Muslim praise for Obama dries up a year after Cairo speech

[Freddie Stubbs]

By Miret el Naggar and Margaret Talev, McClatchy Newspapers Miret El Naggar And Margaret Talev, Mcclatchy Newspapers – Thu Jun 3, 7:42 pm ET

CAIRO , Egypt_A year ago Friday, President Barack Obama stood in Cairo and vowed "a new beginning" in a speech about how he'd change U.S. relations with the Muslim world. Egyptian vendors sold T-shirts portraying Obama in King Tut regalia, and Muslims throughout the region thrilled at his middle name: Hussein.

Now, many Muslims in Egypt and the rest of the Middle East say they're dismayed that the promise of the speech has fizzled into U.S. policy-as-usual toward the region: civilian deaths in Afghanistan , an unstable Iraq , no pressure for reforms on Washington -friendly autocrats, no resolution for Guantanamo prisoners and no end in sight for the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

Israel's deadly raid in international waters on an aid flotilla en route to break the siege on Gaza - and Obama's tepid response, in comparison to the condemnation of other world leaders - cemented perceptions for many of unconditional U.S. support for Israel . Some Arab commentators and bloggers said Obama no longer deserves his Nobel Peace Prize.

"His speech at Cairo University was wonderful and raised hopes that America was on a real path to changing its policies," said Hassan Nafaa , a political science professor at Cairo University , where Obama spoke. "But Obama's practices afterwards guaranteed that he is weaker than he seemed during his speech."

more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20100603/wl_mcclatchy/3524973

[Number23]

1. Completely agree and given this admin's response to the Israeli attacks,

this is perfectly understandable. Rec'd.

[ej510]

2. +1!

Any politician who condemns Israel, will end their political career.

[Bullet1987]

3. Not surprising at all...I knew Muslims were getting their hopes up

[freddie mertz]

4. Gee, I wonder why?

This administration won't even condemn the Israeli murder of one of our own fellow citizens.

We should all be outraged.