In the spirit of contrastive criticism, however, there is one dimension of the speech that needs to be reconsidered: the emphasis on the Arab world. Obama's decision to speak in a Muslim country has always been presented as an opportunity to address the “Islamic world.” Yet, perhaps because location is destiny, it was hard to avoid the impression that the target audience of this beautiful speech delivered in Cairo was almost exclusively the Arab world. This situation only confirms the Western tendency to equate Islam with Arabs. Few in the West are even aware that Pakistan and Bangladesh alone have a combined population of 320 million, compared to the 270 million of the whole Arab world. Add to these 150 million Indian Muslims and the 240 million Indonesians and soon you realize that Arabs are only one quarter of the Muslim world. This is why a speech to the Islamic world needed more emphasis on South Asia. Obama's speech came at a time when the most problematic parts of this region -- Pakistan and Afghanistan -- are going through a most challenging period. Only a month ago, there were clear signs that Pakistan was slowly abdicating to the Taliban. Senior American officials displayed a clear sense of panic and unease as they scrambled to persuade the civilian leadership in Islamabad and the Pakistani army to take on the extremists. But by the time Obama gave his speech in Cairo last week, the tide on the Pakistani front thankfully seemed to have turned for the better.
Over the last three weeks, the Pakistani army has been engaged in a concerted offensive to recapture the Swat Valley. This offensive has delivered a setback to the Taliban and, along with US air strikes, undermined the security of al-Qaeda's nearby sanctuaries. More than 1,200 militants have been killed.
This victory, however, came at a very high price: some 2.4 million people had to flee their homes. Pakistani officials say the refugees could number as many as 3 million. Making things worse, is the fact that food, water and medical supplies are desperately short. The United Nations and Human Rights Watch repeatedly warn that "a humanitarian catastrophe" threatens the region.
Obama missed an opportunity to address the gigantic dimensions of this tragedy in his address to the Islamic world. Muslims all over the world need to be aware of the stakes involved in Pakistan. This growing humanitarian crisis requires financial mobilization in the oil-rich Arab world. More than the military offensive, it is the response to the unfolding humanitarian disaster that will determine whether the Pakistani government can realistically defeat the Taliban.
The Taliban and Islamic extremists are already gaining ground among the refugees, offering aid and propaganda. There is a narrow window of opportunity because much of the Pakistani population is blaming the Taliban for provoking the fighting. Yet, if the Pakistani government fails to outspend the Taliban by providing goods and services to the refugees this situation will rapidly change.
This is why the government of Ali Asif Zardari needs all the help it can get from Obama and the Islamic world at large. Reconstruction plans are being drawn up but there is still a lack of resources and government capacity to deliver aid. The United Nations has requested $543 million in donations to help the displaced population. The United States has offered $110 million and will probably end up giving more. But the Arab League, and in particular oil-rich Gulf states, has so far been silent. Obama needed to call on them in his speech. To secure the wellbeing of the 3 million refugees in Pakistan through additional aid, logistical support and the mobilization of financial aid from the Arab world may very well prove whether violent extremism can be defeated where it matters the most. Too bad Obama's speech did not raise this crucial issue sufficiently.
