President Obama Hits All the Right Notes in Cairo

President Barack Obama's speech today in Cairo hit all of the right notes and was exactly what he needed to say after eight years of saber rattling, racist diatribes about "Crusades," and Biblical quotes affixed to "Worldwide Intelligence Updates." For years we've heard mouthpieces from the American Right uttering every offensive slur against Arabs and Muslims imaginable. Obama's contrast in tone as he addressed directly the world's 1.2 billion Muslims could not have been further from the toxic mixture of arrogance and incompetence that characterized the Bush-Cheney years.

Elliot Abrams emerged from Dick Cheney's dark nether regions of the federal government to write an op-ed in The Washington Post -- cited as important "news" by The New York Times' Ethan Bronner -- that Obama is betraying some kind of weird pact that Bush made with Ariel Sharon that allows for more Israeli settlements on Palestinian land, longer apartheid walls, and more lethal repression. Obama's reaching out to Arabs and Muslims, Abrams predictably sees, as undermining a set of failed policies he sees as sacrosanct. Abrams will probably end up on the right-wing talk show circuit pitching his bastard critique of Obama's needed shift in Middle East policy. And why not? He lied to Congress about his role in the Iran-contra scandal and along with John Bolton, Michael Ledeen, and others did all he could to yoke American foreign policy to the perceived interests of the Israeli Far Right.

President Obama today telegraphed to the world that he understands that history is not on the side of neo-colonialism and the neo-conservatives who serve it. No nation -- not the United States, not Great Britain, and certainly not Israel -- can afford the pretense of remaking the world in its own image through military violence. Colonialism is dead. And no matter what Abrams or Ledeen or Bolton say about the matter, Obama recognizes that someday apartheid walls and military occupations will be seen as relics from a past era on par with the Berlin Wall and the Warsaw Pact.

President Obama has taken the first tiny step today toward building a new mutually respectful relationship between the United States and the Arab and Muslim worlds. If they understand our point of view maybe they'll be more likely to help us guard against the religious nihilists who wage jihad against the West. But also perhaps Obama can begin to inoculate ourselves from the religious extremists in our own country -- people who assassinate abortion doctors or people in Israel who believe "god" gave them all the Palestinians' land. Obama has called for a "new beginning" in U.S. relations with the peoples of the Middle East and those who practice Islam worldwide. He seeks to move the world into the 21st Century and pull it out of the Bush-Cheney years that were characterized by the very 12th Century practices of torture, denial of habeas corpus, and aggressive war.

Comments

[DLSprague]

Despite the hope that I hold for the ability of Obama to change course and improve our relationship with the rest of the world, Colonialism is not dead.

[johnie2xs]

As awe inspiring as Obama's rhetoric was, in his speech in Cairo, Fox dingbats look for drinking game proof as to how many times he said the words "terror/terrorist", "Democracy", and whether or not he's growing a mustache, and what that might mean.

These people do not have a conciliatory bone in their bodies. When you confront these empty people about their criticism of the President, they counter with how Bush had been treated and criticized. Obviously to anyone who respect facts, the differences are great, but to explain it to them is to talk to the proverbial wall.

Taking on Israel on, as he has, is no small step. Surprisingly it looks as if he may have some support in the Congress, even among Jewish groups. If anyone can do it, it will be Barack.

Let's wish him well. The world has everything to gain,in his success.

[Francesca1214]

Again, Prof. Palermo, right on! It is time someone in power stood up to Israel and called for fair play for all. For years I have supported almost anything Israel did because of the history of anti-semitism and the holocaust, but Israel is now guilty of some of the same tactics against its enemies. I am sick of the religious extremists in our own country who make policy on direct orders from God. I hope that President Obama is able to make a difference, but the extreme criticism of everything he does troubles me greatly.

[Macready]

wonderful article Joseph . . I totally agree with you. Obama has my full support to work towards peace in the Middle East . . . Obama has made me proud . . . there is such a lot of work to be done that is 42 years overdue . . . no more blind/bigotted support for the rogue state of israel . . israel must be held accountable for its crimes . . the illegal settlements must go, the Jerusalem Wall must go the way of the Berlin Wall . . . isarel's blackmail of the west because of the holocaust and anti-semitism must end . . . the Palestinians have suffered for a zionist myth and died for far too many years because of what was essentially a European problem . . . they must have justice . . . I suspect Obama will be talking to the Germans and the French to support his initiatives . . . they should and must . . if the only thing that will convince israel that the West is serious are sanctions . . then sanctions must be introduced in the UN . . .

I was happy Obama acknowledged the role American played in outsting Mossedagh . . . that was heinous

[SacLatina]

I agree this is a wonderful article which captures my sentiments as I viewed Obama's speech from Cairo.

It is true that the people of Israel and their ancestors have suffered great persecution. However, It is also true that they are now the perpetrators of persecution and opression. The Bush/Cheney administration backed up Israel's actions even whe they clearly violated human rights and U.N. agreements. This was directly related to the fundamentalist Christian beliefs of Bush and the link between the restoration of Israel and the fullfillment of Christian biblical prophecy. Bush and others believe they are living in the "end times." As such the prospect of true peace in the Middle East does not mix well with what they expect from their worldview.

It is refreshing to have a president who will no longer protect Israel from the repercussions of their own imperialist agenda.