Obama's Challenge In Egypt

Marc Ambinder: President's Long-Awaited Speech To The Muslim World Will Be Closely Watched Around The Globe

(CBS)  The "On The Marc" column is written by The Atlantic's Marc Ambinder, CBS News' chief political consultant.

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For the past several months, American diplomats have been working with their partners in the Arab world on a top-secret project: when Barack Obama delivers his address to the world's Muslims later this week, the White House wants to ensure that it is seen or heard by hundreds of millions of the faithful across the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Already, the White House has secured promises from major Arab television and radio networks to carry the address live. In addition, journalists from Arab world newspapers will be well cared for by the administration.

The level of consultation with Arab countries about the timing, location (a modern college - in Egypt) and content of an American president's speech has been unprecedented.

That's because a successful speech will be as useful for the interests of many parts of the Arab world as it will be for the national security of the United States.

The notion of an American president's speech that facilities the mutual interests of our allies in the Muslim world will strike conservatives here at home as a venal sin. The fear is that that Obama will capitulate to an anti-Western world view that privileges humility over strength and concede that America has lost the clash of civilizations.

Mr. Obama remains an enigma to the Muslim world. White House officials believe that a large percentage of them believe that he shares their faith. They hear "Barack Hussein Obama" and can't help but associating the name with Islam. (His father was a Muslim - that's all many need to know.)

In America, we know our president is a modernist evangelical, but it has not escaped notice overseas that this falsehood is useful as a way of promoting American interests and ideals. He is manifestly more popular among Arabs than President Bush was. That's not a surprise, but then again, not altogether expected.

Perhaps it's a function of the same powers of projection: Muslims see in Mr. Obama a kindred spirit who was chosen as the leader of the most powerful country in the world -- someone who did not advocate the imperialism of the Iraq war, someone who can set an example for Muslim governments (almost universally unpopular with their citizens) of enlightened leadership. He is a talisman for Muslim modernity.

Mr. Obama's popularity serves another useful purpose. The governments of Saudi Arabia and Egypt as are concerned about the possibility of a nuclear Shiite Iran as they are with the resonances of the Palestinian conflict.

But most Egyptians and Saudi Arabians support Tehran's nuclear ambitions. The prevailing theory is that support for Iran is balanced on a see-saw with favorable attitudes about America. The more popular America becomes - or the more credible it becomes as a broker of peace - the less likely the Arab world is to look for Persia as a source of strength.

The conflict between what an Iposos-Zogby poll of the Arab world called "Brand Obama" and "Brand America" is striking. Mr. Obama is legitimately popular in the Arab world. His principle task, as the White House sees it, is to convince ordinary Muslims that Mr. Obama's policy is the new American policy.

It is no accident that the administration's tough anti-settlement rhetoric was the talk of the Arab world. I would not be surprised if there was a concerted, semi-covert effort to make sure that Arab newspapers and opinion sources noticed how angry the Netanyahu government became after the prime minister met with Obama in Washington.

(There is no better headline, from the U.S. point of view, than something like: "Israel Rejects American Pressure On Settlements.")

With chief foreign policy speechwriter Ben Rhodes and a few other aides, Mr. Obama is scrutinizing every word of his address with the intensity of a Talmudic scholar. He will no doubt not be satisfied with the final product until moments before he steps up to the bulletproof lectern on Thursday.

The White House has been irritatingly silent on details, but Mr. Obama himself has offered a bit of a preview. He will seek to locate American interests in a universal narrative of progress. He will express his sympathy for the plight of Palestinians. He will certainly use the speech as a teachable moment to remind Muslims of their obligations to other countries, including Israel. He will stress his respect for the sovereignty of Muslim nations while maintaining that the values of free expression and human rights are transhuman.

He will also fib a little bit. Americans are wary of the Muslim world and Mr. Obama will have to explain why this is not so.

Even as allied governments encouraged Mr. Obama to give this speech, they're pressuring him to go further than what he intends. The White House worries a little that Muslims expect Mr. Obama to outline a comprehensive plan for Middle East peace. He won't do that - and Muslim governments know he won't.

