http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25587797-401,00.html

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US President Barack Obama vowed to forge a "new beginning" for Islam and America in a landmark speech to the world's Muslims, vowing to purge years of "suspicion and discord".

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"This cycle of suspicion and discord must end," said Mr Obama, vowing to fight "negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear". "But that same principle must apply to Muslim perceptions of America," he said, and touched on contentious regional issues like democracy and women's rights.

Hope he’s got some teeth in mind should it continue to be one way street.

What a moron. The Neville Chamberlain of the 21st century.

Go to www.jihadwatch.org to see Robert Spencer's annihilation of Obama's clueless speech.

If only we'd had Obama about to tell the Third Reich and the Empire of Japan that we needed a new beginning and less mutual suspicion. He could have averted WW2.

I like obama, here is his speech, it may end up being too long to post.



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Good afternoon. I am honored to be in the timeless city of Cairo and to be hosted by two remarkable institutions. For over a thousand years, al-Azhar has, had stood as a beacon of Islamic learning. And for over a century, Cairo University has been a source of Egypt's advancement. Together, you represent the harmony between tradition and progress. I'm grateful for your hospitality and the hospitality of the people of Egypt. And I'm also proud to carry with me the good will of the American people and a greeting of peace from Muslim communities in my country: Assalamu Alaikum. (APPLAUSE) We meet at a time of great tension between the United States and Muslims around the world, tension rooted in historical forces that go beyond any current policy debate. The relationship between Islam and the West includes centuries of coexistence and cooperation but also conflict and religious wars. More recently, tension has been fed by colonialism that denied rights and opportunities to many Muslims and a Cold War in which Muslim majority countries were too often treated as proxies without regard to their own aspirations. Moreover, the sweeping change brought by modernity and globalization led many Muslims to view the West as hostile to the traditions of Islam. Violent extremists have exploited these tensions in a small but potent minority of Muslims. The attacks of September 11, 2001, and the continued efforts of these extremists to engage in violence against civilians has led some in my country to view Islam as inevitably hostile not only to America and Western countries but also to human rights. All this has bred more fear and more mistrust. So long as our relationship is defined by our differences, we will empower those who sow hatred rather than peace, those who promote conflict rather than the cooperation that can help all of our people achieve justice and prosperity. And this cycle of suspicion and discord must end. I've come here to Cairo to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world, one based on mutual interest and mutual respect, and one based upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive and need not be in competition. Instead, they overlap and share common principles, principles of justice and progress, tolerance and the dignity of all human beings.I do so recognizing that change cannot happen overnight. I know there's been a lot of publicity about this speech, but no single speech can eradicate years of mistrust nor can I answer in the time that I have this afternoon all the complex questions that brought us to this point. But I am convinced that in order to move forward, we must say openly to each other the things we hold in our hearts and that too often are said only behind closed doors. There must be a sustained effort to listen to each other, to learn from each other, to respect one another, and to seek common ground. As the holy Quran tells us: "Be conscious of God and speak always the truth." (APPLAUSE) That is what I will try to do today, to speak the truth as best I can. Humbled by the task before us and firm in my belief that the interests we share as human beings are far more powerful than the forces that drive us apart. Now, part of this conviction is rooted in my own experience. I'm a Christian. But my father came from a Kenyan family that includes generations of Muslims. As a boy, I spent several years in Indonesia and heard the call of the azaan at the break of dawn and at the fall of dusk. As a young man, I worked in Chicago communities where many found dignity and peace in their Muslim faith. As a student of history, I also know civilization's debt to Islam. It was Islam at places like al-Azhar that carried the light of learning through so many centuries, paving the way for Europe's Renaissance and Enlightenment. It was innovation in Muslim communities... (APPLAUSE) It was innovation in Muslim communities that developed the order of algebra, our magnetic compass and tools of navigation, our mastery of pens and printing, our understanding of how disease spreads and how it can be healed. Islamic culture has given us majestic arches and soaring spires, timeless poetry and cherished music, elegant calligraphy and places of peaceful contemplation. And throughout history, Islam has demonstrated through words and deeds the possibilities of religious tolerance and racial equality. (APPLAUSE) I also know that Islam has always been a part of America's story. The first nation to recognize my country was Morocco. In signing the Treaty of Tripoli in 1796, our second president, John Adams, wrote: "The United States has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Muslims." And since our founding, American Muslims have enriched the United States. They have fought in our wars. They have served in our government. They have stood for civil rights. They have started businesses. They have taught at our universities. They've excelled in our

