that Abbas has said in that same quoted article, or another similar one, that life in the PA is good. Reason that this one poor disenfranchised Palestinian can sit back and wait. He appears well-fed. Also the PA has received funding with conditions attached from the U.S. and those conditions are consistently violated. The money does not go for the purposes it was intended for, but elsewhere, such as propaganda. Well, no one can deny Abbas making propaganda, but the money was allocated for urgent humanitarian aid, for economic reform, private and other, in the West Bank and for budget shortfalls in Abbas' government. Inquiring minds who care about the poor Palestinians want to know what the $ 900 M in aid is accomplishing for the Palestinian Public. If Abbas just sits back will anything happen, OR is life so good that nothing needs to be done? In that case what does Abbas need our money for? Do not forget that Mr. Obama has also said that the hatemongering by Palestinians must end, as it is not conducive to peace, and that Palestinians must acknowledge Israel as a jewish state. Both Fatah (Abbas) and Hamas have no intent, whatsoever to acknowledge Israel in any way, shape or form, let alone a jewish state. That would torpedo their plans to flood Israel with Palestinians remigrants.

[laborgrunt]

Why Egypt, that country is run by a totalitarian military gov't. I was hoping he would go to Malaysia or Indonesia, which are real democracies in the Muslim world. Especially Indonesia because it has the largest Muslim population.

Am I wrong in thinking that by bestowing such an honor on Egypt, the president is tacitly approving of the repressive regime?

[Trogenhorse]

I think the president is doing what he always does. Goes to the toughest crowd and face down his opponets. It will not make as big of an impact if he does it in a democratic country.
He is doing what Europe will not
He knows both the Palestinians and the Isrealis have a lot of blood in the waters so to speak
He knows he will have to bring pressure to the Palestinians as well.
But he is starting with our allies first.
We ( the world) can not continue to live in a status of on going war that threatens everyone. Thats what the middle east is now

[hulka37]

The idea I think is that he's addressing the people more than he is bestowing an honor to the Egyptian government. And I think he'd like to address Arabs first then Muslims more generally and do it from a location that is close to Israel/Palestine to underscore that America is finally recognizing that that is the source for much of the animosity between the two cultures.

[Defunct]

BO will promise the Middle East things, get them all full of "audacity" and then flip flop later.

[Jerry Pecks]

You can't even use the word "audacity" correctly. Until you learn the basics, don't try to hang with the big boys.

[cjk002]

The opposition to Obama keeps getting more and more nonsensical. I don't know if I should laugh or feel sorry for you guys. I think I'll go with laughter.

How do you fill someone with audacity?

[LeftLeanWing]

As former president george w bush might say:

"You just sit down and audaciate them with your audaciator ! "

[Trogenhorse]

why do people always set these "big expectations"? Our president always out does every expectation and makes us proud.

[mommamia526]

Mr. Obama is not the problem. I am proud of him too.

[JustAnotherScreenname]

Hey Jim,
Good points, as always. I do differ with you though: while the IP issue does loom in the minds of many Arabs, I think Obama's speech will also try to engage the Iranian people, who will be going to the voting booths in less than two weeks from now. If Obama can show them that there is another way, he might influence the outcome of the election..­.

[laborgrunt]

But the problem is that for all purposes the Iranian Presidency does not have any real power. The power rests with the Ayatollah. So all these ppl talking about how dangerous Ahmedinjad (spelling?) is; are scaring people for no reason. If the Ayatollah says jump, Ahmedinjad says how high!

[widestancepinkelephants]

Republican'ts are so confused by an intelligent president.
The gentleman's C club is out of power for a long time.

[Matt91304]

"Republican'ts are so confused by an intelligent president" that's not true at all, President Bush makes perfect sense to us.

[brynnrose thorn]

Heh, that actually explains a whole lot.

[cjk002]

Please look up the term irony..

[rabiddog6708]

I'm sure the speech will be inspirational and empty.....­just like his promises..­...in the same style Ronnie Raygun patented nearly 30 years ago.

[NO-LIE]

Has anyone heard in its entirety the speech given by Daniel Ortega? He really bashes america. He said that this country makes billions off of the drug trade with corruption at ALL levels, not to mention slave labor! Obama sat through the entire speech with his trademark colgate smile! If anyone can listen to that speech you would agree!

[brynnrose thorn]

And he would have accomplished WHAT by standing up and going into a tirade? Besides which, just between us, of his comments are lies? We DO make billions off the drug trade and there IS corruption. Lots of it. As to slave labor, do you deny that a great many American companies hire illegal labor at wages that are near slave levels?

Just because other countries do the same, or worse, doesn't mean that we don't have a lot of house cleaning of our own to do before we lay exclusive claim to the high ground on anything.

[Jerry Pecks]

You know, you conservatives always freak out (or pretend to, its hard to tell since you're ALWAYS insincere) whenever anyone says anything which is critical of America, even when it is true (i.e. torture). Ironically, you and your ilk have no problem tearing down our President in front of the whole world, before he even has a chance to finish unpacking. Oh, and please spare us all the "but you guys did it to Bush first" routine, because Bush was supported by the majority of Americans until he started getting caught in lies, and making a fool out of himself and our country. You should show more respect to the man who has the courage to step up and attempt to fix your miserable party's epic mistakes.

[cjk002]

We tried it Bush's way, and look at the results. Sticking your fingers in your ears and yelling "I'm not listening" is'nt going to get us anywhere.

[Jerry Pecks]

The guy has been President for only four months. By rushing to judgment you are only making yourself look stupid. Whatever side you're on, I'm sorry that you have to face defeat.

[MIKEBC]

I can hardly wait for his speech, he makes me so proud to be american again!

[citizen 123]

I second that! President Obama does America proud. We are a greater nation since he took office.

[rabiddog6708]

Tell that to the detainees. I'm sure they could use a good laugh.

[rabiddog6708]

Apparently, you are easily impressed. Keeping detainees locked away indefinitely without charge or trial.....­withholdin­g evidence of t0rture...­...things really to be proud of.

[Jerry Pecks]

If you knew jack squat about the legal system you would understand that these things take time. Would you rather that McCain won, so that not only would these prisoners never get a trial, but they would continue to be tortured as well?