If he is too vague, he will no doubt be criticized, but I think Mr. Obama intends to strike a balance. He knows that even he cannot buy the world's goodwill with words. On the other hand, if America is perceived as wanting real progress towards peace in the Middle East, then hardened anti-American sentiments will evaporate and countries like Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia will more effectively be able to deal with a hegemonic Iran.

The audience back in America is going to be listening carefully, too. In general, Mr. Obama gets plaudits from independents and Democrats when he is perceived as reaching out. Conservatives often confuse this feeling with self-hating anti-Americanism. But it's more that the broad mass of Americans who support Mr. Obama believe that it serves our interests when anti-American sentiments - legitimate or contrived - are taken off the table.

Americans will also be listening for Mr. Obama's denunciations of jihadis and terrorism. Does it sound perfunctory? Does he use the occasion to speak truth to power? Will he address human rights issues by country? Will he use his political capital overseas to be as honest about the Muslim world as he is about America's intentions and history?

[skyk-2009]

Try not to bow to the help.
Posted by TheMasses002 at 12:03 PM : Jun 3, 200

Do you ditto heads all have ONE brain? This has got to be the 10th time I've read this same tired line.... Hell there aren't that many of you anymore so it has GOT to be that you are all using ONE brain!! Geezzzzz!

[skyk-2009]

Now what possible reason could Obama have for posing such a whopping lie? As a matter of fact it's not even a lie, it's FRAUD!

Everybody in the world knows that the US is 80% PRACTICING Catholics, Protestants or Jews!

When is the man going to be called upon to stop making such FRAUDULENT statements?
Posted by IThoughtItWasFunny at 11:01 AM : Jun 3, 2009

Hey don't count me with that FRUIT that shot the Doctor!! That's Taliban regardless of brand!! You are so hung up on your Ideology there's no reason to even respond to this very foolish statement. WE the PEOPLE wanted a DIFFERENT direction for our Nation. We VOTED in RECORD numbers for this VERY INTELLIGENT Young Leader man and since MILLIONS more have joined those of us who put him in office. People BELIEVE in this man! You and those like you haven't given him a chance from day one and he's STILL doing what the people sent him there to do. I don't know what motivates you people, it CERTAINLY isn't the Country, but who can take you serious when you post trash like you do??

[skyk-2009]

President Obama will always be greeted warmly and with great friendship regardless of where he travels in the world - if he remembers one little device for every public appearance - he must begin each speech with the following phrase - "I am not George W. Bush."
Posted by freespeech101 at 6:42 AM : Jun 3, 2009

LOL Yes but if he then went into a Michael Steele Speech any hope of gaining ground is gone!! LOL

[skyk-2009]

bowing to the right terrorist and making meaningful appologys
Posted by mjvwsr at 6:15 AM : Jun 3, 2009

Is there something WRONG with you?? I'm SERIOUS!!! You have to be completely MENTAL to post the senseless garbage you post every single day. It's the same TIRED old spew that we've been listening to now for TWO YEARS!! You HAVE GOT TO BE MENTAL to just keep doing it in the face of REALITY!! IT'S INSANE!!

[skyk-2009]

The longer this President is in office the more I begin to believe there is NOTHING he can't do! This guy has the Courage of TEN George Bush's!! Bush didn't DARE even enter these nations for a speech, even if he could have given one. The ONE think that Bin Laden is MOST afraid of is someone cutting off his supply of Young Arab Youth that HATE the United States. You cut that off and Bin Laden is just like any other Terrorist Organization that ONCE was. Terror isn't new, that's been around as long as there is recorded history and this is but ONE way to stop it.

[ilovemydoggy]

You tell it nofoolling.... Baaaaaaaa!

If any American studied history, they might be flabbergasted as to what is REALLY going on. But the schools & media train us NOT TO THINK, so it won't happen.

Baaaaaaaa!