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They've excelled in our sports arenas. They've won Nobel Prizes, built our tallest building and lit the Olympic torch. And when the first Muslim American was recently elected to Congress, he took the oath to defend our Constitution using the same holy Quran that one of our founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson, kept in his personal library. (APPLAUSE) So I have known Islam on three continents before coming to the region where it was first revealed. That experience guides my conviction that partnership between America and Islam must be based on what Islam is, not what it isn't. And I consider it part of my responsibility as president of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear. (APPLAUSE) But that same principle must apply to Muslim perceptions of America. Just as... (APPLAUSE) Just as Muslims do not fit a crude stereotype, America is not the crude stereotype of a self-interested empire. The United States has been one of the greatest sources of progress that the world has ever known. We were born out of revolution against an empire. We were founded upon the ideal that all are created equal. And we have shed blood and struggled for centuries to give meaning to those words, within our borders and around the world. We are shaped by every culture. Drawn from every end of the Earth, and dedicated to a simple concept, E pluribus unum: Out of many, one. Now much has been made of the fact that an African-American with the name Barack Hussein Obama could be elected president. (APPLAUSE) But my personal story is not so unique. The dream of opportunity for all people has not come true for everyone in America, but its promise exists for all who come to our shores. And that includes nearly 7 million American Muslims in our country today who, by the way, enjoy incomes and educational levels that are higher than the American average. Moreover, freedom in America is indivisible from the freedom to practice one's religion. That is why there is a mosque in every state in our union and over 1,200 mosques within our borders. That's why the United States government has gone to court to protect the right of women and girls to wear the hijab, and to punish those who would deny it. So let there be no doubt... (APPLAUSE) ... let there be no doubt, Islam is a part of America. And I believe that America holds within her the truth that regardless of race, religion, or station in life, all of us share common aspirations: to live in peace and security, to get an education and to work with dignity, to love our families, our communities, and our God. These things we share. This is the hope of all humanity. Of course, recognizing our common humanity is only the beginning of our task. Words alone cannot meet the needs of our people. These needs will be met only if we act boldly in the years ahead. And if we understand that the challenges we face are shared and our failure to meet them will hurt us all. For we have learned from recent experience that when a financial system weakens in one country, prosperity is hurt everywhere. When a new flu infects one human being, all are at risk. When one nation pursues a nuclear weapon, the risk of nuclear attack rises for all nations. When violent extremists operate in one stretch of mountains, people are endangered across an ocean. When innocents in Bosnia and Darfur are slaughtered, that is a stain on our collective conscience. (APPLAUSE) That is what it means to share this world in the 21st Century. That is the responsibility we have to one another as human beings. This is a difficult responsibility to embrace, for human history has often been a record of nations and tribes, and, yes, religions subjugating one another in pursuit of their own interests. Yet in this new age, such attitudes are self-defeating. Given our interdependence, any world order that elevates one nation or group of people over another will inevitably fail. So whatever we think of the past, we must not be prisoners to it. Our problems must be dealt with through partnership, our progress must be shared. (APPLAUSE) Now, that does not mean we should ignore sources of tension. Indeed, it suggests the opposite. We must face these tensions squarely. And so, in that spirit, let me speak as clearly and as plainly as I can about some specific issues that I believe we must finally confront together.

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The first issue that we have to confront is violent extremism in all its forms. In Ankara, I made clear that America is not and never will be at war with Islam. (APPLAUSE) We will, however, relentlessly confront violent extremists who pose a grave threat to our security because we reject the same thing that people of all faiths reject, the killing of innocent men, women and children. And it is my first duty as president to protect the American people. The situation in Afghanistan demonstrates America's goals and our need to work together. Over seven years ago, the United States pursued al-Qaida and the Taliban with broad international support. We did not go by choice. We went because of necessity. I'm aware that there's still some who would question or even justify the offense of 9/11. But let us be clear. Al-Qaida killed nearly 3,000 people on that day. The victims were innocent men, women and children from America and many other nations who had done nothing to harm anybody. And yet al-Qaida chose to ruthlessly murder these people, claimed credit for the attack, and even now states their determination to kill on a massive scale. They have affiliates in many countries and are trying to expand their reach. These are not opinions to be debated. These are facts to be dealt with. Make no mistake, we do not want to keep our troops in Afghanistan. We see no military — we seek no military bases there. It is agonizing for America to lose our young men and women. It is costly and politically difficult to continue this conflict. We would gladly bring every single one of our troops home if we could be confident that there were not violent extremists in Afghanistan, and now Pakistan, determined to kill as many Americans as they possibly can. But that is not yet the case. And that's why we're partnering with a coalition of 46 countries. And despite the costs involved, America's commitment will not weaken. Indeed, none of us should tolerate these extremists. They have killed in many countries. They have killed people of different faiths but, more than any other, they have killed Muslims. Their actions are irreconcilable with the rights of human beings, the progress of nations, and with Islam. The holy Quran teaches that whoever kills an innocent is as — it is as it if has killed all mankind. (APPLAUSE) And the holy Quran also says whoever saves a person, it is as if he has saved all mankind. (APPLAUSE) The enduring faith of over a billion people is so much bigger than the narrow hatred of a few. Islam is not part of the problem in combating violent extremism; it is an important part of promoting peace. Now, we also know that military power alone is not going solve the problems in Afghanistan and Pakistan. That's why we plan to invest $1.5 billion each year over the next five years to partner with Pakistanis to build schools and hospitals, roads and businesses, and hundreds of millions to help those who've been displaced. That's why we are providing more than $2.8 billion to help Afghans develop their economy and deliver services that people depend on. Now, let me also address the issue of Iraq. Unlike Afghanistan, Iraq was a war of choice that provoked strong differences in my country and around the world. Although I believe that the Iraqi people are ultimately better off without the tyranny of Saddam Hussein, I also believe that events in Iraq have reminded America of the need to use diplomacy and build international consensus to resolve our problems whenever possible. (APPLAUSE) Indeed, we can recall the words of Thomas Jefferson, who said: "I hope that our wisdom will grow with our power and teach us that the less we use our power, the greater it will be." Today America has a dual responsibility to help Iraq forge a better future and to leave Iraq to Iraqis. I have made it clear to the Iraqi people... (APPLAUSE) I have made it clear to the Iraqi people that we pursue no basis and no claim on their territory or resources. Iraq's sovereignty is its own. And that's why I ordered the removal of our combat brigades by next August. That is why we will honor our agreement with Iraq's democratically-elected government to remove combat troops from Iraqi cities by July and to remove all of our troops from Iraq by 2012. (APPLAUSE) We will help Iraq train its security forces and develop its economy. But we will support a secure and united Iraq as a partner and never as a patron. And finally, just as America can never tolerate violence by extremists, we must never alter or forget our principles. 9/11 was an enormous trauma to our country. The fear and anger that it provoked was understandable. But in some cases, it led us to act contrary to our traditions and our ideals. We are taking concrete actions to change course. I have unequivocally prohibited the use of torture by the United States. And I have ordered the prison at Guantanamo Bay closed by early next year. (APPLAUSE) So America will defend itself, respectful of the sovereignty of nations and the rule of law. And we will do so in partnership with Muslim communities, which are also threatened. The sooner the extremists are isolated and unwelcome in Muslim communities, the sooner we will all be safer.

