Closing The Gap Between U.S., Muslim World

CBS News Exclusive: Egyptian Prime Minister Says Timing Critical For President Obama

(CBS)  From Iraq to Afghanistan to Pakistan, Islamic terrorists strike every day, widening the gap between the United States and the Muslim world.

With his planned address from Cairo on Thursday, President Barack Obama hopes he can bridge that divide and send a message of peace to the Muslim world, reports CBS News chief foreign affairs correspondent Lara Logan.

His speech, Egypt's Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif told us today in an exclusive interview, could not come at a more critical moment.

"Time is working against us," Nazif said. "I think time is of the essence - we need to work fast and this is the message we've been getting from the administration. They're hopeful to see something - see something before the end of this year and I think it's very important that it would happen in the first year of this administration."

What he's talking about first and foremost is the creation of a Palestinian state - an end to violence between Israel and the Palestinians - and how much pressure President Obama will be willing to put on Israel's conservative prime minister to achieve that.

"The Israeli-Palestinian issue is the core - you solve this problem and you'll find that many other issues have to fall in line," Nazif said.

Iran is the next critical issue, but not just its nuclear ambitions. Prime Minister Nazif admitted Iran's support for terrorist groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza is causing alarm.

"We're very worried about what has been happening so far - the influence with Hezbollah, with even with Hamas," Nazif said. "And events in Iraq has worried us a lot."

Iran's ambitions for regional power may trouble Arab governments, but more than anything, they're looking for changes in the U.S.-Israeli relationship.

President Obama said recently that an Arab-Israeli peace will facilitate and precede a solution to the problem of Iran, showing that he is all too aware of the priorities on the Arab street. Or, as one Arab commentator put it: The sole bridge to reconciliation is a Palestinian state.

The Arab world expects a lot of this president - from pulling out of Iraq, to ending torture to closing Guantanamo Bay. Failure to achieve all this could be disastrous for Obama. But even worse? If he wasn't trying to reach out to Muslims.

"I think it would be catastrophic," Nazif said. "I think that we have been in a downturn for so long, we're creating beds for terrorists to flourish."

"Beds for terrorists to flourish?" Logan asked.

"That's true," Nazif said.

Terrorists who are threatened by Obama's popularity amongst Muslims, who do not want America's President to succeed.

[TheTruthDetective]

It was nothing more than words, words that a politician would use to appease the Muslim countries for access to their oil.
Muslims will not stop disliking Americans
With demands for oil at $80.00 to $100.00 a barrel. This administration is on their hands and knees begging the Saudi Arabians to lower the price.
This is a sad time not just for the U.S. but also for Europe and the rest of the world.
What happen to alternative fuels and the electric cars?
Posted by krotec54 at 8:10 PM : Jun 4, 2009



Everything about this post is absolutely !diotic, including the price quotes for oil. We don't beg to lower prices, we have our own oil. Electric cars? HAHAHAHAHHA what a joke, this will never happen. Who in the heck will buy a Chevy Volt knowing that in +- 8-9 years you will need to buy a new battery for $11,000.00? NOBODY! You can say you will not keep the car that long but when you trade it in, who will buy it next as a used car knowing they will have to shell out $11,000.00 in a couple of years for a battery? NOBODY! These car dealers will end up with lots full of used electric cars.This junk is a fantasy and will never work.

[krotec54]

Just words , words that a politician would use to appease the Muslim countries for access to their oil.

[krotec54]

It was nothing more than words, words that a politician would use to appease the Muslim countries for access to their oil.
Muslims will not stop disliking Americans
With demands for oil at $80.00 to $100.00 a barrel. This administration is on their hands and knees begging the Saudi Arabians to lower the price.
This is a sad time not just for the U.S. but also for Europe and the rest of the world.
What happen to alternative fuels and the electric cars?

[krotec54]

Are Evangelicals extremists?
Have they made any intimidation or demands to allow their religion to spread to other countries?

[krotec54]

It is the extremists that accurately defines an entire religion.

[krotec54]

It is the Koran that radicalizes members of Islam.

[credibility2]

Until radical Islam is demonstrably decried and no longer tolerated or accepted by the majority of Muslims who claim to be peace-loving, no amount of skillfully written rhetoric is going to change the situation. Radical Islam is against anything tied to the West, including all non-Muslim religions. Radical Islam is a religious and cultural war.

[blog_fever2]

Good. This will give us the opportunity to witness to the Muslim world just how good Christ is.

