Credit due

Work held us up so we’re a little late to the party but the transcript of the President’s Address at Cairo University can be found here. It’s long but we encourage everyone to read it in its entirety.

Current mood: Pleasantly surprised. Encouraged, perhaps?

Yes, there is the obligatory make-nice but this speech was, after all, an attempt at beginning a dialog between this country (and the West) and Islam and the degree of pandering was not much more than we heard from President Bush with respect to Islam. But there was also some uncompromising language and mild scoldings.

On the War on Terror:

The situation in Afghanistan demonstrates America’s goals, and our need to work together. Over seven years ago, the United States pursued al Qaeda and the Taliban with broad international support. We did not go by choice, we went because of necessity. I am aware that some question or justify the events of 9/11. But let us be clear: al Qaeda killed nearly 3,000 people on that day. The victims were innocent men, women and children from America and many other nations who had done nothing to harm anybody. And yet Al Qaeda chose to ruthlessly murder these people, claimed credit for the attack, and even now states their determination to kill on a massive scale. They have affiliates in many countries and are trying to expand their reach. These are not opinions to be debated; these are facts to be dealt with.

Make no mistake: we do not want to keep our troops in Afghanistan. We seek no military bases there. It is agonizing for America to lose our young men and women. It is costly and politically difficult to continue this conflict. We would gladly bring every single one of our troops home if we could be confident that there were not violent extremists in Afghanistan and Pakistan determined to kill as many Americans as they possibly can. But that is not yet the case.

On Iraq:

Let me also address the issue of Iraq. Unlike Afghanistan, Iraq was a war of choice that provoked strong differences in my country and around the world. Although I believe that the Iraqi people are ultimately better off without the tyranny of Saddam Hussein, I also believe that events in Iraq have reminded America of the need to use diplomacy and build international consensus to resolve our problems whenever possible. Indeed, we can recall the words of Thomas Jefferson, who said: “I hope that our wisdom will grow with our power, and teach us that the less we use our power the greater it will be.”

Much of the tone of the speech hinged on the inclusion/omission of any “…though I opposed…” phraseology. We’re pleased the President chose wisely while speaking of this overseas.


On Israel and the Jews:

Around the world, the Jewish people were persecuted for centuries, and anti-Semitism in Europe culminated in an unprecedented Holocaust. Tomorrow, I will visit Buchenwald, which was part of a network of camps where Jews were enslaved, tortured, shot and gassed to death by the Third Reich. Six million Jews were killed – more than the entire Jewish population of Israel today. Denying that fact is baseless, ignorant, and hateful. Threatening Israel with destruction – or repeating vile stereotypes about Jews – is deeply wrong, and only serves to evoke in the minds of Israelis this most painful of memories while preventing the peace that the people of this region deserve.

We couldn’t resist posting this paragraph, though, for it’s high irony content:

Freedom of religion is central to the ability of peoples to live together. We must always examine the ways in which we protect it. For instance, in the United States, rules on charitable giving have made it harder for Muslims to fulfill their religious obligation. That is why I am committed to working with American Muslims to ensure that they can fulfill zakat.

(italics, ours)

Whaaaa…? Isn’t this the same guy who wants to tighten-up on the exemptions for charitable contributions?


Anyway... Ralph Peters was on Fox News last night and he said that he wanted the President to speak as America’s President, not the World’s President. We believe, he succeeded.



P.S. We couldn’t help but note that the title of linked article that provided the text of the President’s speech is: “What Barack Hussein Obama told Muslims in Egypt”.

First time we’ve seen that in print, or at least in the title of an article from a Big Media outlet. We’re pleased Big Media has, behind the strength of a single speech, seen fit to sweep away restrictions concerning previous taboos. The “H”-word that dare not speak its own name is officially back on the table.