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Now, the second major source of tension that we need to discuss is the situation between Israelis, Palestinians and the Arab world. America's strong bonds with Israel are well-known. This bond is unbreakable. It is based upon cultural and historical ties and the recognition that the aspiration for a Jewish homeland is rooted in a tragic history that cannot be denied. Around the world the Jewish people were persecuted for centuries. And anti-Semitism in Europe culminated in an unprecedented Holocaust. Tomorrow I will visit Buchenwald, which was part of a network of camps where Jews were enslaved, tortured, shot and gassed to death by the Third Reich. Six million Jews were killed, more than the entire Jewish population of Israel today. Denying that fact is baseless. It is ignorant, and it is hateful. Threatening Israel with destruction or repeating vile stereotypes about Jews is deeply wrong and only serves to evoke in the minds of the Israelis this most painful of memories while preventing the peace that the people of this region deserve. On the other hand, it is also undeniable that the Palestinian people, Muslims and Christians, have suffered in pursuit of a homeland. For more than 60 years, they've endured the pain of dislocation. Many wait in refugee camps in the West Bank and Gaza and neighboring lands for a life of peace and security that they have never been able to lead. They endure the daily humiliations, large and small, that come with occupation. So let there be no doubt, the situation for the Palestinian people is intolerable. And America will not turn our backs on the legitimate Palestinian aspiration for dignity, opportunity and a state of their own. (APPLAUSE) For decades, then, there has been a stalemate. Two peoples with legitimate aspirations, each with a painful history that makes compromise elusive. It's easy to point fingers. For Palestinians to point to the displacement brought about by Israel's founding and for Israelis to point to the constant hostility and attacks throughout its history, from within its borders as well as beyond. But if we see this conflict only from one side or the other, then we will be blind to the truth. The only resolution is for the aspirations of both sides to be met through two states, where Israelis and Palestinians each live in peace and security. (APPLAUSE) That is in Israel's interests, Palestine's interests, America's interests and the world's interests. And that's why I intend to personally pursue this outcome with all of the patience and dedication that the task requires. The obligations — the obligations that the parties have agreed to under the Road Map are clear. For peace to come, it is time for them and all of us to live up to our responsibilities. Palestinians must abandon violence. Resistance through violence and killing is wrong and it does not succeed. For centuries, black people in America suffered the lash of the whip as slaves and the humiliation of segregation. But it was not violence that won full and equal rights. It was a peaceful and determined insistence upon the ideals at the center of America's founding. This same story can be told by people from South Africa to South Asia, to Eastern Europe to Indonesia. It's a story with a simple truth: violence is a dead end. It is a sign neither of courage nor power to shoot rockets at sleeping children or to blow up old women on a bus. That's not how moral authority is claimed, that's how it is surrendered. Now is the time for Palestinians to focus on what they can build. The Palestinian Authority must develop its capacity to govern with institutions that serve the needs of its people. Hamas does have support among some Palestinians, but they also have to recognize they have responsibilities, to play a role in fulfilling Palestinian aspirations, to unify the Palestinian people, Hamas must put an end to violence, recognize past agreements, recognize Israel's right to exist. At the same time, Israelis must acknowledge that just as Israel's right to exist cannot be denied, neither can Palestine's. The United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements. (APPLAUSE) This construction violates previous agreements and undermines efforts to achieve peace. It is time for these settlements to stop. (APPLAUSE) And Israel must also live up to its obligation to ensure that Palestinians can live and work and develop their society. Just as it devastates Palestinian families, the continuing humanitarian crisis in Gaza does not serve Israel's security, neither does the continuing lack of opportunity in the West Bank. Progress in the daily lives of the Palestinian people must be a critical part of a road to peace. And Israel must take concrete steps to enable such progress.

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And, finally, the Arab states must recognize that the Arab Peace Initiative was an important beginning, but not the end of their responsibility. The Arab-Israeli conflict should no longer be used to distract the people of Arab nations from other problems. Instead, it must be a cause for action to help the Palestinian people develop the institutions that will sustain their state, to recognize Israel's legitimacy and to choose progress over a self-defeating focus on the past. America will align our policies with those who pursue peace, and we will say in public what we say in private to Israelis and Palestinians and Arabs. We cannot impose peace. But privately, many Muslims recognize that Israel will not go away. Likewise, many Israelis recognize the need for a Palestinian state. It is time for us to act on what everyone knows to be true. Too many tears have been shed, too much blood has been shed. All of us have a responsibility to work for the day when the mothers of Israelis and Palestinians could, can see their children grow up without fear, when the holy land of the three great faiths is the place of peace that God intended it to be, when Jerusalem is a secure and lasting home for Jews and Christians and Muslims and a place for all of the children of Abraham to mingle peacefully together as in the story of Isra — as in the story of Isra, when Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed — peace be upon them — joined in prayer. (APPLAUSE) The third source of tension is our shared interest in the rights and responsibilities of nations on nuclear weapons. This issue has been a source of tension between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran. For many years, Iran has defined itself, in part, by its opposition to my country. And there is, in fact, a tumultuous history between us. In the middle of the Cold War, the United States played a role in the overthrow of a democratically elected Iranian government. Since the Islamic revolution, Iran has played a role in acts of hostage taking and violence against U.S. troops and civilians. This history is well known. Rather than remain trapped in the past, I've made it clear to Iran's leaders and people that my country is prepared to move forward. The question now is not what Iran is against but, rather, what future it wants to build. I recognize it will be hard to overcome decades of mistrust, but we will proceed with courage, rectitude, and resolve. There will be many issues to discussion between our two countries, and we are willing to move forward without preconditions on the basis of mutual respect. But it is clear to all concerned that when it comes to nuclear weapons, we have reached a decisive point. This is not simply about America's interests. It's about preventing a nuclear arms race in the Middle East that could lead this region and the world down a hugely dangerous path. Now, I understand those who protest that some countries have weapons that others do not. No single nations should pick and choose which nation holds nuclear weapons. And that's why I strongly reaffirmed America's commitment to seek a world in which no nations hold nuclear weapons. (APPLAUSE) And any nation, including Iran, should have the right to access peaceful nuclear power if it complies with its responsibilities under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. That commitment is at the core of the treaty. And it must be kept for all who fully abide by it. And I am hopeful that all countries in the region can share in this goal. The fourth issue that I will address is democracy. (APPLAUSE) I know there has been controversy about the promotion of democracy in recent years. And much of this controversy is connected to the war in Iraq. So let me be clear. No system of government can or should be imposed by one nation by any other. That does not lessen my commitment, however, to governments that reflect the will of the people. Each nation gives life to this principle in its own way, grounded in the traditions of its own people. America does not presume to know what is best for everyone, just as we would not presume to pick the outcome of a peaceful election. But I do have an unyielding belief that all people yearn for certain things: the ability to speak your mind and have a say in how you are governed, confidence in the rule of law and the equal administration of justice, government that is transparent and doesn't steal from the people, the freedom to live as you choose. These are not just American ideas. They are human rights. And that is why we will support them everywhere. (APPLAUSE) Now, there is no straight line to realize this promise. But this much is clear. Governments that protect these rights are ultimately more stable, successful and secure. Suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away. America respects the right of all peaceful and law-abiding voices to be heard around the world, even if we disagree with them. And we will welcome all elected, peaceful governments, provided they govern with respect for all their people. This last point is important because there are some who advocate for democracy only when they're out of power. Once in power, they are ruthless in suppressing the rights of others. (APPLAUSE)

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So no matter where it takes hold, government of the people and by the people sets a single standard for all who would hold power. You must maintain your power through consent, not coercion. You must respect the rights of minorities and participate with a spirit of tolerance and compromise. You must place the interests of your people and the legitimate workings of the political process above your party. Without these ingredients, elections alone do not make true democracy. (AUDIENCE MEMBER SHOUTS) Thank you. (APPLAUSE) The fifth issue that we must address together is religious freedom. Islam has a proud tradition of tolerance. We see it in the history of Andalusia and Cordoba during the Inquisition. I saw it firsthand as a child in Indonesia where devout Christians worshipped freely in an overwhelmingly Muslim country. That is the spirit we need today. People in every country should be free to choose and live their faith based upon the persuasion of the mind and the heart and the soul. This tolerance is essential for religion to thrive. But it's being challenged in many different ways. Among some Muslims, there's a disturbing tendency to measure one's own faith by the rejection of somebody else's faith. The richness of religious diversity must be upheld, whether it is for Maronites in Lebanon or the Copts in Egypt. (APPLAUSE) And if we are being honest, fault lines must be closed among Muslims as well as the divisions between Sunni and Shia have led to tragic violence, particularly in Iraq. Freedom of religion is central to the ability of peoples to live together. We must always examine the ways in which people protect it. For instance, in the United States, rules on charitable giving have made it harder for Muslims to fulfill their religious obligation. That's why I'm committed to work with American Muslims to ensure that they can fulfill zakat. Likewise, it is important for Western countries to avoid impeding Muslim citizens from practicing religion as they see fit, for instance, by dictating what clothes a Muslim woman should wear. We can't disguise hostility towards any religion behind the pretense of liberalism. In fact, faith should bring us together. And that's why we're forging service projects in America to bring together Christians, Muslims and Jews. That's why we welcome efforts like Saudi Arabian King Abdullah's interfaith dialogue and Turkey's leadership in the Alliance of Civilizations. Around the world, we can turn dialogue into interfaith service so bridges between peoples lead to action, whether it is combating malaria in Africa or providing relief after a natural disaster. The sixth issue — the sixth issue that I want to address is women's rights. (APPLAUSE) I know, and you can tell from this audience, that there is a healthy debate about this issue. I reject the view of some in the West that a woman who chooses to cover her hair is somehow less equal. But I do believe that a woman who is denied an education is denied equality. (APPLAUSE) And it is no coincidence that countries where women are well-educated are far more likely to be prosperous. Now let me be clear, issues of women's equality are by no means simply an issue for Islam. In Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, we've seen Muslim-majority countries elect a woman to lead. Meanwhile, the struggle for women's equality continues in many aspects of American life and in countries around the world. I am convinced that our daughters can contribute just as much to society as our sons. (APPLAUSE) Our common prosperity will be advanced by allowing all humanity, men and women, to reach their full potential. I do not believe that women must make the same choices as men in order to be equal. And I respect those women who choose to live their lives in traditional roles. But it should be their choice. That is why the United States will partner with any Muslim-majority country to support expanded literacy for girls and to help young women pursue employment through micro-financing that helps people live their dreams. (APPLAUSE) Finally, I want to discuss economic development and opportunity. I know that for many, the face of globalization is contradictory. The Internet and television can bring knowledge and information but also offensive sexuality and mindless violence into the home. Trade can bring new wealth and opportunities but also huge disruptions and change in communities. In all nations, including America, this change can bring fear; fear that, because of modernity, we lose control over our economic choices, our politics, and most importantly, our identities, those things we most cherish about our communities, our families, our traditions and our faith. But I also know that human progress cannot be denied. There need not be contradictions between development and tradition. Countries like Japan and South Korea grew their economies enormously while maintaining distinct cultures. The same is true for the astonishing progress within Muslim majority countries from Kuala Lumpur to Dubai. In ancient times and in our times, Muslim communities have been at the forefront of innovation and education. And this is important because no development strategy can be based only upon what comes out of the ground nor can it be sustained while young people are out of work.

