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Obama Abroad III: Now With More Landmark Speeches to the Muslim World

wwtMaskwwtMask Registered User regular
edited June 2009 in Debate and/or Discourse
President Obama is currently on an overseas trip which has thus far taken him to Saudi Arabia and Egypt and will later see him in France to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the D-Day invasion. Today, at Cairo University, he did what he does best: giving a serious, honest, and ambitious speech about extremism, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Mideast peace process, freedom, religious tolerance, democracy, economic prosperity, and women's rights, and how they all relate to security and peace around the world. You can view or read the full speech here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/04/obama-speech-in-cairo-vid_n_211215.html

It was a great speech designed to catch the ears of Muslims and change minds about America's role on the world stage. It was also a call for respect and civility, and a call to action to overcome divisions that prevent peace in the region. In it, Obama made some firm committments, which I think are key to bridging the divide that our involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan created.

So let's discuss Obama's trip, his speech, and the rest of the politicking that's going to surround the president while he's overseas. What are some of the things you think are going to come out of this trip? What are the ramifications for him and his opposition back in America? How should we expect his speech to be received by the Muslim world?

When he dies, I hope they write "Worst Affirmative Action Hire, EVER" on his grave. His corpse should be trolled.
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wwtMask on
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Posts

  • nexuscrawlernexuscrawler Registered User regular
    edited June 2009
    I'm quite surprised he acknowledged some of the historical reasons for Arab/American distrust.

    The less we have of the AAARRRGGGGGGGGG THEY HATE OUR FREEDOMS! rhetoric the better

    nexuscrawler on
  • wwtMaskwwtMask Registered User regular
    edited June 2009
    I liked when he basically rebuked the whole idea of exporting democracy by saying that he supports governments that respect the will of the people. Too many Americans can't seem to understand that not every country desires to have a government that is a facsimile of the American government.

    wwtMask on
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  • SyphonBlueSyphonBlue The studying beaver That beaver sure loves studying!Registered User regular
    edited June 2009
    President Hussein said thank you in arabic. this proves he is a muslim who is turning us into a muslim nation

    rise up fellow american patriots and put an end to this liberal socialist fascist dictator tyrannical monarchical "president"

    and find his real birth certificate

    SyphonBlue on
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  • ronyaronya Arrrrrf. the ivory tower's basementRegistered User regular
    edited June 2009
    My reading of Egypt thus far: great speech, defuses hostility. Effect won't last longer than a month - Israel Israel Israel - but I suppose diplomats have to take what they can get.

    ronya on
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  • Element BrianElement Brian Peanut Butter Shill Registered User regular
    edited June 2009
    So republicans are convinced that the fact that he is traveling to Germany means he is going to apologize for WW2.

    I..I just..what.how...

    ..and do my conservative friends buy it? You freaking betcha.

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  • nexuscrawlernexuscrawler Registered User regular
    edited June 2009
    this administration is taking a much harder tone towards Israel. We'll have to see if it's backed up by anything or just meaningless handwaving though

    nexuscrawler on
  • wwtMaskwwtMask Registered User regular
    edited June 2009
    SyphonBlue wrote: »
    President Hussein said thank you in arabic. this proves he is a muslim who is turning us into a muslim nation

    rise up fellow american patriots and put an end to this liberal socialist fascist dictator tyrannical monarchical "president"

    and find his real birth certificate

    Speaking of which...

    Obama Indicted At Birthers' "Citizen Grand Juries". I really wish I could say that this was a joke. D:

    wwtMask on
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  • wwtMaskwwtMask Registered User regular
    edited June 2009
    So republicans are convinced that the fact that he is traveling to Germany means he is going to apologize for WW2.

    I..I just..what.how...

    ..and do my conservative friends buy it? You freaking betcha.

    Your conservative friends are honest to god retards. Nothing they ever do for the rest of their lives can make up for how stupid they are for thinking this.

    wwtMask on
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  • ObsObs __BANNED USERS regular
    edited June 2009
    He didn't bow to King Abdullah again this time did he?

