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Obama 'Shrewd' in Cairo Speech

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Jun 4, 2009 11:24 AM CDT

(Newser) – Most of America wasn’t even awake when it happened, but Barack Obama’s Cairo speech got people talking anyway, the Washington Post reports. The New York Times says Obama delivered a "sweeping and forceful—at times scolding and combative" message, which included what the Wall Street Journal called a “shrewd” statement about women's rights. But overall, it was part of Obama’s détente with the Muslim world, and earned a standing ovation from the crowd.

In his call for greater understanding, Obama made his most detailed reference yet to his Muslim roots, notes Mike Allen of Politico, while Haaretz saw a “blunt repudiation” of Israel’s West Bank policy. Obama also spoke less-than-glowingly about the Iraq war, and "studiously" avoided the word "terrorism," much to the frustration of Michael Rubin of the National Review.

[Images (3)]

[Videos (6)]

U.S. President Barack Obama waves to the audience as he arrives at the podium at Cairo University in Cairo, Egypt, Thursday, June 4, 2009. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Unidentified Bahrainis sitting at a Manama, Bahrain, coffee shop watch through the smoke of water pipes as President Barack Obama delivers a speech aired live from Cairo, June 4, 2009 (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali)

Hassan Roudani, 73, gestures while listening to a live broadcast from Cairo of a speech by U.S. President Barack Obama at a cafe in Casablanca, Morocco, Thursday, June 4, 2009. (AP Photo/Abdeljalil Bounhar)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

US President, Barack Obama, has called for a "new beginning" in US relations with the Muslim world in a keynote speech in Egypt. Part 1 of 6 (mads2jensen)

US President, Barack Obama, has called for a "new beginning" in US relations with the Muslim world in a keynote speech in Egypt. Part 2 of 6 (mads2jensen)

US President, Barack Obama, has called for a "new beginning" in US relations with the Muslim world in a keynote speech in Egypt. Part 3 of 6 (mads2jensen)

US President, Barack Obama, has called for a "new beginning" in US relations with the Muslim world in a keynote speech in Egypt. Part 4 of 6 (mads2jensen)

US President, Barack Obama, has called for a "new beginning" in US relations with the Muslim world in a keynote speech in Egypt. Part 5 of 6 (mads2jensen)

US President, Barack Obama, has called for a "new beginning" in US relations with the Muslim world in a keynote speech in Egypt. Part 6 of 6 (mads2jensen)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 8 comments

brawne

Jun 5, 2009 8:09 AM CDT

Oh, to live in a country where every, single thing doesn't lie in a left hand or a right hand, but gets to dwell a moment in the head that resides in the middle.

brawne

Jun 5, 2009 7:46 AM CDT

Maybe, just maybe, this speech will begin the dialogue necessary to bridge the gulf between Clarke and Jane. There was no apology in Obama's statement: no regret for past mistakes. It was a simple statement of responsibility. Accepting responsibility does not cause a knee jerk reaction of hatred. Too think that many hate us is the flip side of Clarke's coin. Strong is the hand that holds the coin and with some reasoned give and take accepts that solutions are not either/or. What I see in Obama's speech is this fact: everybody, everywhere needs to grow up if we are to grow old. "A baby is an alimentary canal with a loud voice on one end and no responsibility on the other." Ronald Reagan

newsrmandan

Jun 5, 2009 4:50 AM CDT

Git er done" at what cost, everybody talks about how america has lost its credibility, or that Obama is the great American Hope to bring us back into the good Graces of the rest of the world. But then he says some of the craziest things and people fall to there feet and say. " ahhh this is just what we need" really! a crazy talker? " Gods intention for the holy land was for everyone to blaspheme his name?

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