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Many Gulf States have enjoyed great wealth as a consequence of oil, and some are beginning to focus it on broader development. But all of us must recognize that education and innovation will be the currency of the 21st century. And in too... (APPLAUSE) And in too many Muslim communities, there remains underinvestment in these areas. I am emphasizing such investment within my own country. And while America, in the past, has focused on oil and gas when it comes to this part of the world, we new seek a broader engagement. On education, we will expand change programs and increase scholarships like the one that brought my father to America. (APPLAUSE) At the same time, we will encourage more Americans to study in Muslim communities. And we will match promising Muslim students with internships in America, invest in online learning for teachers and children around the world and create a new, online network so a young person in Kansas can communicate instantly with a young person in Cairo. On economic development, we will create a new core of business volunteers to partner with counterparts in Muslim majority countries. And I will host a summit on entrepreneurship this year to identify how we can deepen ties between business leaders, foundations and social entrepreneurs in the United States and Muslim communities around the world. On science and technology, we will launch a new fund to support technological development in Muslim majority country and to help transfer ideas to the marketplace so they can create more jobs. We will open centers of scientific excellence in Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia and appoint new science envoys to collaborate on programs that develop new sources of energy, create green jobs, digitize records, clean water, grow new crops. Today, I'm announcing a new global effort with the organization of the Islamic Conference to eradicate polio. And we will also expand partnerships with Muslim communities to promote child and maternal health. All these things must be done in partnership. Americans are ready to join with citizens and governments, community organizations, religious leaders, and businesses in Muslim communities around the world to help our people pursue a better life. The issues that I have described will not be easy to address, but we have a responsibility to join together to behalf of the world that we seek, a world where extremists no longer threaten our people and American troops have come home; a world where Israelis and Palestinians are each secure in a state of their own and nuclear energy is used for peaceful purposes, a world where governments serve their citizens and the rights of all God's children are respected. Those are mutual interests. That is the world we seek. But we can only achieve it together. I know there are many, Muslim and non-Muslim, who question whether we can forge this new beginning. Some are eager to stoke the flames of division and to stand in the way of progress. Some suggest that it isn't worth the effort, that we are fated to disagree and civilizations are doomed to clash. Many more are simply skeptical that real change can occur. There is so much fear, so much mistrust that has built up over the years. But if we choose to be bound by the past, we will never move forward. And I want to particularly say this to young people of every faith in every country. You more than anyone have the ability to reimagine the world, the remake this world. All of us share this world for but a brief moment in time. The question is whether we spend that time focused on what pushes us apart or whether we commit ourselves to an effort, a sustained effort to find common ground, to focus on the future we seek for our children and to respect the dignity of all human beings. It's easier to start wars than to end them. It's easier to blame others than to look inward. It's easier to see what is different about someone than to find the things we share. But we should choose the right path, not just the easy path. There is one rule that lies at the heart of every religion, that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us. (APPLAUSE) This truth transcends nations and peoples, a belief that isn't new, that isn't black or white or brown, that isn't Christian or Muslim or Jew. It's a belief that pulsed in the cradle of civilization and that still beats in the hearts of billions around the world. It's a faith in other people. And it's what brought me here today. We have the power to make the world we seek, but only if we have the courage to make a new beginning, keeping in mind what has been written. The holy Quran tells us: "Mankind, we have created you male and a female. And we have made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another." The Talmud tells us: "The whole of the Torah is for the purpose of promoting peace." The holy Bible tells us: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." (APPLAUSE) The people of the world can live together in peace. We know that is God's vision. Now that must be our work here on Earth. Thank you. And may God's peace be upon you. Thank you very much. Thank you.

He's the velvet fist.
That rudd would be so forthright

Well if the comments from tje people on the streets in the ME is anything to go by, then the ignorance and bias exhibited by them will be an enormous hurdle for Obama to get over.

Personally I don't think he can, but good luck to him.  At least we will be able to say the West tried.

Grendel wrote on Jun 6^th, 2009 at 7:44am:

Well if the comments from tje people on the streets in the ME is anything to go by, then the ignorance and bias exhibited by them will be an enormous hurdle for Obama to get over. Personally I don't think he can, but good luck to him.  At least we will be able to say the West tried.

I agree, but if Obama is genuine - the ME would eventually accept his policies - but they've got to learn trust him first and that's a massive job. The citizens of all nations want to live in peace - regardless of the agenda or their leaders.

I saw a documentary on Guantanamo Bay the other night and there is so much anger and resentment still festering towards the Americans and who can blame them. Many innocent men were thrown into that hellhole. One inmate who was a doctor said that when the Americans began rewarding the Northern Alliance to pick up every man and his dog as a suspect terrorist, Al Qaeda had a membership of about 50 - now there are half a million.

Yes well that's the diseased mentality the US has to deal with...  no sane person would think like that.

Grendel wrote on Jun 6^th, 2009 at 9:10am:

Yes well that's the diseased mentality the US has to deal with...  no sane person would think like that.