    Obs on
  • GaddezGaddez Registered User regular
    edited June 2009
    On the subject of israel, What exactly does the US gain from it's unwavering support? I know you guys have arms deals with them but is there anything else?

    Gaddez on
  • wwtMaskwwtMask Registered User regular
    edited June 2009
    An ally in the region and a military check on some of the regimes that are less likely to cooperate unless there's an implied threat of violence.

    wwtMask on
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  • Richard_DastardlyRichard_Dastardly Registered User regular
    edited June 2009
    wwtMask wrote: »
    SyphonBlue wrote: »
    President Hussein said thank you in arabic. this proves he is a muslim who is turning us into a muslim nation

    rise up fellow american patriots and put an end to this liberal socialist fascist dictator tyrannical monarchical "president"

    and find his real birth certificate

    Speaking of which...

    Obama Indicted At Birthers' "Citizen Grand Juries". I really wish I could say that this was a joke. D:

    It's so frustrating because these people are so beyond any hint of rational thought that it's fucking impossible to make them feel ashamed or stupid for believing in such a stupid thing.

    I think some of these people actually come from an alternate dimension of stupid. Seems Matt Drudge's anus is the portal to this realm.

    Richard_Dastardly on
  • ScalfinScalfin __BANNED USERS regular
    edited June 2009
    Obs wrote: »
    He didn't bow to King Abdullah again this time did he?

    That is standard procedure when dealing with royalty, especially when in their country. I'm sure there's footage of someone bowing to the queen of England.

    Scalfin on
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  • wwtMaskwwtMask Registered User regular
    edited June 2009
    wwtMask wrote: »
    SyphonBlue wrote: »
    President Hussein said thank you in arabic. this proves he is a muslim who is turning us into a muslim nation

    rise up fellow american patriots and put an end to this liberal socialist fascist dictator tyrannical monarchical "president"

    and find his real birth certificate

    Speaking of which...

    Obama Indicted At Birthers' "Citizen Grand Juries". I really wish I could say that this was a joke. D:

    It's so frustrating because these people are so beyond any hint of rational thought that it's fucking impossible to make them feel ashamed or stupid for believing in such a stupid thing.

    Hey, I love these guys. Not only do they provide lots of laughs at their own expense, they also marginalize themselves so effectively that no one takes them seriously or even wants to hear anything they have to say. I'm fine with them busying themselves with inane shit rather than lending their time and money to take on more substantial issues.

    wwtMask on
    When he dies, I hope they write "Worst Affirmative Action Hire, EVER" on his grave. His corpse should be trolled.
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  • AstraphobiaAstraphobia Lightning Bolt! Lightning Bolt! Root! Sleep! Death!Registered User regular
    edited June 2009
    Obs wrote: »
    He didn't bow to King Abdullah again this time did he?
    bush-abdullah-holding-hands.jpg

    rumsfeld-hussein.jpg

    041.jpg

    Spoiler'd for multiple images.

    Obama is such a cryptonfacistmooslem.

    Astraphobia on
  • tallgeezetallgeeze Registered User regular
    edited June 2009
    wwtMask wrote: »
    So republicans are convinced that the fact that he is traveling to Germany means he is going to apologize for WW2.

    I..I just..what.how...

    ..and do my conservative friends buy it? You freaking betcha.

    Your conservative friends are honest to god retards. Nothing they ever do for the rest of their lives can make up for how stupid they are for thinking this.

    where in the world do you get an idea like that? Fox News maybe? I know they throw out some wacky ideas, but I find it hard to believe they would even do that.

    tallgeeze on
  • wwtMaskwwtMask Registered User regular
    edited June 2009
    Every news organization reported on the "controversy" surrounding his birth certificate. The difference is that Fox News had guys like Hannity to stoke the flame of stupidity, and he did because there wasn't too much else to attack Obama on for a time.

    wwtMask on
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  • Element BrianElement Brian Peanut Butter Shill Registered User regular
    edited June 2009
    tallgeeze wrote: »
    wwtMask wrote: »
    So republicans are convinced that the fact that he is traveling to Germany means he is going to apologize for WW2.

