Obama’s Speech in Egypt: A Seminal moment?

[EagleSmack]

EagleSmack, whatever the gaffs by Obama, he is much better than Bush ever was. Anyway, what is the problem with the last quote?

"My friends, we live in the greatest nation in the history of the world. I hope you'll join with me as we try to change it."

Because of the way he said it. We have the greatest nation in the world...lets change it.

Obama is just starting...did you see that video clip? He was absolutly LOST. Worse than Bush ever got.

Just because USA is the greatest nation in the history of the world, does that mean that it cannot be changed, cannot be made better?

Perhaps he should have said it that way then. Instead of saying the US is the greatest nation...let's change it, he could have said let's make it even better.

 

[TenPenny]

Yes, that quote is funny, because it can be so easily mocked. Anyone who doesn't find it funny has no sense of humour. I'd bet that even Obama thinks it's funny.

 

[DaSleeper]

Yes, that quote is funny, because it can be so easily mocked. Anyone who doesn't find it funny has no sense of humour. I'd bet that even Obama thinks it's funny.

Only the Obamamessia faithfulls don't think it's funny:roll:

 

[TenPenny]

One thing I liked about GWBush was that he could also laugh at himself.

 

[Socrates the Greek]

eaglesmack, whatever the gaffs by obama, he is much better than bush ever was. Anyway, what is the problem with the last quote?

"my friends, we live in the greatest nation in the history of the world. I hope you'll join with me as we try to change it."

just because usa is the greatest nation in the history of the world, does that mean that it cannot be changed, cannot be made better?

When blacks were segregated in usa say in the 40s, usa was the greatest nation in the world. Does that mean that segregation should not have been ended?

Even the greatest nation in the world is capable of improvement, of learning from its mistakes.

 

[darkbeaver]

Perhaps, jbeee, but everything has to have a start. I am fond of hiking. How does one complete a 35 km hike? One step at a time.

One speech is not going to change anything, however, it sets the tone, it tells the world that the days of cowboy tactics, shoot from the hip policies of Bush era are over. It is the start of a new era. It remains to be seen where it will lead us.



Wahab. Does he have anything to do with Wahabi faith? Or no relation?

It tells the inhabitants of your world something SJP but here in the RW he's just another shinny commercial product that makes noises when the buttons get pressed. Nothing sets yankee tone like a good carpet of peace bombs. "One step at a time" eh, why not the more natural hop skip and jump? "It's the start of a new era." Christ, I'm going to puke. You're a rich man SJP we could grow cucumbers in ya.:smile:

 

[darkbeaver]

One thing I liked about GWBush was that he could also laugh at himself.

Shaving must be hilarious for him.

 

[SirJosephPorter]

One thing I liked about GWBush was that he could also laugh at himself.

So could Reagan. In fact, Reagan was famous for that. We don't know yet about Obama.

 

[YukonJack]

Re #60.

Be honest now, SirJosephPorter!

The same quote from George W. Bush would have sent you, (and your calendar collecting son) into fits of guffaws and chuckles. And sarcastic comments from here to eternity.

 

[Goober]

Comparing Obama’s speech to Nixon’s visit is not a reasonable comparison and you of all people should know that – Nixon was the only person that because of his politics that could pull it off and have support –

Why isn’t the comparison fair, Goober? Nixon’s visit to China opened up a new chapter in world politics (as did Sadat’s visit to Israel). Obama’s visit has the potential of doing that.

As to support, are you saying that Obama doesn’t have support for his speech in Egypt? I think he does.

SJP – No I did not say that Obama would not have support for his speech – how you arrived at that conclusion is beyond me. Read my post – The majority of Arab Muslims believe that 911 was a CIA Plot- They still teach hatred of the Jews – You have moderates and extremists– a variety of countries and differences not only within the country – religious – political – Differences between Shia and Sunni and the the Sunni on how they interpret the Koran -
And you have the audacity – or really lack of knowledge to compare 1 speech in Egypt to Nixon’s visit in China – Shiiit – I think you are in love with Obama – Most of the press is –
Yep – I think you have a big crush on Obama.

http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/ziliao/3602/3604/t18006.htm

 

[Goober]

EagleSmack, whatever the gaffs by Obama, he is much better than Bush ever was. Anyway, what is the problem with the last quote?

"My friends, we live in the greatest nation in the history of the world. I hope you'll join with me as we try to change it."