It may be a "diseased" mentality, but a justifiable one. How much hatred did our diggers feel towards the Japanese when they returned from the POW camps? I'm sure much of Australia resented the Japanese after WWII for quite a long time. Why would Muslims feel any differently towards the Americans? Their country was invaded and innocent people were captured, tortured and held without charge.

No it is NOT justifiable at all.

I find it amazing how easily you slip into the one sided Muslim we are victims aand the US is the Great Satan mentality.

No sane person...  I repeat no sane person...  would think like that.
I wouldn't, no one I know would.

Yea, well he got a standing ovation from all those ME Muslims who were at the speech, something GW could have only dreamed of.

"So let there be no doubt, the situation for the Palestinian people is intolerable."

Pity Bush never spoke like this, its about time.

Quote:

No sane person...  I repeat no sane person...  would think like that. I wouldn't, no one I know would.

One year in Guantanamo Bay might change your mind Grendel. What would 6 years do to an innocent person? Don't forget Abu Grahib - would you forgive the Americans for their depraved treatment of you?  

Even today there are old men who still hate the Japanese. Plenty of Jews still hate the Germans etc.

You can't invade, capture & kill innocent people and steal from a country and then expect to be forgiven instantly because a new President comes along. It will take time for the ME to build up any trust in America.

If Obama is sincere - he will eventually get the message across.

You have no real idea what they have been through on an individual basis.  Some have been let go and you have no idea under what circumstances they were captured.  Not all of 'em will be innocent mantra.

Be that as it may NO SANE PERSON WOULD JOIN ALQ in any case.
No sane person would suddenly opt to kill innocent people or decry a whole nation for its governments policy.  

The treatment of Japanese prisoners is much different to the Guantanamo inmates.

How many have been shot or beheaded?

Are they malnourished unclothed, dropping by the wayside and bayonetted for it?  Are they being used as slaves?

Sorry...  unrealistic exaggeration will not help your argument or credibility.

Quote:

Be that as it may NO SANE PERSON WOULD JOIN ALQ in any case.

Many of those who joined AQ probably felt they had no other option. They were unemployed and hungry, their families were being slaughtered and AQ would have offered them a way out. Those imprisoned in Guantanamo would have been helpless - held without charge for all those years. That doesn't mean I want the remainder of prisoners here in Australia - it's up to the US to accept responsibility for them. Those who were innocent will now be dangerous and angry.

Perhaps my comments might seem unrealistic and exaggerated to you who sees everything in black and white. Try imagining yourself in their shoes for a short time. The problem with those who hate Muslims is that you don't look at them as human beings.

If we were invaded and our country destroyed by a nation because of the actions done to this nation by a rebel Australian group - would you think it was fair and bear no grudge against the invading nation? I doubt it.

Bullshit...  I don't see things in black and white...  I'd have thought that was you.

America is evil...  the prisoners are all innocent victims.


BTW mantra don't assume I have no idea what people go through in various situations.  I had relatives involved in WWII and some were bombed and some prisoners and others were even beheaded.  I have a wealth of experience to draw upon.

Grendel wrote on Jun 6^th, 2009 at 10:21am:

Bullshit...  I don't see things in black and white...  I'd have thought that was you. America is evil...  the prisoners are all innocent victims. BTW mantra don't assume I have no idea what people go through in various situations.  I had relatives involved in WWII and some were bombed and some prisoners and others were even beheaded.  I have a wealth of experience to draw upon.

I wonder how benevolent your relatives felt towards the Japanese when family members suffered at their hands.

Obviously the Muslim prisoners of war were kept alive - well mainly, but they were humiliated and tortured. Perhaps they didn't suffer the same deprivation but there would still be fury at the destruction of their countries and families while they remained helpless.

The last decade under the Coalition of the Willing has created far more disharmony on this planet than we have seen in our lifetime. As a result - the world is now more divisive and aggressive than ever before and we are in a lot more danger thanks to nuclear proliferation.

All these nations have now got their missiles aimed at each other waiting for a wrong move. We can only hope Obama is successful in the ME - even if it does put Israel's nose out of joint.

Like I said apples and oranges...  pity you cant tell the difference.

If they were prisoners of the Japanese they'd all be dead now be mantra get the difference yet?

As for my relos etc...  none of them would join a terrorist group against the Japanese.

Funnily enough mantra it's never happened.  that's because we don't have a diseased mindset.

Quote:

Why would Muslims feel any differently towards the Americans? Their country was invaded and innocent people were captured, tortured and held without charge.

And some who weren't innocent. And their country was invaded because they harboured a group that flew airliners into buildings and they refused to give them up.

The whole Gitmo thing was handled badly and I had huge arguments with miltiary people over saying the UCMJ should apply not this kangaroo court Military Commission rubbish.

And you like saying 'but what about them', so I'll use your own device. The Americans that were captured were not held without charge, they didnt get a prayer mat and a koran and three hot meals a day. They just got beheaded.

mantra wrote on Jun 6^th, 2009 at 8:58am:

I saw a documentary on Guantanamo Bay the other night and there is so much anger and resentment still festering towards the Americans and who can blame them. Many innocent men were thrown into that hellhole.

mantra,

Yes those poor, poor, innocent Guantanamo Bay detainees.
Shock horror, that the USA should detain them!
Why not let them all go go back to the embrace of their traumatised families?
/sarc off



July 29, 2007
Freed Guantanamo inmates return to jihad
.....AT LEAST 30 former Guantanamo Bay detainees have been killed or recaptured after taking up arms against allied forces following their release.
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/017573.php


January 13, 2009
Pentagon: 61 ex-Gitmo inmates have returned to jihad
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Pentagon said on Tuesday that 61 former detainees from its military prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, appear to have returned to terrorism since their release from custody.
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/024387.php





mantra,

You love LIES, and you hate the TRUTH.

