by Mark Silva
President Barack Obama, a Christian, hopes to make amends with a Muslim world that has taken offense at many of the actions of the past administration.
As president, he promises to deliver an address to the Islamic world community this spring at a Muslim capital. Obama will travel to Turkey in April, but that's an unlikely venue for the speech - too secular a government for the staging of an appeal to the most religious Muslims.
Muslim-world attitudes toward the United States have been inflamed by incendiary images - those of the detainees abused at the U.S.-run prison at Abu Ghraib - and by the greater goals of the Bush administration, primarily the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq and overthrow of the regime.
Yet, at the same time, Obama is committed to the Bush administration's policy of preventing Iran from building a nuclear bomb, while hoping to find a diplomatic path to disarmament that eluded his predecessor.
Obama faces a lot of fence-mending.
Today, the president delivered a videotaped appreciation of Nowruz, the Persian New Year. It's 2568. It starts at 3:14 pm Tehran time and started at 7:44 am EDT in New York and 6:44 am EDT in Chicago this morning.
That Tehran time is important, because Obama made a point of addressing his remarks to the people of Iran - an Islamic nation with nuclear ambitions with which he hopes to repair lines of communication. And the president added a pointedly political message to his holiday address to the Iranians:
"The United States wants the Islamic Republic of Iran to take its rightful place in the community of nations,'' the president said. "You have that right -- but it comes with real responsibilities, and that place cannot be reached through terror or arms, but rather through peaceful actions that demonstrate the true greatness of the Iranian people and civilization.''
This is the text:
"Today, I want to extend my very best wishes to all who are celebrating Nowruz around the world,'' Obama said with his videotaped message viewable at the White House Web-site. "This holiday is both an ancient ritual and a moment of renewal, and I hope that you enjoy this special time of year with friends and family.
"In particular, I would like to speak directly to the people and leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran,'' he said. "Nowruz is just one part of your great and celebrated culture. Over many centuries your art, your music, literature and innovation have made the world a better and more beautiful place.
"Here in the United States our own communities have been enhanced by the contributions of Iranian Americans. We know that you are a great civilization, and your accomplishments have earned the respect of the United States and the world.
"For nearly three decades relations between our nations have been strained. But at this holiday we are reminded of the common humanity that binds us together. Indeed, you will be celebrating your New Year in much the same way that we Americans mark our holidays -- by gathering with friends and family, exchanging gifts and stories, and looking to the future with a renewed sense of hope.
"Within these celebrations lies the promise of a new day, the promise of opportunity for our children, security for our families, progress for our communities, and peace between nations. Those are shared hopes, those are common dreams.
"So in this season of new beginnings I would like to speak clearly to Iran's leaders. We have serious differences that have grown over time. My administration is now committed to diplomacy that addresses the full range of issues before us, and to pursuing constructive ties among the United States, Iran and the international community. This process will not be advanced by threats. We seek instead engagement that is honest and grounded in mutual respect.
"You, too, have a choice. The United States wants the Islamic Republic of Iran to take its rightful place in the community of nations. You have that right -- but it comes with real responsibilities, and that place cannot be reached through terror or arms, but rather through peaceful actions that demonstrate the true greatness of the Iranian people and civilization. And the measure of that greatness is not the capacity to destroy, it is your demonstrated ability to build and create.
"So on the occasion of your New Year, I want you, the people and leaders of Iran, to understand the future that we seek. It's a future with renewed exchanges among our people, and greater opportunities for partnership and commerce. It's a future where the old divisions are overcome, where you and all of your neighbors and the wider world can live in greater security and greater peace.
"I know that this won't be reached easily. There are those who insist that we be defined by our differences. But let us remember the words that were written by the poet Saadi, so many years ago: "The children of Adam are limbs to each other, having been created of one essence."
"With the coming of a new season, we're reminded of this precious humanity that we all share. And we can once again call upon this spirit as we seek the promise of a new beginning.
"Thank you, and Eid-eh Shoma Mobarak.''
