Prez O on ME Peace: "All too often the United States starts by dictating....so let's listen"

[FrenchieCat]

Obama to Arabs: "what you'll see is someone who is listening"
It's impossible to exaggerate the symbolic importance of Barack Obama choosing an Arabic satellite television station for his first formal interview as President -- and of taking that opportunity to talk frankly about a new relationship with the Muslim world based on mutual respect and emphasizing listening rather than dictating. His interview promises a genuinely fresh start in the way the United States interacts with the Arab world and a new dedication to public diplomacy.



In his conversation with the estimable Hisham Milhem (a good choice for an interlocutor), Obama reached out directly to the Arab public via the Saudi TV station al-Arabiya (which shrewdly posted the transcript immediately). It signals the importance of the Middle East to the new President, his commitment to engaging on Arab-Israeli peace, his genuinely fresh thinking and new start with the Muslim world, and his recognition of the importance of genuine public diplomacy.
...
His remarks hit the sweet spot again and again. He repeatedly emphasized his intention of moving past the iron walls of the 'war on terror' and 'clash of civilizations' which so dominated the Bush era. "My job is to communicate to the Muslim world that the United States is not your enemy," Obama said, emphasizing as in his inaugural address that he is "ready to initiate a new partnership based on mutual respect and mutual interest." And where so much of the Bush administration's 'public diplomacy' was about manipulating and lecturing, Obama begins -- as he should -- with listening: "what I told is start by listening, because all too often the United States starts by dictating..so let's listen."
more.... http://lynch.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2009/01/27/obama_on_al_arabiya

[bunnies]

1. I absolutely love the fact that this was his first interview as President.

That alone tells me I voted for the best person for the job.

[FrenchieCat]

3. He is serious as a heart attack......

To accomplish what others couldn't.

There are many who are shocked about this, because they thought that
Obama would play it safe, and not want have said about him...
"you see, told ya...he's a secret Muslim!"

CHANGE!

[EraOfResponsibility]

2. this quote right here:

"what I told is start by listening, because all too often the United States starts by dictating..so let's listen."

made me swooooooooooon.