Why is that?

Some people have a preference to not know and live in denial Yadda,

I came across this, it is a good read.

This woman gives a clear, and critical assessment, of Obama's Cairo speech.

And this 'letter', seems to point out many things, facts, which President Obama seems to avoid, in his assessment of ISLAM, and its history in world affairs.






An Open Letter to President Obama by Brigitte Gabriel

Mr. President,

You face difficult challenges in matters such as achieving peace in the Middle East and protecting America from the threat of radical Islam and terrorism. These are challenges that have vexed past presidents, going as far back as our second president, John Adams. I have no doubt you appreciate both the gravity of these challenges and the enormous obstacles that exist to solving them.

I also have no doubt that you and your staff understood that, no matter what you said in your speech last Thursday in Cairo, there would be those who would take issue with you. That is always the case when attempting to solve problems that are as deep and emotionally-laden as these challenges are.

I am assuming it is your sincere hope that the approach you have chosen to take, as evidenced by what I’m sure was a carefully crafted speech, will ultimately prove successful. However, it pains me to say this sir, but, while you said in your speech that you are a “student of history,” it is abundantly clear that, in these matters, you do not know history and thus, as Santayana noted, you are doomed to repeat it. In doing so your efforts, however well-intentioned they may be, will not produce what you profess to hope they will produce.

A wise man once said that if you start with the wrong assumptions, no matter how logical your reasoning is, you will end up with the wrong conclusion. With all due respect Mr. President, you are starting with certain assumptions that are unsupported by history and an objective study of the ideology of political Islam.

You began in your speech by asserting that “tensions” exist between the United States and Muslims around the world, which, of course, is correct. Unfortunately, you then proceeded, incorrectly, to lay virtually all the blame for these tensions at the feet of America and the West. You blamed western colonialism, the Cold War, and even modernity and globalism.

A student of American history, who is not trying to reconstruct it to fit a modern politically correct narrative, would state that tensions between America and Muslims began with the unprovoked, four-decades long assault by the Muslim Barbary pirates against American shipping in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. I find it telling that you mentioned the Treaty of Tripoli in your speech but ignored the circumstances that led to it. That treaty was but one of numerous attempts by the United States to achieve peace with the jihadists of the Barbary Coast who were attacking our shipping and killing and enslaving our citizens and our soldiers – and who by their own admission were doing so to fulfill the call to jihad.

These jihadists were not acting to protest American foreign policy, which was decidedly isolationist, and there was no state of Israel to scapegoat. They were doing what countless Islamic jihadists have done throughout history – acting upon the hundreds of passages in the Qur’an and the Hadith that call upon faithful Muslims to kill, conquer or subjugate the infidel.

A student of world history would know that, for all the acknowledged evils of Western colonialism, these evils pale in comparison to the nearly 14 centuries of Islamic colonialism that began in Arabia under the leadership of Mohammed. The student of history would know that Islamic forces eradicated all Jewish and Christian presence from Arabia after Mohammed’s death, and then succeeded in conquering all of North Africa, most of the Middle East, much of Asia Minor, and significant portions of Europe and India – eventually creating an empire larger than Rome’s was at its peak.

The number of dead and enslaved during these many centuries of Islamic imperial conquest and colonialism have been estimated to total more than 300 million. What’s more, the wealth of many of the conquered nations and cultures was plundered by the Islamic conquerors, and millions of millions of non-Muslims who did survive were forced to pay onerous taxes, such as the “jizya,” a humiliation tax to the Islamic caliphs. Indeed, in some areas Christians and Jews were made to wear a receipt for the jizya around their neck as a mark of their dishonor.

These facts have not been invented by Christian or Jewish historical revisionists, but were chronicled by Muslim eyewitnesses throughout the past 14 centuries and are available to be researched by any person seeking an objective understanding of how Islam spread throughout the world.

You say in your speech that we must squarely face the tensions that exist between America and the Muslim world. That is a laudable notion with which I agree, but by casting Islam as the historical victim and the West (and by implication, America) as the aggressor, you do not face these tensions squarely, but alleviate the Muslim world from coming to grips with the jihadist ideology embedded in its holy books and acted upon for 1,400 years.

<continues at...>
http://avideditor.wordpress.com/2009/06/08/an-open-letter-to-president-obama-by-brigitte-gabriel/

and what was the reply?

Happy wrote on Jun 21^st, 2009 at 7:41pm:

and what was the reply?

;D Now that's comedy!

Happy wrote on Jun 21^st, 2009 at 7:41pm:

and what was the reply?

Perhaps,


"How dare you inculpate, contradict, and question my knowledge and understanding of the great world faith, ISLAM. My father was moslem."

???????







++++++++++






John 3:19
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.


Luke 6:22
Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil,.....


1 John 3:13
Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

I spoke to a Stalinist Bulgarian Communist on the weekend.  He was saying the bolshies do not believe Obama as to his engagement with Islam, and that it is a double game of deception.

Hope that's right, I believe he is just clueless.

Yadda wrote on Jun 7^th, 2009 at 1:25pm:

Yes those poor, poor, innocent Guantanamo Bay detainees. Shock horror, that the USA should detain them! Why not let them all go go back to the embrace of their traumatised families? mantra, You love LIES, and you hate the TRUTH. Why is that?

Yadda - that is a silly statement. We all see the "truth" differently otherwise everyone would live in harmony. If all those Guantanamo inmates were guilty of a crime - they would have been charged.

