Obama Urges "New Beginning" With Muslims

In Long-Awaited Speech From Cairo, President Confronts Tensions With Muslim World

(CBS/AP)  Last updated 7:03 p.m. ET

President Obama called for a "new beginning between the United States and Muslims" Thursday and said together, they could confront violent extremism across the globe and advance the timeless search for peace in the Middle East.

"This cycle of suspicion and discord must end," Mr. Obama said in a widely anticipated speech in one of the world's largest Muslim countries, an address designed to reframe relations after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and the war in Iraq.

At 55 minutes, the speech was the president's longest yet, reports CBS News chief White House correspondent Chip Reid. Yet, Mr. Obama's speech contained no new policy proposals on the Middle East. He said American ties with Israel are unbreakable, yet issued a firm, evenhanded call to the Jewish state and Palestinians alike to live up to their international obligations.

In a gesture, Mr. Obama conceded at the beginning of his remarks that tension "has been fed by colonialism that denied rights and opportunities to many Muslims, and a Cold War in which Muslim-majority countries were often treated as proxies without regard to their own aspirations." (Transcript Of The Remarks | Full Video)

"And I consider it part of my responsibility as president of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear," said the president, who recalled hearing prayer calls of "azaan" at dawn and dusk while living in Indonesia as a boy.

At the same time, he said the same principle must apply in reverse. "Just as Muslims do not fit a crude stereotype, America is not the crude stereotype of a self-interested empire."

Mr. Obama spoke at Cairo University after meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on the second stop of a four-nation trip to the Middle East and Europe. CBS News chief foreign correspondent Lara Logan reports that excitement awaited Mr. Obama on the streets of Cairo, where crowds chanted praise for America's new president. There was also a first in Cairo - T-shirts and souvenirs with the name of an American president on sale, indicating Mr. Obama's personal popularity.

The speech was the centerpiece of his journey, and while its tone was striking, the president also covered the Middle East peace process, Iran, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and the violence struggle waged by al Qaeda. Despite the hype surrounding the speech, Mr. Obama downplayed any short-term effects, Reid reports.

"Change cannot happen overnight," Mr. Obama said. "No single speech can eradicate years of mistrust."

Mr. Obama arrived in the Middle East on Wednesday, greeted by a new and threatening message from al Qaeda's leader, Osama bin Laden. In an audio recording, the terrorist leader said the president inflamed the Muslim world by ordering Pakistan to crack down on militants in Swat Valley and block Islamic law there.

But the president said the actions of violent extremist Muslims are "irreconcilable with the rights of human beings," and quoted the Quran to make his point.

"Islam is not part of the problem in combating violent extremism - it is an important part of promoting peace," he said.

"Hamas must put an end to violence, recognize past agreements, and recognize Israel's right to exist," he said of the organization the United States deems as terrorists.

"The Palestinian Authority must develop its capacity to govern, with institutions that serve the needs of its people."

"At the same time, Israelis must acknowledge that just as Israel's right to exist cannot be denied, neither can Palestine. The United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements" on the West Bank and outskirts of Jerusalem, he said. "It is time for these settlements to stop."

As for Jerusalem itself, he said it should be a "secure and lasting home for Jews and Christians and Muslims ..." (Read more key passages from the speech here.)

Mr. Obama also said the Arab nations should no longer use the conflict with Israel to distract their own people from other problems.

He treaded lightly on one issue that former President George W. Bush had made a centerpiece of his second term - the spread of democracy.

Mr. Obama said he has a commitment to governments "that reflect the will of the people." And yet, he said, "No system of government can or should be imposed upon one nation by any other."

At times, there was an echo of Mr. Obama's campaign mantra of change in his remarks, and he said many are afraid it cannot occur.

"There is so much fear, so much mistrust. But if we choose to be bound by the past, we will never move forward," he said.

After the speech, CBS News chief Washington correspondent said it was both remarkable and controversial.

"This was a remarkable speech," Schieffer said on The Early Show. "The most remarkable thing to me was just simply that he made it. That he would go to Cairo and that he would speak with the candor he did."

"It's also going to be controversial," Schieffer predicted, noting the president's call for "these [Israeli] settlements to stop" and that he thinks the lesson learned in Iraq was sometimes diplomacy trumps force. (Watch more of Schieffer's analysis here.)

Reza Aslan, a CBS News analyst on the Middle East, said the president's approach to issues like the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the fight against Al Qaeda and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was very frank. He also said that his remarks about women's rights could spark new debate.

The crowd's reaction to Mr. Obama's words about women's rights was mixed, Aslan said, and is likely to keep people talking, "which is precisely what Obama wanted." (More of Aslan's analysis here.)

Former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer, who served under George W. Bush, told CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller that he doubts about how realistic the rhetoric was.

Fleischer bluntly told Knoller, "bottom line -- the speech was balanced and that was what was wrong with it. American policy should not be balanced. It should side with those who fight terror." (Read more here.)

[josi7]

for crescentgirl... Aren't you looking at the wrong flag? Are you from another country? Why should we need to know about Islam or Muslims as Chrisyians? I am stars and stripes and I know about the Bible. You should get to know what the Bible says about the Jews. He calls Isreal His land, like it or not. And there is more to the story. READ THE BOOK A FROM FRONT TO BACK , BEGINING TO END. PRAY FOR PEACE AND THOSE WHO PROFESS TO BE THE PEACEMAKER. aLSO THOSE WHO ARE SO BLIND THEY CANNOT SEE.

[Audacity_of_Deception]

If history has taught us anythiing...it has taught us that where there is opression...there is always rebellion from the oppressed.
Posted by crescentgirl

You're right, just like the oppressed Israelis who have been defending themselves against Muslim jihadists for 60 plus years now. Jihad loses in the end, crescent girl.

If you want TRUE peace, seek Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior of all, and the Truth will set you free.

Islam will never give you that assurance.

[Audacity_of_Deception]

Please educate yourselves on Islam prior to making any comments because it is obvious that you do not know anything about Islam or Muslims for that matter
posted by crescentgirl

-I agree, more people SHOULD educate themselves on Islam and actually READ the Quran, then they would see the deception, hate, and evil that it is.

Walid Shoebat, a former PLO terrorist, exposes the hatred he was taught towards Jews and Christians in Islam and the propaganda he was brainwashed to believe in. He is now a born again Christians and speaks out against the evils of Islam.

www.shoebat.com

[Audacity_of_Deception]

Maybe I will see world peace in my lifetime!
Posted by eroosevelt08

If the anti-Christ takes the throne in Jerusalem, you will, but only for 3 1/2 years and only under his rules. Then all hell's going to break loose in the holy land.

Your choice to sit back and wait. But don't say you weren't warned.

[eroosevelt08]

I was a pretty strong Hillary Clinton fan and I am delighted that she is the Secretary of State.

I am now also an extremely strong Obama supporter. Communicating with people who hate us? So simple and yet absolutely brilliant. Talking can change many things!

Maybe I will see world peace in my lifetime!

[HGOODGUY]

THE PRESIDENT TALKS AND PEOPLE LISTEN

THE PEOPLE TALK AND THE PRESIDENT LISTENS

WHAT A CONCEPT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[crescentgirl]

To Audacity and all those others that spread hate on this board...to you i say Bah Humbug!!! Please educate yourselves on Islam prior to making any comments because it is obvious that you do not know anything about Islam or Muslims for that matter. Your comments and thinking process is no better than those extremests that you speak of. I, am happy that Mr. Obama is at least trying to have a dialogue with other nations and peoples...it's more than we can say for you. Peace is achieved through understanding one another and working together. As far as the Palestinian issue goes, peace, unfortunately, is an ellusive thing in this region and will continue to be until we take stock of what is really going and the world stops turning it's back on the Palestinian people. If history has taught us anythiing...it has taught us that where there is opression...there is always rebellion from the oppressed.

[revlin1]

And we consider it OUR PATRIOTIC DUTY to clear up all the questions regarding this guys occupancy of our White House. HOW DID HE GET THERE? (unqualified and all?) When the Dems wake up from this nightmare they call CHANGE NO ONE BELIEVES IN there won't be enough SOUP in the soup lines....!
NEGATIVE STEROTYPES ALRIGHT....BARRY needs to begin with Wright, Ayers, Rezko, Axelrod, Emmanuel, Jarrett....etc. , etc....college records, birth certificate, Michelle's thesis, Once those things and people are cleared up, WE MIGHT just listen for a moment or two to a guy who is way beyond arrogant or ignorant..(we cannot tell which will surface on any given day) DO OUR TROOPS FEEL SUPPORTED?

