The critics and extremists are in high gear, both in the Middle East and here at home, making sure their people stay in line. Liz Cheney is "troubled" by the speech. Of course she is. Osama bin Laden (if it really is him) is feeling threatened and so is Hezbollah. John Boehner thinks the speech makes America look weak. Of course he does.
Obama was speaking to those who would listen--the moderates. There are more moderates in the world than extremists. Unfortunately, the extremists always get heard above the din because they use hate and violence to get their way. But it's the moderates who can make a difference.
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The government of Israel expresses its hope that President Obama's important speech will indeed lead to a new era of reconciliation between the Arab and Muslim world and Israel. We share the hope of President Obama that the American effort will signal a new era that will bring an end to the conflict and a pan-Arab recognition of Israel as the Jewish state living in security and peace in the Middle East. Israel is committed to peace and will do its utmost to expand the circle of peace while taking into consideration its national interests, security first and foremost.The AP has collected some reaction:
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MOHAMMAD MARANDI, HEAD OF NORTH AMERICAN STUDIES AT TEHRAN UNIVERSITY
With regard to Iran, the tone is significantly more positive than before, compared to the previous US administration, though still in some aspects negative. But I think Iranians alongside the people of the region expect the same change that Obama was promising to the American people, for American policies in the Middle East region as well. America has to change. Talking is not enough. As long as racism and apartheid continue to exist in Palestine there will be no peace in the region.
Read more reaction at BBC
Notable reaction to President Barack Obama's speech Thursday to the Muslim world:Christiane Amanpour talks about how Obama's trying to reach the younger generation and Obama's policy of easing strained relations:
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"President Obama is a brave president. ... We hope he will open a new chapter with the Islamic world and Arab nations in particular." — Mithwan Hussein, a Baghdad resident.
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"Bush and Clinton said the same about a Palestinian state, but they've done nothing, so why should we believe this guy?" — Ali Tottah, 82, a Palestinian refugee at the Baqaa refugee camp in Jordan.
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"There is a change between the speech of President Obama and previous speeches made by George Bush. But today's remarks at Cairo University were based on soft diplomacy to brighten the image of the United States." — Fawzi Barhoum, a Hamas spokesman in Gaza.
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"Obama's speech is an attempt to mislead people and create more illusions to improve America's aggressive image in the Arab and Islamic world." — A joint statement by eight Damascus, Syria-based radical Palestinian factions, including Hamas. Read more
More reaction:
