Obama  delivered his highly anticipated address to the Muslim world on  Thursday, June 4th in a historical effort to smooth relations between the United States and the Middle East , which have become increasingly hostile post 9/11. The city of Cairo, engulfed in excitement in the days preceding the President’s visit, received Obama graciously, with the audience frequently erupting in applause.

Beginning the speech with the proper Islamic greeting, “Assalaamu alaykum”, Obama started by praising Islam’s history, culture, and ideals. He affirmed the historical achievements of Muslims in mathematics, science, and medicine, and how such contributions opened the door for the theEuropean Enlightenment. Furthermore, Obama extolled the accomplishments of American Muslims, asserting that their existence has been, and will forever be, engraved in the everday fabric of American life.

Obama then spoke of the tremendous pain America endured as a result of 9/11. Al Qaeda , aided by the Taliban, was in fact responsible, and Obama maintained that concrete military measures are necessary to root them out. Obama stated, “We would gladly bring every single one of our troops home if we could be confident that there were not violent extremists in Afghanistanh and now Pakistan determined to kill as many Americans as they possibly can.  But that is not yet the case.”

Obama’s address was a candid account of American-Islamic relations in the twenty-first century. He admitted that rifts remain, however he signaled a new dawn in dialogue and understanding. He sympathized with the plight of both the Israelis and the Palestinians, yet he was not naive enough to lay down a plan for peace right then and there. Most importantly, Obama did not apologize for America, but instead promised a progressive approach to American-Middle Eastern affairs, based on responsibility and accountability from all parties involved. 

Here’s the President’s speech: