I daresay that someone will post a video link of this at some time. For now, I have the Cairo speech transcript to offer ....

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/obamas-speech-cairo-speech-in-full-1696792.html

It's a pretty speech .. there's absolutely no denying it. Some will approve. Some will cheer. Some, especially in America, will dislike the sellout, as it will be seen to be, of the Christian predominance in America to its Muslim opposition.

And the terrorists, whose overriding intention is to see to it that America remains the 'Great Satan', will not be happy at all.

Here's a BBC link showing international reaction from various quarters ...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/8083171.stm

As I say, there are still Muslims who prove that - no matter what America says, or does - they will continue to regard America as their enemy. Theirs is an agenda of hatred which nothing will ever overcome, short of either THEIR destruction, or, some massive harm visited upon America itself.

One is reminded of the 9/11 atrocities ...

Of those unhappy with Obama's efforts .. I quote ..

'Speaking about a policy of pursuing a war against extremism and working towards two states for peoples on Palestinian lands is no different from the policy of his predecessor, George W Bush.'

Source: AYMAN TAHA, A HAMAS SPOKESMAN, GAZA.

'The Islamic world does not need moral or political sermons. It needs a fundamental change in American policy beginning from a halt to complete support for Israeli aggression on the region, especially on Lebanese and Palestinians, to an American withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan and a stop to its interference in the affairs of Islamic countries. We have not seen any change in US policy towards the Palestinian cause.'

Source: HASSAN FADLALLAH, LAWMAKER FOR LEBANON'S HEZBOLLAH

I see nothing on the BBC's summary from Islamic Jihad. But somehow I can't see them departing from the bog-standard terrorist line. Should I be wrong about that .. maybe someone would care to prove this to me ?

Those opting for a more moderate stance in the Islamic world DO speak well of the speech, and perhaps will increasingly speak well of Obama in the weeks and months to come. I suggest, though, that if the active terrorists amongst them aren't going to be affected by any of this, if their wished-for carnage is perpetrated regardless, then .. what GOOD is all of it ??

Cue the Iranian regime for comment ??

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/8082386.stm

Quote ...

'Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, has strongly criticised the US as Iran marks 20 years since the death of the founder of the Islamic republic.

He said the US remained "deeply hated" in the region and "beautiful and sweet" words would not change that.

The ayatollah's speech came just hours before US President Barack Obama was to deliver a speech in Cairo aimed at establishing a new relationship with the Muslim world after years of tense relations under the Bush administration.'

He got his view in there rather quickly, didn't he ? Perhaps he felt he has to pre-empt Obama's pretty speech with prejudicial guidance of his own, beforehand, to ensure that the hatreds continued ?

Oh, and in case anyone doubted it, Osama bin Laden is not a 'happy bunny' today. But then, well, we all guessed that one, didn't we ?

Originally Posted by Tantal

Mark my words......between radical Islamists (Iran being the biggest concern), North Korea, an increasingly belligerent Russia, and Chinese military expansion, this guy's weakness is going to get us (and, likely, the rest of the world) into a war that a little strength and leadership could have prevented. I remain hopeful that things will work out, but I'm not particularly optimistic. The Ahmadinejad/Netanyahu showdown could be huge. Aside from that, I'm not happy about his seizure of private businesses and government takeover of numerous sectors of the economy. Europeans are probably unaware, but his "stimulus package" cost each American household over $10,000......not including interest or any of the other yearly budgetary expenditures. His economic policies will prove to be an absolute trainwreck that it'll take generations to undo.

Economically, I'm sceptical of the whole 'keep throwing money at it till it sticks' mentality, adopted on both sides of the pond. The situation you guys have with General Motors is getting stranger by the day as well, so the taxpayers own a large stake, but otherwise its business as usual? Except for the independent dealers of course...Bailing out the banks is one thing, when you start saving industries because the board members affected are close friends of the political classes, you've got yourself a whole mess of problems. $10,000 a household? Thats nothing, if I remember correctly (and I'm sure someone'll correct me if I'm wrong) our bail out cost each taxpayer somewhere in the region of £9,000!

Obama is still an unknown quantity at this point, but there's no doubting his ability to deliver a speach. Its true that he told Cairo mainly what they wanted to hear, we'll have to wait and see if he actually delivers...