[ilovemydoggy]

It's such a new feeling to have a President who isn't stupid. I'm still not used to it.

Obama, do your best -- you have our trust.

[thetrajectory]

The expectations from President Obama?s June 4th speech are indeed high. It is hoped that President Obama will help in altering mutual perceptions by re-designing American policies towards the Muslim world. In the vast multitude of expectations President Obama faces two primary challenges. First, he has to skillfully appeal to the various segments of the non-monolith Muslim world. Second, he has to be realistic without being disappointing.
http://thetrajectory.com/blogs/?p=575

[rpbohman]

An excellent article.The Cairo speech will be an important opportunity for President Obama to make an overture to the Moslem world that while America has lines that it believes should not crossed, our policies toward the Moslem world will no longer be governed by a xenophobic undertone of anti-Islamic, onward-Christian-soldiers thinking. We are all "people of the book", whatever our differences on some (important) issues. I look forward to the speech. It can only be a first step on a complicated journey...but could be an important step for us, and our children. Long overdue...

[freespeech101]

President Obama will always be greeted warmly and with great friendship regardless of where he travels in the world - if he remembers one little device for every public appearance - he must begin each speech with the following phrase - "I am not George W. Bush."

[mjvwsr]

"Obama's Challenge In Egypt"

bowing to the right terrorist and making meaningful appologys

[onesword]

You go Obama. Bring on world peace. America wants to lead the world in the right direction.

[AJMarine12]

Is the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in some undisclosed location?Is she being sidelined from this trip in deference to the Arabs' sentiments towards women?

Posted by zamorin44 at 5:35 AM : Jun 3, 2009


She is in South America.

Obama's trip to Saudi Arabia was a last minute thing and she had other business planned; she will join him in Eygpt.

[hungry1968-15]

Is the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in some undisclosed location?Is she being sidelined from this trip in deference to the Arabs' sentiments towards women?
Posted by zamorin44 at 5:35 AM : Jun 3, 2009





She's in Cairo. The Saudi Arabia trip was planned at the last minute, so only Obama is going.

Or so we're being told.

[zamorin44]

Is the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in some undisclosed location?Is she being sidelined from this trip in deference to the Arabs' sentiments towards women?

[hungry1968-15]

I read a Gallup poll today taken by muslims in the middle east that shows that over half of them don't trust or give a rip about Obama, whether he is a muslim or not.

Posted by libsRlost at 1:05 AM : Jun 3, 2009





Wow!! You're a genius.

You're JUST NOW figuring out that the islamics / arabs / muslims don't give a dammn about America, one way or the other?

And it only took (your age) to figure it out?!?!

Moron.

[randomlybanned]

Wow deliquescent, you took the words right out of my mouth. The Obama World Apology Tour continues!

[fzy1hc]

My father was in WW II and was in Africa and they didn't trust them. One minute they are with you and they next they are against you. The one that shows $$$$.

Obama think who is giving money to the war effort!! And supporting the Taliban with equipment from the good USA.

It good be your faters brothers.

[nofoolling]

Obama's challenge in Egypt is the same as his challenge anywhere and anytime else....to fabricate falsehoods that are believable enough to sucker the fools while being ambiguous enough that he can flip-flop when it comes time to deliver. It's the Obama way.
Posted by deliquescent

It is the way of all politicians. Bush, Clinton, Bush and everyone of them in all my 54 years, speak with forked and barbed tougue.

Only sheeple will buy any of it, because above all it'll still be business as usual, lie, cheat and steal to enrichen the rich, and the rich corrupt elite that pull all the strings on their bought and paid for puppets, won't have it any other way.

There really is no Rep or Dem anymore, only paid political liars.

[tdkiley]

It is stupendously hard to credit an op-ed piece so riddled with misspellings--"facilities" for "facilitates", "venal" for venial", "principle" for "principal" -- and then "privilege" becomes a verb.

Is the author a recent graduate of a bad school and a steady diet of eye candy on television or just a sloppy thinker?

An organization that broadcasts this kind of slop has lost its moorings.