Thursday, December 4, 2008
2008 Talking to the Muslim World
Posted by Eli Sanders on Thu, Dec 4, 2008 at 9:35 AM
This, if it happens, is going to be a very interesting speech:
President-elect Barack Obama’s aides say he is considering making a major foreign policy speech from an Islamic capital during his first 100 days in office.
Perhaps it will end up being that “Sike! AS-SALAAM ALEYKUM, BITCHES!" address that Lindy West was imagining back in October?
More likely, of course, it will be a global version of Obama's race speech in Philadelphia, with a lot of elegant needle threading, a certain amount of American chest thumping, an attempt at fence mending, and—if it's in Cairo as the above piece suggests—a perfectly symbolic cultural crossroads as the backdrop.
ALSO: It will be extra fascinating to see how Secretary of State Hillary "Just Words" Clinton talks up this speech in advance and afterward.
1
Oh my god... someone needs to read the conservative blogs that you guys are always mentioning and see their reactions to this (OMG! He's going to announce a Muslim coalition to overthrow America!). I can't stomach going on them myself...
2
Eli,
It will be most interesting indeed, should it take place at all in a predominantly Muslim foreign city. He has his hands tied already with the events in Mumbai. Bully for him if he pulls it off.
BTW, a quick aside. I don't know why the "race speech in Philadelphia" gets so much credit (I'm not saying you are giving it credit). Everbody needs to remember that Obama eventually disavowed Rev. Wright. The much more important speech Obama gave during his campaign was his Father's Day speech remarking on MIA fathers in the African-American community.
It will be most interesting indeed, should it take place at all in a predominantly Muslim foreign city. He has his hands tied already with the events in Mumbai. Bully for him if he pulls it off.
BTW, a quick aside. I don't know why the "race speech in Philadelphia" gets so much credit (I'm not saying you are giving it credit). Everbody needs to remember that Obama eventually disavowed Rev. Wright. The much more important speech Obama gave during his campaign was his Father's Day speech remarking on MIA fathers in the African-American community.
3
"Sike"? Do you mean "psyche"?
4
No, he means "psych."
5
By all means, no matter what the story is, it's always a great idea (not to mention hiLARious!) to include a pointless swipe at Hillary Clinton! Eli, you keep auditioning for that spot on MSNBC, and one day your dream will come true!
6
Let's see if Barack has the balls to point out that we're going to cut off the supply lines of money and volunteers to al-Qaeda from the primary source (90 percent or more of both) ... Saudi Arabia.
7
He'd better talk to a few ordinary Muslim citizens first or they will FATWA his ass.
8
Um, if he does this it will be like Philadelphia but only about 10,000 times more significant. And a totally bold and wonderful move.
He will have to build up what unites us all -- basically, rules of law, not killing innocents, seeking peaceful resolution rather than violence etc. -- and in this context what will he cop to on the part of the US?
I hope he says our torturing folks is wrong.
This could be one of the most important speeches in the history of the world. And it takes guts -- what if there's an anti US reaction? What if the radical Islamists decide to hold a mass rally outside wherever he is speaking, and get 300,000 folks there riled up?
If he just went to Cairo and gave a speech on, um, crop rotation he'd get a crowd of half a million. This is a very big move.
Good on him.
He will have to build up what unites us all -- basically, rules of law, not killing innocents, seeking peaceful resolution rather than violence etc. -- and in this context what will he cop to on the part of the US?
I hope he says our torturing folks is wrong.
This could be one of the most important speeches in the history of the world. And it takes guts -- what if there's an anti US reaction? What if the radical Islamists decide to hold a mass rally outside wherever he is speaking, and get 300,000 folks there riled up?
If he just went to Cairo and gave a speech on, um, crop rotation he'd get a crowd of half a million. This is a very big move.
Good on him.
9
"Baghdad? Definitely out-of-the-box, but it could appear to validate the Iraq war, which Mr. Obama opposed."
Um...unless he discusses his major foreign policy decisions including the eventual withdrawal of troops from Iraq. How is 1) Baghdad out of the box and 2) a validation of the Iraq war?
If anything, that Obama hypnotic charm should be used on those masses.
I mean, it doesn't matter what he SAYS, but where he says it and what kind of expression he has on his face, right?
Also, with a substantial security presence already in Baghdad, it's going to be one of the safer choices.
Cairo? Oh yes, Cairo is the beating pulse of major foreign policy these days.
Um...unless he discusses his major foreign policy decisions including the eventual withdrawal of troops from Iraq. How is 1) Baghdad out of the box and 2) a validation of the Iraq war?
If anything, that Obama hypnotic charm should be used on those masses.
I mean, it doesn't matter what he SAYS, but where he says it and what kind of expression he has on his face, right?
Also, with a substantial security presence already in Baghdad, it's going to be one of the safer choices.
Cairo? Oh yes, Cairo is the beating pulse of major foreign policy these days.
10
I still can't quite stomach the words "Secretary of State Hillary Clinton"...
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