Just because USA is the greatest nation in the history of the world, does that mean that it cannot be changed, cannot be made better?

When blacks were segregated in USA say in the 40s, USA was the greatest nation in the world. Does that mean that segregation should not have been ended?

Even the greatest nation in the world is capable of improvement, of learning from its mistakes.

SJP

Best get some education on segregation in the US. 1896 Supreme Court decision –

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plessy_v._Ferguson
Plessy v. Ferguson, 163 U.S. 537 (1896), is a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision in the jurisprudence of the United States, upholding the constitutionality of racial segregation even in public accommodations (particularly railroads), under the doctrine of "separate but equal".
The decision was handed down by a vote of 7 to 1, with the majority opinion written by Justice Henry Billings Brown and the dissent written by Justice John Marshall Harlan. Justice David Josiah Brewer did not participate in the decision. "Separate but equal" remained standard doctrine in U.S. law until its repudiation in the 1954 Supreme Court decision Brown v. Board of Education.
After the high court ruled, the New Orleans Comité des Citoyens (Committee of Citizens) that had brought the suit and that had arranged for Homer Plessy's arrest in order to challenge Louisiana's segregation law, replied, “We, as freemen, still believe that we were right and our cause is sacred.”[

 

[EagleSmack]

Nothing sets yankee tone like a good carpet of peace bombs..

Peace bombs are the best!

Nothing like laying them down in nice neat rows...except maybe criss crossing them!

 

[Extrafire]

Obama at Buchenwald, June 5: "This place teaches us that we must be ever-vigilant about the spread of evil in our own time, that we must reject the false comfort that others' suffering is not our problem, and commit ourselves to resisting those who would subjugate others to serve their own interests."

Obama in Cairo, June 4: "So let me be clear: No system of government can or should be imposed upon one nation by any other."


So which is his real oppinion? I would suggest it depends on who is being opressed.

 

[johnnyhangover]

Obama at Buchenwald, June 5: "This place teaches us that we must be ever-vigilant about the spread of evil in our own time, that we must reject the false comfort that others' suffering is not our problem, and commit ourselves to resisting those who would subjugate others to serve their own interests."

Obama in Cairo, June 4: "So let me be clear: No system of government can or should be imposed upon one nation by any other."


So which is his real oppinion? I would suggest it depends on who is being opressed.

Why can't they both be his real opinion? They don't seem to contradict. Maybe you just want to interpret them so as they contradict....

 

[Cannuck]

Ya, they pretty much contradict each other.

 

[johnnyhangover]

i don't see it. in one he says resist being subjugated, in the other he says no form of gov't should subjugate another. same thing, non?

 

[Extrafire]

No, in one he says commit ourselves to resisting those who would subjugate others to serve their own interests, which is the same as government being imposed upon one nation by any other, which is what he opposes in the second. They're polar opposites.

 

[SirJosephPorter]

No, in one he says commit ourselves to resisting those who would subjugate others to serve their own interests, which is the same as government being imposed upon one nation by any other, which is what he opposes in the second. They're polar opposites.

I agree with Jonnny here, Extrafire I don’t see them as being contradictory. Resisting those who would subjugate others to serve their own interests is not the same as imposing the government on anybody.

Thus when USSR invaded Afghanistan, USA helped the mujahedeen to mount resistance to the USSR installed puppet government (which turned out to be a big mistake, that gave rise to Taliban). There USA was resisting the USSR, who wanted to subjugate others to serve their own interest. However, USA was not imposing any kind of government on anybody.

 

[Amatullaah]

Some different perspectives in the aftermath of Obama's speech:

Islamist urges al Qaeda to open up to Obama's offer

Sat Jun 6, 2009 11:34pm IST

CAIRO, June 6 (Reuters) - A leader of an Islamist group that waged an insurgency in Egypt in the 1990s called on Saturday for al Qaeda and the Taliban to consider an opening offered by the U.S. president and call a halt to attacks on U.S. civilians.
Essam Derbala, a member of the leadership council of Al-Gama'a Al-Islamiya, or Islamic Group, made the appeal after President Barack Obama said in Cairo on Thursday he wanted a "new beginning" in ties between Washington and the Muslim world.
Islamist thinkers and groups in Egypt have long inspired Islamic movements around the world.
Washington's reputation plunged in the Muslim world under the Middle East polices of Obama's predecessor, George W. Bush, that were seen by many as targeting Muslims.
"I call on the Taliban of Afghanistan and Pakistan and al Qaeda to look at this solution and put the American side to a real test of the extent of its sincerity in achieving peace with the Muslim world," Derbala told Reuters.
"I consider this a chance to reveal the truth about Barack Obama before the people," he said, adding these organisations should open up to talks with the United States and declare they have "no need to kill American civilians".
Al Qaeda's second-in-command is Ayman al-Zawahri, an Egyptian who urged his compatriots to reject "criminal" Obama shortly before the president delivered his Cairo speech.
Many Muslims who listened to Obama's address welcomed the change in tone from Washington but said they wanted to see more specifics about how he would heal long-running sores that include the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, a group that renounced violence decades ago, said the speech was mainly for public relations.
Al-Gama'a Al-Islamiya waged an insurrection in the 1990s that was crushed by the security forces and its members were thrown in prison, from where leadership figures such as Derbala renounced violence. Derbala was freed with many others in 2006.
The pan-Arab daily Asharq Al-Awsat reported in January, days after Obama was sworn into office, that Derbala called on al Qaeda to agree a four-month truce with the United States. (Reporting by Mohamed Abdellah; Writing by Edmund Blair; Editing by Janet Lawrence)

Link

Jun 5, 2009 11:08 | Updated Jun 5, 2009 14:19
Settlers build 'Oz Yehonatan' outpost

By JPOST.COM STAFF

A day after US President Barack Obama reiterated his call to stop settlement activity during a speech in Cairo, defiant settlers continued to erect illegal structures in the West Bank, building a new outpost on Friday morning between Migron and Kohav Ya'akov.


At the outpost, named Oz Yehonatan, the settlers built a wooden structure they mockingly called the "Obama Hut," saying it was a sign of appreciation for the US president for his actions that had led to a dramatic rise in the number of outposts.
Overnight Thursday, settlers and right-wing activists once again rebuilt the illegal Maoz Esther outpost that was dismantled on Wednesday by security forces.
Among the structures erected was a synagogue in which activists placed a Torah scroll dedicated in the name of Yohonadav Hirschfield, who was killed in last year's terror attack at Jerusalem's Mercaz Harav Yeshiva.



One of the activists said of Obama, "He's an Arab Muslim and a gentile, he is fighting against the Jewish people and has declared that he will continue to do so. We already stated our intention to continue to build, no matter who is fighting us - Egypt, Germany or the US."
Among the 200 activists that gathered at the Maoz Esther site was Hebron-Kiryat Arba Chief Rabbi Dov Lior, who explained why peace was impossible in the Middle East.



"It's all illusions. With these savages, there was never peace, there is no peace and there will not be peace," he said. "It's not because we don't want it, but because they are enemies of peace. We just have to hope that our entire country is cleared of terrorists, their supporters, their backers and their camels. They should all be sent to Saudi Arabia."
National Union MK Michael Ben-Ari voiced his support for the settlers' actions saying the West Bank's Jewish communities were an established fact that could not be changed.
"Obama, in his audacity, dreams that 350,000 Jews can be removed from Judea and Samaria, but they are a fact that cannot be changed," he was quoted by Army Radio as saying.

Link

Reaction in Israel ranges from relief to outrage

Jun 05, 2009 04:30 AM

Comments on this story

(10)


Oakland Ross
MIDDLE EAST BUREAU

JERUSALEM–Many were impressed, others were incensed, some called for action instead of words, and more than a few were just plain relieved.
In a region as torn by conflict as the Middle East, it would be impossible to expect people to react with anything like a single voice to U.S. President Barack Obama's historic speech in Cairo yesterday – and they didn't.
"The government of Israel expresses its hope that this important speech in Cairo will indeed lead to a new period of reconciliation between the Arab and Muslim world and Israel," said a statement released by the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
His three-paragraph response to the speech made no mention of the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict – a formula Obama again championed in his address – or to the U.S. leader's demand that Israel halt all construction activity on Palestinian lands, something Israel is refusing to do.
Politicians on the far right condemned Obama's speech and reaffirmed their claim to all Palestinian lands.
"Obama's words are not the solution to peace and security," said Rabbi Dov Volpo, leader of the extremist Land of Israel party, who warned a "tragedy" could befall the United States if it threatens the land of Israel, a term used here to refer to a region that also includes the Palestinian territories.
Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian peace negotiator, welcomed Obama's address.
"This was a very important speech," Erekat said in a statement, "in which President Obama reinforced the message that ending the occupation and establishing a viable and independent Palestinian state was in the mutual interest of Palestinians, Israelis, and indeed the entire world."
In recent days, the prospect of Obama's address had the Israeli punditocracy lathering itself up into a state of high anxiety.
Many feared the U.S. president would set a radical new direction for his country's Middle East policy, fears stoked by an uneasy confrontation between Washington and this country over ongoing Israeli settlement activity.
"We were going to the bunkers," said Israeli political scientist Efraim Inbar. "There was hysteria here."
But the level of disquiet declined significantly after people heard the actual speech, Inbar said.
"I don't think it was in any way anti-Israel. I think most Israelis were relieved."
George Giacaman, director of the Program in Democracy and Human Rights at Birzeit University in the West Bank, predicted Palestinians will be watching to see whether credible deeds follow Obama's heartening words on the need for an independent Palestinian state.

