The choice of Cairo as the venue for the speech was also important, for Cairo is the cultural center of the Arab world, and a diversity of religious and political opinion is abundant in the Egyptian capital.Democracy was among the speech's main themes. There was loud applause during sections of his speech on democracy and human rights. The contrast between Bush's use of the imperative voice in communicating with the Muslim world with Obama's deft tone evoked an aura of honesty and respect, disarming those chronically distrustful of US policies as an imperial power. The conventional American foreign policy depended on three D's: diplomacy, development and defense. Obama's speech seems to have added the fourth “D,” democracy, to the fold.
However, he was criticized for not apologizing for the invasion and not offering concrete plans for the country. It was noted, though, that he did at least repudiate the notion that Iraq was a war of necessity and not one of choice. His assessment of Palestinian-Israeli relations revealed a burgeoning rift between the US and Israel. Obama emphasized the necessity of “Palestine,” he laid down his approach: “quiet diplomacy based on mutual respect,” not violence and extremism.
A strong symbol of a new start between the US and the Islamic world is no doubt the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians towards the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Successfully achieving peace between Jews and Palestinian Arabs, and ultimately the establishment of a Palestinian state, may well the criteria on which Obama is judged in his presidential career. His speech about the issue was warm and conciliatory. However, passionate and powerful rhetoric is by no means lasting; people in the region expect concrete, policy-based follow-up on words. Obama often made references to the role of Islam. He pointed out the significance of Islam in contemporary history and human development and spoke of civilization's "debt" to Islam. He mentioned the reality of the US tarnished by its own foreign policy that led to the labeling of it as "anti-Islamist." He said that this ideological conflict was spurious, and that "America and Islam are not exclusive, and need not be in competition. Instead, they overlap and share common principles...”
President Obama seemed to be been keenly aware that reaching out to the greater Middle East is vitally important for American foreign policy because the region's intricate web of interests, institutions, relations, beliefs and emotions hold the key of peace and stability in the world. He also made it clear that in turning a new page with the greater Muslim world, there can perhaps be no greater starting point than resolving the historic Palestinian conflict. Obama's speech echoed a neutral stance with regards to the present Israeli-Palestinian standoff. However, many Arabs are waiting to see how much political or public pressure the US government will place on its historical ally in the region. In this new era that is unfolding, Israel may need to make greater concessions than what its conservative politicians so far have allowed. Yet under a growing nuclear challenge from Iran, Israel will need to win greater acceptance in the Arab world. That is why the Israeli government and public alike must come to realize that the resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue must be parallel with the peace process between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Indeed neither the US nor Israel can rally a mutual front against the Iranian government without broad support from the greater Middle East.
President Obama made other penetrating assessments: “No ideology or principle, such as democracy, can or should be imposed on a nation. It is indeed down to the real will of a nation, on what they choose to adopt or how they want to be ruled.” “The war of the modern era has been the battle against terrorism and extremism. This new battlefield ... is one war that the might of one's military alone cannot win in the long term.”
Mr. Obama was astute enough to declare that violence is not a part of Islam. He also added that America was not at war with Islam, that violence was a "dead end" and that "resistance through violence is wrong and does not succeed." Meeting this challenge, he said, would require concerted effort by both the domestic American constituency as well as the Muslim world.
Who can challenge these wise and warm statements? Now, it is high time to do the right things.