    I..I just..what.how...

    ..and do my conservative friends buy it? You freaking betcha.

    Your conservative friends are honest to god retards. Nothing they ever do for the rest of their lives can make up for how stupid they are for thinking this.

    where in the world do you get an idea like that? Fox News maybe? I know they throw out some wacky ideas, but I find it hard to believe they would even do that.

    Are you really surprised?

    http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,524928,00.html

    edit: I actually pointed out to these people that Sean Hannity is only being a douche bag and saying that Obama will apologize, where as he hasn't actually done so, nor will he, nor has he for anything else. But these people fail to see the difference between what Obama hasn't done and what Sean Hannity says he will do.

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  • nexuscrawlernexuscrawler Registered User regular
    edited June 2009
    I would think even the pundits would have a Godwin overload limit

    nexuscrawler on
  • HonkHonk Honk is this poster. Registered User, __BANNED USERS regular
    edited June 2009
    The good thing with Obama is that they don't have to translate him over there, because he speaks Muslim. Am I right?

    Honk on
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  • RichyRichy Registered User regular
    edited June 2009
    Scalfin wrote: »
    Obs wrote: »
    He didn't bow to King Abdullah again this time did he?

    That is standard procedure when dealing with royalty, especially when in their country. I'm sure there's footage of someone bowing to the queen of England.
    George W. Bush didn't bow to the Queen of England. He made a few "she's so old that" jokes, and used the PM as his personal waiter at dinner. Ah, the good old days.

    Richy on
    sig.gif
  • RichyRichy Registered User regular
    edited June 2009
    And to make a more relevant contribution to the thread:

    The trip is so historic, Osama Bin Laden popped out of his cave for the first time in months and released an audio tape. He says that talk is cheap, and the US are still fighting bloody wars against Islam in Iraq and Afghanistan, and calls for more attacks against Americans.

    Is it weird that Bin Laden sounds more rational and restrained than Republicans?

    Richy on
    sig.gif
  • nexuscrawlernexuscrawler Registered User regular
    edited June 2009
    and cue the fundies pouncing of Obama's "It's nice to visit the birthplace of Islam'" line in...3...2....1...

    nexuscrawler on
  • monikermoniker Registered User regular
    edited June 2009
    this administration is taking a much harder tone towards Israel. We'll have to see if it's backed up by anything or just meaningless handwaving though

    It seems like this time might be for real since Congress is appearing to grow some balls on the issue. Bush the Greater took much the same tack, but was completely undermined by the House and the Senate giving AIPAC sloppy blowjobs.

    moniker on
  • tallgeezetallgeeze Registered User regular
    edited June 2009
    tallgeeze wrote: »
    wwtMask wrote: »
    So republicans are convinced that the fact that he is traveling to Germany means he is going to apologize for WW2.

    I..I just..what.how...

    ..and do my conservative friends buy it? You freaking betcha.

    Your conservative friends are honest to god retards. Nothing they ever do for the rest of their lives can make up for how stupid they are for thinking this.

    where in the world do you get an idea like that? Fox News maybe? I know they throw out some wacky ideas, but I find it hard to believe they would even do that.

    Are you really surprised?

    http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,524928,00.html

    edit: I actually pointed out to these people that Sean Hannity is only being a douche bag and saying that Obama will apologize, where as he hasn't actually done so, nor will he, nor has he for anything else. But these people fail to see the difference between what Obama hasn't done and what Sean Hannity says he will do.

    If he apologizes for anything to Germany it should be for the creepy backrub Bush gave to that German official.

    Out of all the fuck-ups Bush did that was the second most embarrassing moment, imo. I don't want my president to be creepy backrub guy.

    tallgeeze on
  • HeartlashHeartlash Registered User regular
    edited June 2009
    That speech was awesome.

    So very awesome.