[Questionews]

Ahhhhh.

Another day of watching the GObama & NObama groups spit at each other.

[atticus1104]

It is going to be difficult for Obama to make any progress in the Middle East when he is battling ideologues not only in the Middle East, but also here at home.

Check this clip out of Fox News, kind of missing the point on dealing with radical Muslims.

http://progressnotcongress.org/blog/?p=1562

[earth562]

Only cowards never admit they're wrong. The President is doing what needs to be done to restore America's standing in the world and I wish him well. He's going to need all the help he can get to withstand the neocons.
Posted by mec6951 at 5:30 AM : Jun 4, 2009

The neo-cons are mentally challenged, narrow minded, and scared little puppies with nothing to offer but unjust critcism and divisive extremists points of views. They are very similar to the terrorist they fear so much!
Posted by bong-refuge at 5:34 AM : Jun 4, 2009


Bong
I am giving Obama the benefit of the doubt and my blessings. All that said I find the problem is the mainstream press and not :"Fox" but more like the BBC and other news organizations that filter what they want you to see and hear.
If you ever watched Al-Jazeera or the BBC overseas then you would see a lot of bias and slanted news with agendas.
They are the ones who have created the opinions of those on the street and considering that most people are less than qualified to give me a complete history of what and why they are easy prey to persuade. The other problem is the "pride" equation of the Arabs and the way they are bought up in their culture. Its more complicated than what most reporters are feeding you that were razed in Topeka, Kansas.

I hope we both agree to disagree and give respect

[earth562]

Good post.
Posted by bong-refuge at 7:17 AM : Jun 4, 2009

Thanks

[earth562]

We will never have peace until man puts aside the childish need to believe in fairy tales.
Posted by formrusmcsgt at 5:35 AM : Jun 4, 2009

and I am assuming you are referinf to religion.

WW2 as an example was not about religion . Nazi Germany believed in its superiority and facism. Stalin believed in communism and himself as being superior. Amadinijahd just uses "Islam" as his way of being another little Hitler and assuming power. The same goes for Hugo Chavez as he is destroying his countrys economy in his quest to assume full power.

Rarely has any war been about religion per se and if you think Al-Quada and Bin Laden are about religion you better get yourself some reading material on the subject matter other than fairy tales you acquire off the internet.

[krotec54]

Obama wants Islam to reform itself from negative stereotyping; When Islam has always wanted to reform the World.

[globalcoolin]

I see that any time Obama sees his poll number dip he runs over seas after the news media first claims he is facing "A BIG TEST" in the scheduled visit.
OHHHH YES! Big test for Obama, coming up!
But the gimmick is that, it's already scripted that at the conclusion the news media will proclaim Obama PASSES the big test.
He's not passing anything! The world is NOT going to be a more peacefull place--but the world is coming to get the idea that Obama needs gimmicks and the US media to help him pull it off the appearances of passing "important" tests and big "challenges!".
Perhaps we will see US hospitals open up in China right next to the Chrysler plants! It's a long flight to china should you get chicken pox or measles, but perhaps he's got a plan for that after Obama does to health care what he's done to the auto industry.

[Volksstimme]

I, me, it's all about me, I Obama...........

Don't buy GM
Posted by vistavermin1

This trend was obvious from the beginning of his campaign. Like every dictator he too absorbed in himself.

[Volksstimme]

We will never have peace until man puts aside the childish need to believe in fairy tales.
Posted by formrusmcsgt

Like Barry's " YES WE CAN" ? LOL

[Volksstimme]

Rather than kissing up to the arabs King Barry should focus on the threat that North Korea presents to our country. But than again, that does not meet his agenda of wanting to be liked by everybody. In addition, Barry ought to get his facts right. America does not have the largest muslim population outside the middle east.

[formrusmcsgt]

We will never have peace until man puts aside the childish need to believe in fairy tales.

[mec6951]

Wondered how long it would be before we got the neocons on here calling Obama a muslim. I guess they think if they keep repeating it, that will make it true. They tried that tactic prior to the election and it didn't work, but they don't give up easily. Obama is not a muslim and there's nothing wrong in reaching out to other nations. America is not perfect, we've made some mistakes and admitting that shows strength, not weakness. Only cowards never admit they're wrong. The President is doing what needs to be done to restore America's standing in the world and I wish him well. He's going to need all the help he can get to withstand the neocons.