Obama Offers 'A New Way Forward' to Muslim World

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I agree with Kerry. The rantings of Saleh Al-Qahtani just below demonstrate how incorrigible the Islamists are and why Obama will have to confront them with force just as Bush did and the Hindus and Jews do in other parts of the world

Chris Taylor of 4:27PM January 21, 2009

The clenched fist of militant Islam is what generated George Bush's foreign policy as of 9/12.Unless the Jihadi grow a new collective head - which is exceedingly doubtful - they will oblige Obama to deal with them in much the same way. The mewing of the liberal elites notwithstanding

Kerry of MI 4:23PM January 21, 2009

In the past 50 years, there hasn't been a single Muslim country or government which has invaded, occupied, ...
TRUE. WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO STOP YOU FROM DOING IT TO EACH OTHER.
Wasn't it USA & the other Western Powers who teamed up to occupy Palestine and provide military aide to Israel for killing innocent civilians...
IF THE ARAB WORLD WILL STOP THROWING MISSILES INTO ISRAEL, YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED TO FIND THAT THEY WILL STOP BEATING YOUR BRAINS OUT FOR IT.
Wasn't it USA who trained & equipped Osama Bin-laden against Russia?...
TRUE. WE HELPED FIGHTERS DEFEAT THE SOVIETS. THESE FIGHTERS WEREN'T TOO GREAT, EITHER. Bin LADEN AMONG THEM.
Wasn't it USA that started the Iraq War? ...
YEP, TRUE AGAIN. WE STOPPED IRAQ FROM TAKING OVER ANOTHER COUNTRY THAT IS IMPORTANT TO OUR ENERGY NEEDS. STOP INVADING SOMEBODY ELSE'S COUNTRY.
But actually US went in there to clean up its own dirty act. US supplied chemical weapons to Iraq in 1970s-80s war against Iran....
YEP, WE LIBERATED 50 MILLION PEOPLE FROM BRUTAL DICTATORSHIP. SURE DID.
Isn't it USA, where special committees & and so-called 'interest groups' are setup to topple regimes of certain countries?
YEP. BRUTAL DICTATORS WHO MURDER THEIR OWN PEOPLE MUST GO. WE BELIEVE THAT.
Isn't it USA, whose spies and moles try to destabilize other countries' governments?
SEE ABOVE.
Isn't it USA, who is already trying to destabilize Iranian government through its spies and so-called 'reformists'?...
YEP. BEFORE THEY GET NUCLEAR BOMBS, THEY HAVE TO BE STOPPED.
Who gave you the right to interfere in others' business?
GOOD QUESTION. BUT THEN, WHO GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO ABUSE YOUR OWN CITIZENS?
Who gave you the right to do all this? Just because you have military might?...
WE TOOK THE RIGHT. WE'LL DEFEND DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS ANYWHERE, ANYTIME. BE A GOOD IDEA IF YOU REMEMBER THAT.
..... Solve the Palestinian problem. Solve the Kashmir issue. Punish those who did war crimes either in Iraq or Afghanistan - who ever they may be...
SO, NOW IT'S UP TO US TO SOLVE THEM, HUH? YOU TWO-FACED IDIOT... THE CRIMINALS OF THE OLD IRAQI REGIME HAVE BEEN EXECUTED. Bin LADEN WILL BE TOO, WHEN WE CATCH HIM.
Otherwise, you will find that hands will not be clenched, but over time they will change to fists and the next moment you will be knocked down. Clean your hands from the blood stains of innocent Muslims and then offer handshake!.
CAREFUL HOW YOU THREATEN US. IF YOU HIT US WITH A FIST, WE'LL HIT BACK WITH SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE SUBSTANTIAL. KNOCK US DOWN? NOT A CHANCE. BY THE WAY, CLEAN YOU OWN HANDS, THEN TALK TO US.
YOU SEE, WE BELIEVE IN PEOPLES FREEDOM. TAKE PEOPLES FREEDOM AND HUMAN RIGHTS AWAY, AND ALL THE BIG-MOUTH TALK AND FOOLISH THREATS WILL HAVE NO EFFECT ON WHAT WE DO.
WE'RE NOT LOOKING FOR TROUBLE. WE WANT PEACE. BUT...WE HAVE THE CAPABILITY -AND THE WILL - TO DEFEND LIBERTY WHEREVER WE SEE THAT IT'S THREATENED. AND WE WILL.