    I can't even believe it. I'm trying to imagine how I would've felt if 3 years ago someone had told me a US president would make a speech like that. There's just no way I would've thought it possible.

    This man may be my foreign policy idol.

    Heartlash on
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  • ElJeffeElJeffe Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited June 2009
    Standard NRO stupidity:
    Obama studiously avoids the word democracy. Instead, he declared, "That does not lessen my commitment, however, to governments that reflect the will of the people." Dictators of the world, relax: Stage a spontaneous demonstration to demonstrate popular adulation; don't worrt about those pesky votes.
    So Obama studiously avoids the word terrorism.

    Madeleine Albright erased rogue regimes; they became states of concern.

    More recently, we abandoned the global war on terrorism; it became overseas contingency operations.

    Alas, if we change the term, the world does not become a better place. Diplomats may want to change the lexicon, but the problem is not the words, it is the phenomenon.

    So apparently if we avoid politically charged words but convey the exact same points in other ways more likely to be given thoughtful consideration in an important part of the world, the [strike]terrorists[/strike] guys who want to do mean things to us win.

    ElJeffe on
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  • ElJeffeElJeffe Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited June 2009
    tallgeeze wrote: »
    If he apologizes for anything to Germany it should be for the creepy backrub Bush gave to that German official.

    Out of all the fuck-ups Bush did that was the second most embarrassing moment, imo. I don't want my president to be creepy backrub guy.

    Of course now, he would be awesome backrub guy. I sure wouldn't mind if Obama started rubbing my shoulders.

    ElJeffe on
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  • Richard_DastardlyRichard_Dastardly Registered User regular
    edited June 2009
    ElJeffe wrote: »
    tallgeeze wrote: »
    If he apologizes for anything to Germany it should be for the creepy backrub Bush gave to that German official.

    Out of all the fuck-ups Bush did that was the second most embarrassing moment, imo. I don't want my president to be creepy backrub guy.

    Of course now, he would be awesome backrub guy. I sure wouldn't mind if Obama started rubbing my shoulders.

    And what if he started with your shoulders and worked his way down?
    wwtMask wrote: »
    Hey, I love these guys. Not only do they provide lots of laughs at their own expense, they also marginalize themselves so effectively that no one takes them seriously or even wants to hear anything they have to say. I'm fine with them busying themselves with inane shit rather than lending their time and money to take on more substantial issues.

    Yeah... but there seems to be so many more of them than, say, 9/11 truthers and the OMG LIZARD PEOPLE people.

    Richard_Dastardly on
  • ElJeffeElJeffe Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited June 2009
    ElJeffe wrote: »
    tallgeeze wrote: »
    If he apologizes for anything to Germany it should be for the creepy backrub Bush gave to that German official.

    Out of all the fuck-ups Bush did that was the second most embarrassing moment, imo. I don't want my president to be creepy backrub guy.

    Of course now, he would be awesome backrub guy. I sure wouldn't mind if Obama started rubbing my shoulders.

    And what if he started with your shoulders and worked his way down?

    :winky:

    ElJeffe on
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  • chidonachidona Registered User regular
    edited June 2009
    I watched it live, and wow. Wow. It'll be very difficult for him to persuade Israel to chill out, considering their overwhelmingly negative reaction to his previous efforts to build a two state solution - indeed, they decided to continue building settlements. However, if he can crack the Palestine/Israel issue, he'll be about 60% of the way there in the view of most Islamic states. Also, he needs to properly deliver on the Guantanemo issue - if congress keeps pushing it back and it doesn't get done, his credibility will take a sharp hit, I feel.

    But still, you guys have a way awesome leader. Wanna swap Obama for Gordon Brown? We'll throw in Boris Johnson as well for free.

    chidona on
  • wwtMaskwwtMask Registered User regular
    edited June 2009
    chidona wrote: »
    I watched it live, and wow. Wow. It'll be very difficult for him to persuade Israel to chill out, considering their overwhelmingly negative reaction to his previous efforts to build a two state solution - indeed, they decided to continue building settlements. However, if he can crack the Palestine/Israel issue, he'll be about 60% of the way there in the view of most Islamic states. Also, he needs to properly deliver on the Guantanemo issue - if congress keeps pushing it back and it doesn't get done, his credibility will take a sharp hit, I feel.

