President Obama is making his pass through the Muslim world this week. Following a swing through Saudi Arabia, he gave his anticipated address at Egypt's Cairo University. Now that he's president, one wishes he could have given this speech in a library in Alexandria. While seeking a new beginning with the Muslim world, he promised no immediate miracles in the wake of his speech.
He hit all the principle themes: Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Arab-Israeli conflict; human and women's rights; and the need for a two-state solution. His speech was what we've come to expect of this president: it was eloquent, nuanced, balanced and designed to show Obama's street-cred. He's a Christian, but he is the heir of Muslim forebears and can cite the Qu'ran. America has made its mistakes, but the Muslim world's got some splanin' to do. America's relationship with Israel is unbreakable, but those cribs in Palestinian territories are a real problem. And he told the Palestinians to get their Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on because resistance through violence is futile.
Whether, or to what extent, Team Obama's efforts will bear meaningful fruit remains to be seen. His next stops will include France and Germany. Maybe now that he's president, he'll be able to make his address in Germany before the Brandenburg Gate.
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