Monty of TN 2:09PM January 21, 2009

In the past 50 years, there hasn't been a single Muslim country or government which has invaded, occupied, pillaged and plundered any Western nation. Then how come your media and political leaders were all but busy in spreading negative image about the Muslim world. Note, this scene is well before 9/11 and well before the first Iraq war.
Wasn't it USA & the other Western Powers who teamed up to occupy Palestine and provide military aide to Israel for killing innocent civilians not in a day or two, but continuously for past 60 years. Oh no your intellectual says, thats just Israel defending itself, right?
Wasn't it USA who trained & equipped Osama Bin-laden against Russia?
Wasn't it USA that started the Iraq War? Did Iraq invade US or any European nation? You say you did it for Friends? Who? You call Kuwait or Saudi Arabia your friends. No you dont. You consider those 'oil-selling' countries as your 'Adversaries'. So you actually went to war to protect your oil supply.
But actually US went in there to clean up its own dirty act. US supplied chemical weapons to Iraq in 1970s-80s war against Iran. They wanted to go and clean up that stock, which actually never existed, but played the cover up which Americans are so expert in, that they are going to clean up WMD. When that didnt prove true, they changed the motto to 'liberating Iraq' then setting up a role model of democracy in middle east. Stop the bull shit! enough is enough. You killed thousands, raped and tortured innocents. Noway. For generations - we cant forgive you and wont forgive till you punish them!
Isn't it USA, where special committees & and so-called 'interest groups' are setup to topple regimes of certain countries?
Isn't it USA, whose spies and moles try to destabilize other countries' governments?
Isn't it USA, who is already trying to destabilize Iranian government through its spies and so-called 'reformists'?
Who gave you the right to interfere in others' business? Who gave you the right to judge others' systems when in your own democracies seats are sold and senators are bought to win a policy?
Who gave you the right to do all this? Just because you have military might? Just because you can kill their civilians and threat them to push back to stone age? Well then - don't cry when 'your foes' treat you with same hatred and animosity which you thrust upon them.
Nobody wants to keep burning in air of animosity and hatred. But as long as you don't come clean, don't expect others to follow the suit. Solve the Palestinian problem. Solve the Kashmir issue. Punish those who did war crimes either in Iraq or Afghanistan - who ever they may be - Dick Cheney, Donald Duck or Rumsfield or who ever. Bring them to justice.
Otherwise, you will find that hands will not be clenched, but over time they will change to fists and the next moment you will be knocked down. Clean your hands from the blood stains of innocent Muslims and then offer handshake!.
You'll get the same.

Saleh Al-Qahtani 8:10AM January 21, 2009

The story writer misunderstood part of the speech. President Obama said his administration would be working "tirelessly against nuclear threats", not against the threat of "nuclear power". Nuclear power is the electricity and heat generating application of the natural phenomenon of fission, it poses no threat to anyone or anything - except the fossil fuel industry's market share and profitability.
The only time "nuclear" becomes a threat is when a large and technically sophisticated organization - generally a nation - decides to use the material to make a weapon AND uses that weapon as a cudgel against other nations.

Rod Adams of MD 4:08AM January 21, 2009

Hope you are right.

reza santorini of IL 6:52PM January 20, 2009

There are a couple of big buildings missing in Lower Manhattan, which were fairly well full of nice American people when they were blown up and set afire. And, it was the second time they bombed the place - the first time they just got the hotel. Before all is forgiven with the extremist element (those who 'clench their fists' I guess) and America's hand extended to them, perhaps some consideration will be given to the safety of the American people. The problem was never "America doing as it pleased" - the problem was terrorism, and if America starts going easy on them, there is a real risk they'll be back. Before extending America's hand to terrorists, take a long hard look at the WTC site and reconsider before befriending terrorists. The problem was not anything America did. The problem was, and still is, they want to destroy America and kill as many Americans as possible in the process. We do not need to befriend terrorists to achieve peace. That is one undeniably great thing George Bush did, he kept them at bay. Let's hope the commitment to America's security does not waver.
Matt Lechner - CFP, CRPS, CIMA, FRM
Chairman - WSSIG, the Wall Street Special Interest Group

Matt Lechner of NY 6:03PM January 20, 2009

No doubt barrack obama will bring peace to the middle east, just as soon as he can walk on water

s'chevalier of AZ 4:57PM January 20, 2009

I expect Obama will pulled by AIPAC strings.

MiriamCandle of CO 4:42PM January 20, 2009

What I would like to see from this president is to be even handed in the middle east, in few words be an honest broker between israel and the Palestinian. Is this too much to ask?

joseph of FL 2:51PM January 20, 2009