    But still, you guys have a way awesome leader. Wanna swap Obama for Gordon Brown? We'll throw in Boris Johnson as well for free.

    No thanks, we think we'll keep "The Islamic Shock" to ourselves.

    I think Israel is going to find it harder to maintain opposition to the two state solution. The support for their opposition is crumbling in the Senate and House, even among the Jewish members.

    wwtMask on
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  • Darkchampion3dDarkchampion3d Registered User regular
    edited June 2009
    chidona wrote: »
    I watched it live, and wow. Wow. It'll be very difficult for him to persuade Israel to chill out, considering their overwhelmingly negative reaction to his previous efforts to build a two state solution - indeed, they decided to continue building settlements. However, if he can crack the Palestine/Israel issue, he'll be about 60% of the way there in the view of most Islamic states. Also, he needs to properly deliver on the Guantanemo issue - if congress keeps pushing it back and it doesn't get done, his credibility will take a sharp hit, I feel.

    But still, you guys have a way awesome leader. Wanna swap Obama for Gordon Brown? We'll throw in Boris Johnson as well for free.

    We fuel and equip most of their god damn military. If they don't want to play nice, all we have to fucking do is have the balls to threaten to cut off their supply.

    Darkchampion3d on
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  • RichyRichy Registered User regular
    edited June 2009
    I just read the speech transcript linked in the OP. Wow. That was an amazing speech.

    Richy on
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  • monikermoniker Registered User regular
    edited June 2009
    chidona wrote: »
    I watched it live, and wow. Wow. It'll be very difficult for him to persuade Israel to chill out, considering their overwhelmingly negative reaction to his previous efforts to build a two state solution - indeed, they decided to continue building settlements. However, if he can crack the Palestine/Israel issue, he'll be about 60% of the way there in the view of most Islamic states. Also, he needs to properly deliver on the Guantanemo issue - if congress keeps pushing it back and it doesn't get done, his credibility will take a sharp hit, I feel.

    But still, you guys have a way awesome leader. Wanna swap Obama for Gordon Brown? We'll throw in Boris Johnson as well for free.

    We fuel and equip most of their god damn military. If they don't want to play nice, all we have to fucking do is have the balls to threaten to cut off their supply.

    No, just a significant minority. It'd suck for them for a little while if we decided to pick up stakes, but it wouldn't be some catastrophic event. Their biggest problem would be losing a guaranteed veto in the security council.

    moniker on
  • wwtMaskwwtMask Registered User regular
    edited June 2009
    Reactions from the people who matter most: Middle Easterners. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/04/obama-speech-draws-strong_n_211261.html

    wwtMask on
    When he dies, I hope they write "Worst Affirmative Action Hire, EVER" on his grave. His corpse should be trolled.
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  • monikermoniker Registered User regular
    edited June 2009
    Richy wrote: »
    I just read the speech transcript linked in the OP. Wow. That was an amazing speech.

    It's on the White House Youtube channel if you want to watch it.

    moniker on
  • AdrienAdrien Registered User regular
    edited June 2009
    wwtMask wrote: »
    Reactions from the people who matter most: Middle Easterners. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/04/obama-speech-draws-strong_n_211261.html
    others felt the president's reference to the Holocaust followed by a direct passage where he spoke of the suffering and humiliation of the Palestinian people was hurtful and unnecessary.

    Oh did you indeed.

    Adrien on
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  • wwtMaskwwtMask Registered User regular
    edited June 2009
    No one is ever allowed to mention the holocaust and any other cause of human suffering in the same sentence. Not even black slavery.

    wwtMask on
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  • RuckRuck Registered User regular
    edited June 2009
    Headline on foxnews.com is "Obama's Terrorist Invite".

    Ruck on
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