Round The World

New Delhi, 10 June 2009

 Obama Reaches Out To Muslims

YET US-ISLAMIC TIES NO BED OF ROSES

By Monish Tourangbam

Research Scholar, School of International Studies, JNU

The ever-inventive US President Barack Hussein Obama delivered another first of its kind. Speaking at Cairo University on 4 June, Obama gave a broad brush of his Administration’s policy to bring about inter-faith dialogue and a multilateral approach to global politics. Quoting extensively from the Holy Koran and the Bible and never compromising on his expert grasp over tonality, the US President gave an eloquent speech that could lay the foundation stones for an era of constructive and diplomatic dialogue to solve some pressing issues.

Though broadly structured, Obama had his attention clearly geared towards efforts to defuse the Israel-Palestine conflict and ease tensions enveloping Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Significantly, the landmark address was well-timed ahead of elections in Lebanon, Iran and Afghanistan.

In one of the most widely anticipated speeches in recent times, President Obama called for a “new beginning between the US and Muslims around the world, based on mutual interest and mutual respect.”  The speech was translated in 13 languages and was keenly watched by a global TV audience.

Dwelling on the checkered history of Islam and the West, he spoke of the fear and mistrust holding the two apart. Explaining that the events during the Cold War, changes brought by globalization and the impact of 9/11 have cemented these negative sentiments, he added. “This cycle of suspicion and discord must end.”

Never before has he used his Muslim roots to such effect. He began his address with the traditional Islamic greeting “Assalaamu Alaykum”, drawing a huge round of applause. In fact, the entire speech was often punctuated by various rounds of applause and cheers from the audience. Obama used those gaps to the right effect, emphasizing on the most important points, with the flair of a seasoned orator.

Drawing out the roots of his Kenyan family, that included generations of Muslims and reminiscing growing up in Indonesia, he dwelt on the significance of Islam in human civilization and acknowledged its part in the growth of America as a nation. He said, “The first nation to recognize my country was Morocco.”

Obama’s effort to strike a pragmatic balance was evident through the entire speech. He vowed to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appeared. But at the same time, he expected the same principle to apply in reverse. “Just as Muslims do not fit a crude stereotype, America is not the crude stereotype of a self-interested empire,” the American President asserted.

Coming to the delicate issue of the Israel-Palestine conflict, Obama was courageous enough to slam Israel with a publicly stated U.S. policy of denying the legitimacy of continuing Israeli settlements. “Israelis must acknowledge that just as Israel's right to exist cannot be denied, neither can Palestine's. The US does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements. This construction violates previous agreements and undermines efforts to achieve peace. It is time for these settlements to stop,” he said.

But in the same breadth, he also acknowledged the “unbreakable” bond between Israel and the US and added, “Palestinians must abandon violence.” He called on the Palestinian Authority to develop its capacity to govern and the Hamas to relinquish violence and accept Israel’s right to exist. He advocated the often-repeated but illusive two-State solution to end the conflict.

During his speech, President Obama also took up the issue of non-proliferation and the tense relationship between the U.S. and Iran. Acknowledging that it will not be easy to wipe out the mistrust developed over the years, he reiterated his offer for dialogue with Iran “without preconditions.” He was audacious enough to accept America’s role in the coup of the democratically-elected Government of Mohammad Mossadeq in 1953. 

He also recognised Iran’s right to pursue the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, provided “it complies with its responsibilities under the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty.”  Advocating universal disarmament and speaking against adopting double standards when it came to the possession of nuclear weapons, Obama added, “No single nation should pick and choose which nations hold nuclear weapons. That is why I strongly reaffirmed America's commitment to seek a world in which no nations hold nuclear weapons.” 

By advocating universal disarmament, he seemed to take away some of the sting from an otherwise brilliant and courageous speech. It is hard to believe that nuclear disarmament would ever form a part of America’s national security strategy. Obama could surely have talked about reduction of arsenals but an emphasis on universal disarmament would be something hard to sell to the international audience.

On one issue that his predecessor, President George Bush had made a centerpiece of his second term --- the spread of democracy, Obama chose to tread lightly and safely. Stating, “No system of Government can or should be imposed upon one nation by any other.” Nevertheless, he also reiterated his commitment to Governments “that reflect the will of the people.” He dismissed the argument that America was seeking military bases either in Iraq or Afghanistan and stressed on Washington’s respect for Iraq’s sovereignty.

Besides, Obama’s choice of venue for the speech has raised eyebrows in certain quarters. The lectern was set up in the domed main auditorium of Cairo University on a stage dominated by a picture of the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Human rights advocates found that symbolism troubling: an American President watched over by an aging autocrat who has ruled Egypt since 1981. “Egypt's democrats cannot help being concerned,” wrote Dina Guirguis, Executive Director of Voices for a Democratic Egypt.

The reactions to Obama’s address have been mixed. Many groups despite welcoming the conciliatory nature of his speech have questioned the lack of specifics and a pragmatic mechanism to tackle the issues mentioned.  The Israeli Right has been outright in condemning the speech for comparing the sufferings of the Palestinians to what the Jews endured in the Holocaust. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed Obama's words.

On the other hand, rival-group Hamas remained sceptic despite seeing positives in the speech. Fawzi Barhoum, a Hamas spokesman in Gaza complained that the US President did not specifically note the suffering in Gaza following the three-week Israeli incursion earlier this year and did not apologize for US military attacks in Iraq and Afghanistan.

A militant Shia-group MP Hezbollah Hassan Fadlallah, asserted, “The Islamic and Arab world does not need lectures, but real acts starting with a radical change toward the Palestinian cause.” Iran also insisted that Obama should match words with actions. Speaking ahead of Obama’s speech, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said, “Changes should be made in practice and not by making nice speeches to world Muslims.”

In the ultimate, with years of mistrust and a history of confrontation bequeathed to his Presidency, it would be stating the obvious that a bed of roses does not await President Barack Obama. Moreover, the level of trust that America enjoys at this juncture in the Islamic world is a matter of concern.  No doubt, a monumental speech has been delivered. Now, it remains to be seen how much of it he can actually implement. ---INFA

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)