By Barb Shelly, Kansas City Star editorial page columnist
Barack Obama's speech today, delivered at an Egyptian University, will go over well with the burgeoning young population of the Muslim world. He stressed education for women, governments loyal to their people rather than parties or causes, and essential freedoms, including religion. He pledged more educational exchanges between college students from the U.S. and Muslim countries, and he promised to extend science and technology opportunities to Muslim nations. All good things.
I think the speech will cause consternation in Israel, with its blunt condemnation of the settlement policy. Obama called the occupation of Palestian lands "intolerable."
And in the U.S.? A mixed reaction, as always. I hope Americans appreciate the president's effort to understand and reach out to the Muslim world, and to communicate America's principles to those nations. Some will not like his rejection of the Iraq War, or his statement that the attacks on 9/11 "in some cases led us to act contrary to our traditions and ideals" -- a reference to torture and intelligence techniques. Many at home will not like Obama repeating his pledge to close the detention facility at Guantanamo. But the point of this speech was to extend a hand to the people of the Muslim world, and Obama achieves that by rejecting policies they find reprehensible.
The speech included the always-important reminder that Islamic extremists "killed people of different faiths, but more than any other they have killed Muslims." Can't say that enough.
The one thing I wish he'd left out: The promise to completely remove U.S. troops from
Iraq. I'm just not sure that's going to be possible.
Overall, this was a thoughtful speech by a president who has taken pains to study the Muslim world and who understands that the U.S. must rachet down the tensions with Muslim nations and peoples.
He proposed no great strategy or new course of people for Israel and Palestine. But for young Muslim people wanting a place in a world that values ideas, education and equality, I think he established himself as an ally.
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Interface thinks everyone
Likely has something to do with the fact that those who vote here are AMERICANS, grunt.
Our economic and national security interests are not at all in lockstep with those of Israel -- and indeed, turning a blind eye to Israel's policy moves, and indeed funding many of those moves, has had a net negative impact on our own position in the world.
Not quite sure what kcgrh is trying to say here. OK, so Jewish Americans voted for Obama -- are you trying to say they are stupid? I'm sure they'll be delighted to know that you think you know and care more about Israel than they do.
Interface thinks everyone is stupid and a moron and an idiot and a nimrod and a loon and whatever other name calling the Star allows. People have noticed.
And Apop thinks Interface gives intelligent and reasoned responses.
I think you can find comparable behavior in middle school or prison.
Apop
The quality of any discussion is immediately brought down to gutter level when he participates in a thread, which is pretty much 24/7.
It is a pleasant change of pace to read intelligent and reasoned replies for a change instead of "liberals suck" and "Obama is a socialist".
Why are you always Interface's b@@ch? Don't you have any pride or at least some self-respect?
one might ask Barf/Jim50
Why he hates America so much.
Of course, I never said anything against Israel -- just that Israel's and America's interests don't go hand in hand, and we should be questioning why so many billions of our tax dollars are going to fund their war against the Palestinians.
creepy
Jim50 said: "OH, very good BigSteve. I told up you I liked you the best."
That had a real Hannibal Lecter ring to it. Ew. The multiple personality disorder problem, all the while accusing others of mental illness, makes the whole thing even more twisted.
I do like you the best
That's the standard example of the loaded question:
http://www.fallacyfiles.org/loadques.html
A question like 'why do you hate Israel?' like most loaded questions does not deserve an answer.
OH, very good BigSteve. I told up you I liked you the best. But after less than 24 hours as "Barf" (I really thought they'd go for that name) I have apop admitting he is really Interface and that he/she/they hate Isreal. Meanwhile, why do YOU hate Isreal so much? Sorry, the logic with IT stands. He's mental. I personally think some childhood trauma. He must insult people to make him think he's better than others. He really needs some help. We should pitty him (and apop, his alter ego). I wonder when 5 IQ is going to pop up and show us how "smart" he is that he figured out Barf is really Jim50.
Good bye. You never know when I'll pop up again and get you to trip over your own verbal feet again proving what hateful people you really are.
a question, Jim50
When did you stop beating your wife?
That's the standard example of the loaded question:
http://www.fallacyfiles.org/loadques.html
A question like 'why do you hate Israel?' like most loaded questions does not deserve an answer.
???
LOL
Funny. So do the "Palestinians". LOL
In case you didn't notice I was answering this question about Israel:
"What have they ever done for us?"
It is also important to note that the amount of money sent to Palestine is dwarfed by the millions sent every day to Israel, that the Israelis spend on weapons to kill the Palestinians.
Reality bites. Once again.
Funny, I remember asking Interface why he seems to dislike Isreal so much. Why are you claiming you answered? So, you are saying you hate Isreal because they take money from us. So, if we stopped giving them money (or they refused it) you'd like them? Are you answering for Interface too? Does Interface also hate Isreal because they take money from us? What about all the other countries that take money from us. Do you hate them too? What about the "Palestinians". They take money from us (my point, remember). Do you hate them for that too but just not as much in proportion ot the amount of money we give them? Barf is very confused now.
Maybe you should try not hating so much. It makes life better.
Actually the discussion is raised a notch
The quality of any discussion is immediately brought down to gutter level when he participates in a thread, which is pretty much 24/7.
It is a pleasant change of pace to read intelligent and reasoned replies for a change instead of "liberals suck" and "Obama is a socialist".
Didn't say they didn't
LOL
Funny. So do the "Palestinians". LOL
In case you didn't notice I was answering this question about Israel:
"What have they ever done for us?"
It is also important to note that the amount of money sent to Palestine is dwarfed by the millions sent every day to Israel, that the Israelis spend on weapons to kill the Palestinians.
Reality bites. Once again.