Link

Obama Speaks to the Muslim World from Cairo, Egypt

He quoted (what is apparently) an ayah:

"Be conscious of God and speak always the truth".

Ok, I will. Albeit not even justifying the phrase 'scratching the surface', however.

This was a clear attempt to deceive the Muslim masses through a see-through attempt of gallantry. You have come to a hall in the Muslim world while standing in front of 2 flags; both of which represent oppression and tyranny (in the epitome and purest senses of the words) against Muslims. The 2 flags you stood in front of represent the gang-rape and torching of 14 (12 on her Iraqi ID card) year old Abeer Qassim al-Janabi in Mahmudiya, Iraq. They represent the forced disappearances, rape and torture of ghost detainees in CIA-backed black sites run by Hosni Mubarak. They represent the gang rape of Nadia in Abu Ghraib. The list of rapes and killings of Muslims is endless.

Did you mention any of those events while parroting 9/11 to the point of making sane humans vomit?

Obama talks about how he will give $1.5 billion to Pakistan annually for "aid". Why is this aid needed in the first place? Because copious Muslim civilians in Pakistan have been killed and displaced in Waziristan due to Obama's cluster bombing it. Where will this aid go? In weaponry and military technology to advance the murtad Pakistani Army in their quest to kill Muslims on behalf of the Shaytaan and the United States.

How much money does the US give Israel annually? Over $4 billion. That money is also invested in military technology to exterminate Muslims in Palestine.

He even said it himself. "This bond [between the US and Israel] is unbreakable". Meaning what? They can continue the slaughter of Muslims, and your bond will remain unbroken.

"Palestinians must abandon violence. Resistance through violence and killing is wrong and it does not succeed".

How many people were killed in the Gaza war? 13 Israelis and at least 1,417 Palestinians (overwhelming majority civilian non-combatants, including copious women and children). Yet you want the Palestinians to abandon violence? You say nothing of the figures of the recent genocide in Gaza (let alone the rest) that occurred earlier this very year, yet you endlessly cry over the numbers killed on 9/11 that happened 8 years ago?

Then you honestly expect us to believe your claim that the West is not at war against Islaam and Muslims? How many Muslim civilians have you killed since? In fact, how many Muslims have you killed before? Do you think history started on 9/11/2001?

In conclusion, Obama is a filthy hypocritical bastard, a massacring tyrant who funds and commands armies to rape and kill Muslims, and a slave of Satan. Your hands are coated with Muslim children's blood, rape, genocide, and much, much more. And so are those flags you stand in front of.

You want peace? You might be able to think about attaining it when you:

Get out of Muslim lands, stop the financial, military and verbal support of state-terrorists who commit acts of terrorism against Muslims (e.g. Russia in Chechnya, Israel in Palestine), advocate the extermination of the pirate state of Israel, execute the Zionists/Neo-Cons who engineered all forms of war against Islaam and Muslims (in the past and present), execute all US "soldiers"/terrorists who waged / are waging war on Islaam and Muslims in Muslim countries, eternally apologize and beg (in vain) for forgiveness from the Muslims and Muslim world.

P.S. Obama, it's "hijaab" not "hajib".

Link

 

[SirJosephPorter]

Amatullaah, that is pretty much what I have heard, there was mixed reaction from both Israel and Arab countries. That means Obama got it just right. If one side had liked the speech a lot and other side had hated it, that means he was unduly favoring one side. So I think Obama hit just the right note.