US president Barack Obama delivered a speech at Cairo University on Thursday. In his speech the US president raised a question on existing discords between the West and the Islamic world, spoke about the struggle against the so-called "extremism", talked about the military conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, as well as the Iranian nuclear issue.
Addressing to Muslims around the world, the US president said that the cycle of suspicion and discord between the West and the Islamic world must end.
"I have come here to seek a new beginning, - Barak Obama said. - I do so recognizing that change cannot happen overnight. No single speech can eradicate years of mistrust". "In order to move forward, we must say openly and listen to each other", the head of the White House emphasized.
The US president has also said that America would continue the open war with the so-called "extremism, which poses the great threat to the peace and security of America".
"We reject the killing of innocent people - he said. - Whoever kills an innocent, it is as if he has killed all mankind; and whoever saves a person, it is as if he has saved all mankind".
We would want to remind that according to estimations of independent observers, the US have killed about 1 million civilians in Iraq. During the blockade of Iraq at the time of Saddam Hussein, more then 2 million children have died in Iraq because of starvation and diseases.
Obama touched upon an issue of Palestine, saying that the US would never turn its back on the Palestinian aspiration to get a state of their own.
"The existence of two states is the only resolution to the Palestinian problem", - said the American president, having stressed at the same time that "the Palestinians must abandon violence". Obama did not mention about violence from "Israel's" side.
The head of the White House said that all problems with Islamic countries must be dealt with through partnership and collaboration.
"We must face these problems squarely and discuss them openly", Obama emphasized.
Meanwhile, the leader of "Al-Qaeda" Osama bin Laden sharply criticized the new American president. He called his policy hostile to the Muslims, and also made the US administration responsible for growth of anti-Americanism in the world.
The new appeal of bin Laden, dated for the visit of Barack Obama to the East, distributed by Arab TV channel Al-Jazeera the day before. It has been broadcasted almost simultaneously with the arrival of Obama in Riyadh.
"Obama has sowed new seeds of hatred, and the fruits would be reaped by the American people", bin Laden said.
According to him, the new president follows the steps of his predecessor, "following the policy George Bush in antagonising Muslims".
Bin Laden has also accused the United States in campaign of "killings, fightings, bombings and destructions", as a result of which millions of Muslims from the Swat Valley in north-west Pakistan had to leave their homes.
Such policy can become "the foundation for long wars", the leader of "Al-Qaeda" warned.
He urged Muslims not to wait for positive changes from Obama's presidency, and warned Americans to be prepared for the consequences of the White House's policies.
The White House responded to this statement. According to the American side, bin Laden has circulated his new statement in order to divert attention from the speech of US President Barack Obama in Cairo. The White House is not surprised by this attempt, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said.
Let us remind that US officials have repeatedly stated that the visit of the new head of the White House to the East is urged to strengthen Washington's contacts with the Islamic world.
"The American president is seeking to establish a dialogue with the Muslim world and to overcome the vigilance from both parties, as well as to improve the image of the United States and make efforts to reach a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians", BBC Russian reports.
Two most important allies of Washington in the region - Saudi Arabia and Egypt - are included in a route of Obama's east tour.
The day before Obama held talks with Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, and then left for Egypt.
Meanwhile on the eve, the visit of US president to the East has been commented by other leader of "Al-Qaeda" Ayman al-Zawahiri. In particular, he called Obama a criminal, and said that he is not welcome in Egypt.
"Once Obama arrives in Egypt, he will be received by the floggers, thieves, and corrupters: those who made Egypt a location for international torture in the American war against Islam.
He will be received by those who besieged and are besieging Gaza. He will be received by the angels of punishment, the forgers of elections, spreaders of vice, and the cowards of Egypt, who handed over Wafa Constantine and her sisters to the monastery prisons to be tortured or killed, in fear of the wrath of America, and to flatter them.
America, whose Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues an annual report on religious freedoms in the world.
But they pressed the Egyptian Government to hand over Wafa Constantine and her sisters. They overlooked hypocrisy in apparent complicity. It is those corrupt ones who will welcome Obama.
Only the corrupt individuals will welcome Obama. As for the noble, pure and righteous men of Egypt, they will despise him in the name of God, and consider him an international criminal and an opportunistic politician who serves the Zionist plan...", al-Zawahiri said.
Department of Monitoring,
Kavkaz Center
Our button
print version