No-one wants them now because they have been corrupted by the "system". If they were true Jihadists - wouldn't AQ and other terrorist organisations welcome them back with open arms?

Of course their "traumatised" families would want them back - but that is now an impossibility.


Quote:

He was saying the bolshies do not believe Obama as to his engagement with Islam, and that it is a double game of deception. Hope that's right, I believe he is just clueless.

I agree with your Communist mate, but then again maybe Obama is clueless.

Quote:

We all see the "truth" differently otherwise everyone would live in harmony.

You always say crap like that mantra... unfortunately only some of us are right.

now that's not true grendel.
often mantra says entirely different sorts of crap !!!!


yes, only some of us are right.
Seems, those that agree with me are always right :-)

Calanen wrote on Jun 22^nd, 2009 at 10:06am:

I spoke to a Stalinist Bulgarian Communist on the weekend.  He was saying the bolshies do not believe Obama as to his engagement with Islam, and that it is a double game of deception. Hope that's right, I believe he is just clueless.

My impression might be incorrect, but I take Obama's approach that he asks for visible and measurable reciprocation of our acceptance of their religion with exactly the same from them.

According to doctrines it doesn’t look possible, but then I hope Obama will start talking consequences and will start talking dismemberment of their machinery, in simple terms give them treatment they give other religions in Egypt and other countries where they dominate.

If I am wrong, it will be all talk and no action, but at least there is some hope, for the time being.

happy - obamas a man of action.

he opened fire on the pirates immediately.
Did you see how he swotted that fly live on TV ???
First shot, then says "That was pretty cool, I got the sucker."

Quote:

Yadda - that is a silly statement. We all see the "truth" differently otherwise everyone would live in harmony. If all those Guantanamo inmates were guilty of a crime - they would have been charged.

HAH!

They couldn't be charged, because it's not illegal to be on the other side of a war, and throw grenades or shoot at soldiers. However, letting them go is bad too, because then they go away and keep fighting against the US in the mountains of Afghanistan.

The only thing illegal are war crimes, and nobody seems to have been charged with any of those. Bit hard to get evidence. So what to do? The US decided to leave them detained. Couldn't charge them, couldn't let them go. If you let them go, and they are part of the next 9/11, imagine that on the front page.

My view is that they should have been treated more humanely than they war, a prison camp is not a holiday camp sure, but they were held under the most depraived conditions. We kept Nazis safe in the US during world war II in relatively humane conditions, and we should have done so here.

my view is, they are terrorists/enemies and should not have been bought back to US soil.

prisoners are a problem. That's been the case in every war.

President Obongo is just a clueless leftist Islamic apologist, and his appeasement will just end in more tears.

A 'no punches pulled' assessment of Obama, paying particular attention to his Cairo speech/address.

This presentation is obviously from a person savvy with the 'intricacies' of ISLAM.

Well worth a listen.



YOUTTUBE,

Obama and Islam Part 208
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-36Ntnpa0o

have a listen around 1m:10s in.

"the koran hates and despises every vestage of the american constitution...."


I got an idea of a "new beginning" with islam.
nuke the paedophile praisers.
they are not going to change, the world is overpopulated.
send them to the bordello in the sky, imagine 77 arab virgins - it'ld be hell

You are never going to be friends with people like that.

did you listen to that islamic at 2m 30 secs.

abu would be proud of him.
what a fkwt.

obama will wipe you headbangers like a dirty ass

Sprintcyclist wrote on Jul 6^th, 2009 at 10:26pm:

have a listen around 1m:10s in. "the koran hates and despises every vestage of the american constitution...." I got an idea of a "new beginning" with islam. nuke the paedophile praisers. they are not going to change, the world is overpopulated. send them to the bordello in the sky, imagine 77 arab virgins - it'ld be hell

Of course it does. There is only one law, sharia law. All other laws are man made rubbish which are to be overthrown and despised as an insult to allah.

Islam will only tolerate what is subservient to sharia law. Anything else, it destroys.

al Rassooli's "AhmadsQuran3" talks on YouTube - what a find!

Soren wrote on Jul 8^th, 2009 at 7:37pm:

al Rassooli's "AhmadsQuran3" talks on YouTube - what a find!

They are good, aren't they!!!!!!!

;D      ;D      ;D




I commend this list of audio presentations, to everyone, especially to those who know very little about ISLAM, yet want to learn important FACTUAL information about real ISLAMIC doctrine, towards non-moslems,

An 'un-veiling' of real ISLAMIC doctrines, as it were,             ;D

http://www.al-rassooli.com/AhmadsQuran3/

You should post copies of it to Mozza.
He continually needs reminding.

Soren wrote on Jul 8^th, 2009 at 7:37pm:

al Rassooli's "AhmadsQuran3" talks on YouTube - what a find!

soren,

I don't know if you have come across this site yet?

http://www.realmuhammad.info/



A lot of information there, with references, and clearly set out in a topic format....

# Early times
# Qusayy
# Early Mecca
# Later Mecca
# A bargain with Quraysh
# Contacts to Medina
# The pledges of al-Aqabah
# The Hijra
# Settling in Medina
# The first sermon
# Fighting in the sacred month
# Battle of Badr
# Taking prisoners
# Attack on Banu Qaynuqa
# Battle of Uhud
# Banu al-Nadir exiled
# Battle of the Ditch
# Attack on Banu Qurayza
# Scandal about Aisha
# The treaty of Hudaybiya
# After the armistice
# Conquest of Khaybar
# Khaybar aftermath
# The fulfilled pilgrimage
# Raid on Banu al-Mulawwih
# The Expedition to Mutah
# The Occupation of Mecca
# Final days
# Raids and expeditions
# Stoning
# Assassinations
# Property of Muhammad