Obama gives first official interview to Al-Arabiya

[Cawar]

The first time an American president has ever given the 1st official interview to a foreign network...according to AC 360.

He talked at length to and about the Arab/Muslim world..even mentioning the fact that he has muslim family members and he lived part of his life in a muslim country..

He also indicated the need to engage the muslim world in a respectful way..eventhough he re-iterated that Israel's security is paramount..

What do you think about this move?? a genuine interest in solving America's and the muslim world's problems or a calculated and staged event??

Discuss.

[Kolombo]

I watched some of it on Al-Jazeera English earlier. Obama used the interview as an opportunity to tell the Arab world that he is not planning on continuing the failed Bush policies. But is interested in dialogue, even saying his administration is willing to sit down with Ahmedinajad and Hamas. It was an interesting interview. And the fact that he's already delivered two of his campaign promises i.e. closing of Gitmo & other "secret" detention facilities and the over-haul of detention procedures is earning him a few points. Wait and see at this point.

[Advo]

Fuk him man, I expected him to solve all the worlds problem by now.

[HooBariiska]

i think obama is a black free mason

[Cawar]

Lol@ Advo.


Kolombo, I cant help but think that he is genuine at times... yet he does everything with some hesitation and/or calculation.
he never does anything alla improvisation..and thats a good thing for a president of the US, but it takes away some of the realism and spontaneity/truth no?? .

Indeed we shall wait and see.. but this is not a bad start.

[Aerosmith]

lol@Free Mason.

Obama is another tool for corporate america. A crafty savvy player who will help the cause and enrich the entitled elite.

[Cawar]

^^Everybody who is in power..is a tool for somebody in this world if you really think about it deeply.. so I am not surprised at all.

1 thing is also clear though... Israel is too powerful for anybody in America to mess with..even the president.

Anyways..here is the interview..

http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2009/01/27/65087.html

[Cawar]

Its all over the news in the muslim world as well as in... the US.

Maybe Somalia can benefit from it after all.

[AbdiWahab252]

Cawar,

Let us see his actions.

Is it true his first phone call to a foreign leader was to Mahmoud Abbas ?

[The_Emperior5]

looooooooooooool@ advo

[Cawar]

AW, thats what they said..but i doesnt mean anything if it isnt followed by actions..

Though he said in this interview, "I just dont want to be judged by what I say in a speech , but what I do and the actions I take".

[kambuli]

He is genuinely trying to do his best in bringing peace among nations...I don't know how much he can deliver but he is trying. Unfortunately there are people in this world who benefis from war and stuff...So let us see..

What he said was" I want to tell the Muslim world that America does not hate them and To the Americans that All muslims don't hate them" Something of that sort is what he said..I may not quote 100% right, but it was something of that nature...

[Sakhraan]

Action speaks louder than words.


i have a gut feeling that he will fail as President, he a is spineless flip flopper.

[FAH1223]

Action speaks louder than words.


i have a gut feeling that he will fail as President, he a is spineless flip flopper.

George W. Bush was one of the worst Presidents in US History.

I think anyone can do a lot better than him.

[Cawar]

Some Reactions to Obama in the Muslim Press...

In contrast to the enthusiastic reception Obama's victory has garnered around the world, the Arab world has been more cautious about the new U.S. president - with most skeptical that American policy in the region will change substantially. "I can't be optimistic until I see something tangible," said Hatem al-Kurdi, 35, a Gaza City engineer who saw parts of the interview. "Anyone can say nice words, but you have to follow with actions."

After earlier dismissing Obama as following the same policies as Bush, officials from the militant Palestinian Hamas group, which rule the Gaza Strip, softened their stance. "In the last couple of days there have been a lot of statements (from Obama), some of them very positive, and choosing this George Mitchell as an envoy," said Ahmed Youssef, a senior Hamas official interviewed on the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera news network. "I think there are some positive things we have to count."


http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/ ... 730/689823