Oboma speaks to Muslins

Ooh! Please tell us what he said?

First, thank you for chosing this topic for discussion. It is very, very important in more than one way.As one of the participants has pointed out, you should have provided some more details to help the participants.I produce some information and then my pinion. "President Barack Obama chose an Arabic satellite TV network for his first formal television interview as President, delivering a message on Tuesday to the Muslim world that "Americans are not your enemy". "The interview underscored mr.Obama's commitment to repair relations with the Muslim world that have suffered under previous administration. "The President expressed an intention to engage West Asia immediately, and his new envoy to the region, former Senator George J.Mitchel, was expected to arrive in Egypt on Tuesday for a visit that will also take him to Israel, the West bank, Jordan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. "My job to the Muslim world is to communicate that the Americans are not your enemy," Mr Obama told the Saudi-owned, Dubai-based Al-Arabia news channel. "Mr. Obama noted that the U.S. had made mistakes in the past, but "that the same respect and partneship that America had with the Muslim world as recently as 20 or 30 years ago, there's no reason why we can't restore that."New Partnership ---------------- "Mr. obama called for a new partnership with the muslim world "based on mutual respect and mutual interest."He talked about growing up in Indonesia, the Muslim world's most populous nation, and noted that he has Muslim relatives. "The President said he felt it was important to "get engaged right away" in West Asia and had directed Mr. Mitchel to talk to "all the major parties involved." His administration would craft an approach after that, he said in the interview. "What I told him is start by listening, because all too often the United States starts by dictating," Mr Obama told the interviewer. "The President reiterated the U.S. commitment to Israel as an ally, and its right to defend itself. "But he suggested that both Israel and the Palestians have hard choices to make. "I do believe that the moment is ripe for both sides to realise that the path that they are on is one that is not going to result in prosperity and security for their people," he said. "Mr.Obama also noted that recent statements and messages issued by Al-Qaeda terror network suggest they do not know how to deal with his new approach."They seem nervous," he told the interviewer. "What that tells me is that their ideas are bankrupt." ---AP PALESTINIAN STATE IS POSSIBLE; OBAMA Without giving a time frame, mr. Obama said a Palestinian State is possible so that people of the region have a better life." I think it is possible for us to see a Palestinian state--- I'm not going to put a time frame on it --that is contiguous, that allows freedom of movement for its people, that allows for trade with other countries, that allows the creation of business and commerce so that people have a better life,"he said.He said the condition of the "ordinary Palestinian in many cases has not improved.""The israelis and the Palestinians need to come back to the negotiating table and the bottom line in all these talks is that "is a child in Palestinian territories going to be better off? And is the child in Israel going to feel confident about his or her safety and security?" Mr.Obama said in the interview.But this is not going to be easy, he acknowledged. --PTI THE HINDU,28 Jan 2009 We must note that President Obama has chosen to give his first interview to this TV channel and to make this appeal to the Muslim world. It shows how much importance he gives to this issue. And it most certainly deserves this (importance). As President Obama has unhesitatingly acknowledged, the U.S. has committed certain mistakes in dealing with the Muslim world and that has to be rectified as early as feasible.This is in the interest of the US as much as in the interest of world peace and security.It is not necessary now to narrate what all mistakes or injustices were committed. Suffice it to say that obama has shown maturity and wisdom by according high importance to this issue. Goodwill of all peaceloving people wil be with President Obama so long as he does not repeat the old mistakes.

i have not heard about this,but it is definetly a good move on his part to extend a hand of peace. i will surely look up to the content. happy posting.

I'm really glad he is talking to them. Not all Muslims are terrorists and I'm sure there glad that someone recognizes that who has some authority in the world. I would truly like to know what he said.

Doesn't it feel fabulous to have hope again!? Things will never be perfect, but it's a whole lot better already, just for the hope we can cherish. Therre will be mistakes and disagreements, because that's the nature of politics, but it's so much better ...

ive not heard the speech yet .. great that he has made a good start .. good luck Obama and America .. i pray he gets the support and encouragement he deserves*

Hi savypat, I haven't heard anything about this except that he is reaching out the hand of friendship to all who want peace. If this is true than I agree that it is long overdue. We need to live in peace and respect each other not go around saying that we alone are right. Blessings.