[hakori]

kcstan11 ...........the way the Israelis have treated the Palestineans is uncivilized and-in my opinion-inhuman; but unlike you, I think all people have the right to exist! I belive all people have a right to a homeland., and the Palestineans will have theres relatively soon. But what you believe is evil!

[hakori]

kcstan11 .........the only mess is the one in your head!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[hakori]

kcstan11...like I said..GO CRAWL BACK UNDER YOUR GD ROCK!!!!!!!!!!! People like you who advocate such things need to seriously reevaluate your cause. If you can justify such things, maybe you're the one who needs to march right into the sea so the rest of us are safe from vile creatures like you! I suppose you also think Bin Laden was right in murdering thousands of innocent people on 911? You disgust all civilized people!

[kcstan11]

kcstan11, go crawl back under your rock! I agree that a two state resolution is the only viable solution to the Israli-Palistenian problem, but if you had it your way the Jews would be marched into the Mediterranian. You're deplorable!
Posted by hakori at 7:16 AM : Jun 5, 2009

hakori, I have been watching that mess long before 1948 and I have no problem with them being marched into to Mediterranian ......

[hakori]

kcstan11, Obama made it CLEAR that we support Isreal. What he said that was different was his support of a two-state solution! You're as bad or worse than the right-wing crackpots here! People like you have defective minds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[hakori]

kcstan11, go crawl back under your rock! I agree that a two state resolution is the only viable solution to the Israli-Palistenian problem, but if you had it your way the Jews would be marched into the Mediterranian. You're deplorable!

[hakori]

nolies74621 .............sorry..that wasn't meant for you.

[hakori]

nolies74621 , GO CRAWL BACK UNDER YOUR ROCK!!!!!!!!!

[hakori]

nolies74621 ............OK, now explain precisely how Obama threw America under the bus! Tell us please, because I heard that speech and I head no such thing!

[kcstan11]

Ari Fleischer said that Obama's speech was 'too balanced', I guess by that he meant that for the first time in 9 years someone is finally taking a shot at the Jews. Obama will never let Isreal do what they did to Lebanon in 2006 or recently to Gaza City. Both happened under Dumbya's watch.

Adolph Hitler could have easily been given a Nobel Peace Prize for each of those prolonged destructions and massive unnessary deaths. The United Nations should rescind it's 1948 decision and give that land back to the Arabs.

That would save is $ 6.5 billion in foreign aid to Israel every year, so they could not buy any more WMD's from us and, the Arabs would keep the price of gas at $1.00 a gallon for the next 50 years.

[nolies74621]

Isn't it wonderful to have a president that can form a cohesive sentence that also makes sense?
FINALLY....we once again have a president to be proud of.
It is SO nice that we no longer have to listen to that Texan inbred moron give speeches that most people simply cringed the whole time he was speaking. What a contrast! Now if we could only ship all the remaining neocons and religious fanatics down to Texas and let them form their own state-life here in the good ole USA would be perfect.
Posted by orsands at 4:17 AM : Jun 5, 2009
+ report abuse + permalink

I did'nt like Bush and I definitely don't like BHO. BHO's speech was'nt all bad, but he could'nt help but throw america under a bus. I was sent to three different combat zones by politicians full of hot air. My guess is that America will have to respond militarily to Iran and South Kore because of the weak responses that BHO has given to their actions. I wonder what his speech will sound like if God forbid America is ever attacked again by Muslim extremists? Politicians are the worst kind of Hypocrite.

[hakori]

Reading the republican post here only strenghtens my assumption that they are incapable of change. All I see is why it's always someones elses fault. We had a man for eight years who had no interest in details and ruled by his gut, but now somehow Obama is naive.....GIVE US ALL A BREAK! In fact do us and the nation a favor and get your snotty noses out of Fox News and the right-wing blogosphere. Facts matter!