CAIRO, June 2, 2009
Obama Reaches Out To Muslim World
Close Attention Paid To Overtures By U.S. President As He Visits Egypt
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Play CBS Video Video Obama Raising Muslim Hopes Muslims around the world have been paying close attention to Barack Obama since his first moments as President. Obama has raised the hopes of Muslims all over the world. Lara Logan reports.
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"To the Muslim world we seek a new way forward based on mutual interest and mutual respect," Mr. Obama said in his inauguration speech in January. (AP/Ron Edmonds)
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CBS News chief foreign affairs correspondent Lara Logan reports that Muslims around the world are paying close attention to the overtures made by Barack Obama from his first moments as president.
"To the Muslim world we seek a new way forward based on mutual interest and mutual respect," Mr. Obama said in his inauguration speech in January.
That way forward begins in Egypt.
"This is the first time that an American president comes to a Muslim capital and wants to deliver a speech - a speech of reconciliation with the Muslim world," said Professor Mohammed Kamal of Cairo University.
About 20 million people live here, at the ancient crossroads of Cairo. It's the intellectual center of the Arab world.
The heartland of Islam is here in the Middle East, even though Arab countries make up only about 20 percent of the world's Muslims.
Cairo was a natural choice for President Obama's speech because it's at the heart of the Arab world and although he'll be speaking to Muslims in general, when it comes to U.S. strategic interests, it's the Arab countries that are the most critical.
"The main problems between the American and the Muslim world are Arab problems - problems like the Palestinian problem, the Iraq problem and so on," said Mohammed Kamal.
Egypt's location has always made it critical to stability in the Middle East. Nestled below Israel and Jordan, a neighbor to Saudi Arabia and Libya, the Suez Canal at its northern tip where thirty percent of the world's oil passes every year.
It receives over $1.5 billion a year in U.S. aid - second only to Israel with whom it has fought four wars.
Then in 1978 the tide changed. Egyptian President Anwar Sadat became the first Arab leader to recognize and visit the Jewish state.
He engaged Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at Camp David, then signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1979.
Two years later anger at Sadat's outreach to Israel boiled over. Militants assassinated him. Vice President Hosni Mubarak took control.
Throughout his 28-year reign, a wary Mubarak maintained peace with Israel and good relations with the U.S. But many in Egypt feel his leadership cost his people dearly.
Today over forty percent of Egyptians live in poverty.
A bigger problem for President Obama: Mubarak's Egypt is seen by many as an oppressive police state.
On election day in 2005, the world saw a chaotic scene in Egypt. Police blockaded polling stations, beating back people they feared would vote against the ruling party.
Ayman Nour finished a distant second to President Mubarak. But the regime felt threatened by his popularity. So they threw him in jail for three years.
"I dream that my children and grandchildren will some day have a free country," Nour told Logan.
Nour is one of many here who are concerned that President Obama's presence endorses Mubarak's oppressive rule.
"I fear that by speaking here, he is supporting a tyrannical regime with a bad human rights record," Nour said. "I hope Obama works towards change here."
America's new leader has raised the hopes of Muslims all over the world - who now expect so much of one man.
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See all 54 CommentsWe are all caught up in Utopian thinking, and a very short term memory. What about OSLO ? That agreement brought back hoards of Palestianins from all over the world, armed a police force, gave gobs of aid, which was rewarded to Terrorists, even after Clinton had pushed for a decent two state solution. The bottom line, is Israel already has compromised so much that it's very existence is in question , threat by the very people they let in with OSLO.
There will be no peace unless there is a peaceful partner for peace on the Arab side.
And why ??? Why are there still "refugee camps" in GAZA ??? Is HAMAS still running these CAMPS on their own people ???
IT is time for the ARABS to embrace peace, thank the world for all the effort , and MOVE ON. I for one, am getting mightly tired of bad behaviour being rewarded.
We are not all the same. Only one religion is so intolerant. Can you name it ??
America is on the brink of failure. Come home , learn to speak AMERICAN , and bring the jobs back with you . If you cannot do this , then you are no help to we the U.S.A.
Short of this,stay there. I wish you all the comforts of the Muslim world.
For the children- Great-Grandfather
Posted by g-gfather
"learn how to speak American"? *** is that supposed to mean?
Posted by TexasEd
You're talking about the Preisdent of the United States.
How very un-american.
Posted by bajajohn1 at 2:47 PM : Jun 3, 2009
nope, Right wingers only kill abortion Doctors and nurses. Extremist muslim kill all non-muslims
Posted by ToolMangler1 at 3:46 PM : Jun 3, 2009
That is so true
Posted by dwilson59
Both kill out of hatred, and for their religions.
Posted by bajajohn1 at 2:47 PM : Jun 3, 2009
nope, Right wingers only kill abortion Doctors and nurses. Extremist muslim kill all non-muslims
Posted by ToolMangler1 at 3:46 PM : Jun 3, 2009
That is so true
and condems our childrens future.
Posted by oneof_many
How so?
America is on the brink of failure. Come home , learn to speak AMERICAN , and bring the jobs back with you . If you cannot do this , then you are no help to we the U.S.A.
Short of this,stay there. I wish you all the comforts of the Muslim world.
For the children- Great-Grandfather
Posted by d7767w at 3:48 PM : Jun 3, 2009
If Obama is apologizing for anything, it would be for Bush and others making this country appear to be just like any mideastern country.
Your point is 'What'????????
Posted by cydygitt1 at 2:48 PM : Jun 3, 2009
That is a very wide brush you are using woman.
Posted by bajajohn1 at 2:47 PM : Jun 3, 2009
nope, Right wingers only kill abortion Doctors and nurses. Extremist muslim kill all non-muslims
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Get real.....there's 1.5 Billion Muslims in the world, yet only a small percentage of radical extremists amongst them, just like the rabid right republican't evangelicals.
The vast majority of Muslims want peace and understanding, just like true Christians.
Why are southern, white evangelicals so full of hatred and venom?
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He should reach out all right, with a massive nuclear strike to rid the world of them once and for all.
Posted by bobford5
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Absolutely proof that there are rabid religious zealots everywhere, including those from the marginalized, regional, southern, white, evangelical republican't party.
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See all 54 Comments