By Barb Shelly, Kansas City Star editorial page columnist
Barack Obama's speech today, delivered at an Egyptian University, will go over well with the burgeoning young population of the Muslim world. He stressed education for women, governments loyal to their people rather than parties or causes, and essential freedoms, including religion. He pledged more educational exchanges between college students from the U.S. and Muslim countries, and he promised to extend science and technology opportunities to Muslim nations. All good things.
I think the speech will cause consternation in Israel, with its blunt condemnation of the settlement policy. Obama called the occupation of Palestian lands "intolerable."
And in the U.S.? A mixed reaction, as always. I hope Americans appreciate the president's effort to understand and reach out to the Muslim world, and to communicate America's principles to those nations. Some will not like his rejection of the Iraq War, or his statement that the attacks on 9/11 "in some cases led us to act contrary to our traditions and ideals" -- a reference to torture and intelligence techniques. Many at home will not like Obama repeating his pledge to close the detention facility at Guantanamo. But the point of this speech was to extend a hand to the people of the Muslim world, and Obama achieves that by rejecting policies they find reprehensible.
The speech included the always-important reminder that Islamic extremists "killed people of different faiths, but more than any other they have killed Muslims." Can't say that enough.
The one thing I wish he'd left out: The promise to completely remove U.S. troops from
Iraq. I'm just not sure that's going to be possible.
Overall, this was a thoughtful speech by a president who has taken pains to study the Muslim world and who understands that the U.S. must rachet down the tensions with Muslim nations and peoples.
He proposed no great strategy or new course of people for Israel and Palestine. But for young Muslim people wanting a place in a world that values ideas, education and equality, I think he established himself as an ally.
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Interface thinks everyone
Likely has something to do with the fact that those who vote here are AMERICANS, grunt.
Our economic and national security interests are not at all in lockstep with those of Israel -- and indeed, turning a blind eye to Israel's policy moves, and indeed funding many of those moves, has had a net negative impact on our own position in the world.
Not quite sure what kcgrh is trying to say here. OK, so Jewish Americans voted for Obama -- are you trying to say they are stupid? I'm sure they'll be delighted to know that you think you know and care more about Israel than they do.
Interface thinks everyone is stupid and a moron and an idiot and a nimrod and a loon and whatever other name calling the Star allows. People have noticed.
And Apop thinks Interface gives intelligent and reasoned responses.
I think you can find comparable behavior in middle school or prison.
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