A New Beginning (speech)
"A New Beginning" was the name of a speech delivered by United States President Barack Obama on 4 June 2009, from the Major Reception Hall at Cairo University in Egypt. Al-Azhar University co-hosted the event. The speech honored a promise Obama made during his 2008 presidential campaign to give a major address to Muslims from a Muslim capital during his first few months as president.
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs indicated that Egypt was chosen because "it is a country that in many ways represents the heart of the Arab world." Egypt is considered a key player in the Middle East peace process as well as a major recipient of American military and economic aid. Reuters reporter Ross Colvin reported that the speech would attempt to mend the United States' relations with the Muslim world, which he wrote were "severely damaged" during the presidency of George W. Bush.
Background
In his inaugural address on January 20, President Obama reached out to the Muslim world with "a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect". He also said he would be willing to "extend a hand" to those "who cling to power through corruption and deceit" if they "are willing to unclench" their fists. His first interview as president was to Arab broadcaster Al Arabiya.After taking office, Obama stated his support for the creation of a Palestinian state and announced that he would engage in negotiations with Iran. He also declared he opposed Israeli settlements and wanted to revive peace talks. In an interview to Al Arabiya, few days after his inauguration, Obama declared: "my job to the Muslim world is to communicate that the Americans are not your enemy." "White House Spokesman Robert Gibbs stated he will review particular issues of concern, such as violent extremism and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and he will discuss new areas for partnership going forward that serve the mutual interests of our people."
On 19 March, Obama continued his outreach to the Muslim world, releasing a Nowruz video message to the people and government of Iran. This attempt at outreach was rebuffed by the Iranian leadership. President Obama's first trip to a Muslim majority country occurred on 6 and 7 April when he visited Turkey and spoke to the Grand National Assembly. The speech was well received by many Arab governments.
Meetings with world leaders
Obama met King Abdullah of Jordan on 21 April and Israeli President Shimon Peres on 5 May. On 19 May, he met Netanyahu at the White House, where they discussed the Israeli–Palestinian conflict and Israel's settlements in the West Bank. While Obama said a two state solution was a priority, Benyamin Netanyahu did not explicitly endorse the creation of Palestinian state. Netanyahu said Israel has the right to continue settlements, whereas Obama called for settlement growth to be frozen. Obama also stated a "range of steps" are still available against Iran, including sanctions, if it continues its nuclear program.Obama also met Mahmoud Abbas on 28 May. Obama reaffirmed his belief in a two-state solution, and stressed that Israel's obligation under a 2003 Middle East peace 'road map' includes stopping settlement growth and ensuring that there is a viable Palestinian state.
File:President Barack Obama talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office - 18 May 2009 - P051809PS-0069.jpg|thumb|right|President Obama talking with Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on 18 May 2009.
Speech
Preparation
At the White House in May 2009, Obama told deputy national security advisor Ben Rhodes, and National Security Council spokesperson Denis McDonough that he intended to deliver a speech to the Muslim world from Egypt's capital Cairo. Obama believed the tensions between Muslim world and the West were rooted in colonialism. He also reportedly said that he knew from personal experience that the West and the Islam are not separate worlds because they share things such as love of God and family. Obama reportedly expressed his desire to include Islam's contributions and gender equality in the speech.Jakarta, Rabat, Amman, Cairo, and Istanbul were all considered likely choices. Mohammed Habib, the deputy leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt's largest opposition group, dismissed Obama's trip and said it would be "useless unless it is preceded by real change in the policies of the US administration toward the Arab and Islamic world". Nevertheless, Obama's administration insisted that at least 10 members of the Muslim Brotherhood be allowed to attend the Cairo speech.
Cairo University spokeswoman Galila Mukhtar told The New York Times that "we are very proud to host the president of the United States," with spokesman Sami Abdel Aziz adding that the speech would be delivered in the Major Reception Hall. Renovations took place at the college and some final exams were postponed.
Before the speech
On his way to Cairo, Obama stayed overnight at the ranch of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia outside Riyadh. While there, the two leaders discussed peace and economics.On the day of the speech, Obama and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak met at Koubbeh Palace to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He said the US was committed to working in partnership with countries in the Middle East. Obama later visited the Sultan Hassan Mosque, before going to Cairo University to deliver the speech.
Delivery
The speech was divided into seven parts: violent extremism, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, nuclear weapons, democracy, religious freedom, women's rights, and economic development.Obama's speech called for improved mutual understanding and relations between the Islamic world and the West. He said should do more to confront violent extremism. He reaffirmed America's alliance with Israel, calling their mutual bond "unbreakable", but also described Palestinian statelessness as "intolerable" and recognizing their aspirations for statehood and dignity as legitimate as Israel's desire for a Jewish homeland.
The speech opened with Obama seeking a common ground between Muslims and the United States. He quoted from the Quran, "Be conscious of God and always speak the truth." Obama described Muslim contributions to Western civilization, citing the founding of algebra, the development of navigational tools, the invention of the fountain pen, and the influence of Islamic architecture. He described his own personal experiences with Islam, including having Muslim family members, growing up in Indonesia, a majority-Muslim country and hearing "the call of the azaan", and working "in Chicago communities where many found dignity and peace in their Muslim faith". He also listed several of the United States' connections to Islam, including Morocco being the first country to recognize the United States, American Muslim sportsmen and civil rights leaders, the Nobel Prize winner Ahmed Zewail, the Bangladeshi American architect-engineer Fazlur Khan who designed the Sears Tower, the election of Keith Ellison as the US's first Muslim congressman, and the presence of over 1,200 mosques in the US.
On the subject of the Iraq War, Obama stated, "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." He also promised to "remove combat troops from Iraqi cities by July, and to remove all of our troops from Iraq by 2012".
During the "nuclear weapons" portion of the speech, Obama stated, "In the middle of the Cold War, the United States played a role in the overthrow of a democratically elected Iranian government." It was the first acknowledgement by a US President of the United States government's involvement in the 1953 Iranian coup d'état; although then-Secretary of State Madeleine Albright had acknowledged it as well in a speech in 2000.
About democracy, Obama stated that, though "America does not presume to know what is best for everyone", "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." He called such freedoms "human rights".
On economic development, Obama described several new funds, scholarship programs and partnerships to support education, technological development and better health care in Muslim-majority countries.
After the speech
After the speech, Obama visited to Buchenwald concentration camp to pay homage to the victims of the Holocaust. He met German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Dresden on 5 June.Reaction
The speech was highly anticipated and generally acclaimed by the Muslim world. However, some Muslims criticized it, both before and after it was delivered.Pre-speech
On 3 June, Al-Qaeda released a video in which Osama bin Laden strongly criticized Obama's foreign policy in the Middle East. He said that Obama "has followed the steps of his predecessor in antagonising Muslims... and laying the foundation for long wars". He also added that "Obama and his administration have sowed new seeds of hatred against America." One day before, a video of Al-Qaeda number two Ayman al-Zawahiri was posted to extremist websites, in which al-Zawahiri criticized Obama's policy, declaring "his bloody messages were received and are still being received by Muslims, and they will not be concealed by public relations campaigns or by farcical visits or elegant words."President Obama was also criticized by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who delivered a speech to mark the 20th anniversary of the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini a few hours before Obama's speech. Khamenei commented on the pending speech declaring: "The nations of this part of the world... deeply hate America. Even if they give sweet and beautiful to the Muslim nation that will not create change. Action is needed."