Obama’s Cairo advocacy

by Rahaman Onike⁽⁸⁾

The recent visit of President Barack Obama to Cairo in Egypt was historic and a good platform to address the immediate and the remote causes of the hostility and tension between the U.S. and the Muslim world.

The speech he delivered during the visit in both scope and content truly intends to seek for a new beginning between the West and the Muslims across the globe and it was written in an elegant style; issues raised were well articulated and his use of diction sounds logical and appealing.

Obviously, the visit is a good diplomatic move and a good strategy to redefine and remodel American foreign policy. It is believed that such would gain some admiration for America and reposition her as a key player and moderator of international politics and diplomacy.

Through the speech, Obama had lent credence to soft power (diplomacy) rather than hard power (military option) as measures to adopt in international politics.

Apart from the historical significance of the visit, the pertinent question is: what does Obama's visit and olive branch offered to the Muslim world likely to achieve? It is expected that the message would really engender a new beginning and could reduce mutual suspicion between the West and the Muslim World.

The depth, effects and pungency of the speech, indeed, have portrayed Obama as an international scholar, historian and an orator. As a matter of fact, the visit as a strategic effort and subtle diplomatic pursuit opens a new line of dialogue between the West and the Muslim World and could help to overcome misapprehension on both sides.

In his address to the Muslim World, Obama noted, quite rightly, that Islam has universal principles. He went further to establish a significant relationship between Islamic norms and American values which are predicated upon the principles of democracy and the rule of law. I agree that the new pathway advocated by Obama's Cairo speech would foster international peace and better understanding between the Muslim world and the West based on mutual interest and mutual respect.

In a meticulous way, Obama quotes copiously from the Muslim Holy Quran to prove that Islam and America are not exclusive and are not in a competition. Arising from the speech presented, therefore, is the leadership challenges poised by Obama to the Nigerian leaders. It shows that American presidency requires adequate knowledge of history, diplomacy and management. Contrarily, the Nigerian leaders are mostly intellectual charlatans.

Of course, Obama throughout the presentation avoids associating Islam with terrorism. Rather than referring to those who indulge in acts of destruction as terrorists, he chose to name them religious extremists. This might be in line with the advice of Obama's security team. I am convinced that with the quality of Obama's speech, he has been rightly guided by his speech writers and advisers on the best way to relate with the Muslim World.

I quite agree with Obama that hostility between the U.S. . and the Muslim World is a source of tension and this, according to him, is rooted in historical forces that go beyond any current policy debate.

Another important controversy which he addressed is the root of the world civilisation. He asserts that scientific innovation, inventions and scholarship could be traced to the Muslim World. The distinctiveness and depth of the historical facts presented by this historical presentation make the speech a good reference material for future historical research.

Indeed, the danger inherent in Nuclear Arms Race is clearly spelt out by Obama to justify the U.S. insistence on global implementation of Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

While commenting on Israel/Palestine long term feud, he said, "not only is it in the interest of the Palestinian people to have a state, it is in the interest of Israel people to stabilise the situation there. He, however, acknowledges that it is in the interest of the United States that the two states live side by side in peace and security.

Reiterating his belief in religious rights, Obama condemned sterotypes and prejudice and frowned at discrimination against Muslim Women using hijab. The speech is a good tutorial for the Nigerian leaders on the practice of democracy. Also, it is a good attempt at changing global perception about America .

Of equal importance is the appeal for international consensus which he made as strategy to find an amicable resolution to global conflicts. In addition, he used the forum to counsel on sovereignty. There will be improvement in world peace and security, if the U.S. could truly respect the sovereignty of other nations.

BY:ONIKE RAHAMAN

FREELANCE WRITER & EDITORIAL CONSULTANT

Article submitted Monday, November 23, 2009 & read 64 times.

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