Comments
Who put that word "terror" in this message? I thought that it was deleted from the Democrat's vocabulary. Maybe this "diplomatic appeal" will halt the just announced purchase of sophisticated Russian anti-aircraft missiles to protect their sites for the production of nuclear weapons. Let us hope that a moderate wins the coming sham election, but the Islamic "extremists" hold the real power and they are determined to bring the "great Satan" down. They view "words" as weakness. Despots, like bullies,only change when forced. Most of us learned that in our early years.
Posted by: bubba Porter | March 20, 2009 9:48 AM
This olive branch will probably be met with indifference at best.
Remember Iran is really controlled by right wing clerics.
They'll give you an audience perhaps as long as you prostrate yourself and acknowledge their supreme wisdom & authority.
Posted by: ornery | March 20, 2009 10:36 AM
Mark,
I know you lefties in the press aren't very smart and bash Bush at every chance but Iran isn't an Arab country. They are Persian. How about you get your facts straight before you go around talking about how someone else inflamed the "Arab" world without producing ANY polls or tangible data to support your ignorant leftist talking point.
Posted by: M.E. | March 20, 2009 10:44 AM
President Obama, quit now the job is more than your able to handle. Besides Chicago has an opening for a community organizer. Your feeble attempt to make nicey nice to Iran shows a lack of knowledge. We the American people have nothing to
apologize for. The leaders over in Iran, Syria, and other muslim countries don't want peace they want everyone to be converted to the Muslim religion and it will not happen. So, continue to be nicey nice and and have one of your aides remove the knife from your back.
Posted by: Paul | March 20, 2009 11:12 AM
~ornery~ This olive branch will probably be met with indifference at best.
Remember Iran is really controlled by right wing clerics.
They'll give you an audience perhaps as long as you prostrate yourself and acknowledge their supreme wisdom & authority.
*****************************
What a world....Iran taking a page right out of the Republican playbook!
Posted by: Quippy | March 20, 2009 12:50 PM
Q, just a disclaimer:
I don't speak for the Replican Party.
Even I am not that ornery.
Posted by: ornery | March 20, 2009 1:29 PM
Obama is clueless...when can we start the impeachment
process?
Giving a set of dvd's to the British P.M. and then saying thank-you to himself while reading the Irish P.M's teleprompter....the world is laughing at us!
After 60 days in office he may already be worse than Jimma Carter.
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | March 20, 2009 1:31 PM
Further to my earlier post. Listen up Mr. Presiden!...,no more groveling,please. They want you to change your religion or they want you dead. What part of this equation don't you understand.
Posted by: Paul | March 20, 2009 1:47 PM
Despots, like bullies,only change when forced. Most of us learned that in our early years.
Posted by: bubba Porter | March 20, 2009 9:48 AM
So what your answer Bubba? Has the past 30 years of saber rattling and hostility forced out the despots in Iran? No, in fact it has measurably strengthened the despots. The more we act like their enemy, the stronger we make the powers of repression in Iran. The same dynamic has been going on in Cuba for over 40 years now. The US embargo, and associated US rhetoric is the best thing to have ever happened to Castro. These policies just don't work much of the time.
Oh, and before you bring out the "Reagan was tough on the USSR and it collapsed." line, remember that Reagan also carried on continual, direct, diplomacy with the USSR.
Posted by: Kendle | March 20, 2009 5:39 PM
I am so shocked at the ignorance, hatred, and lack of the understanding for the prospects of diplomacy. I guess the only people who decided to post comments were those who regularly watch O'Reilly and believe the Bush Administration actually advanced our foreign and domestic policy. Essentially, the same as the extreme leftists, your personal identification with being anti-left also removes you far from reality.
The Iranian government does not want to convert American to Islam. That is not why they have, for the past 20 some yrs., been in conflict with the US. That is simply an ignorant comment rooted in racism.
The reasons for conflict are complex and rooted in history starting with Operation Ajax, leading to the puppetteering of the Shah in the 70's and ending with an embargo and ousting. Of course, the embargo and ousting were responses to the hostage situation. But the continuous disrespect since the release of the hostages, together with the historical intermeddling, has left the Iranian people with sour feelings. The Iranian government surely advances in uniting its people in their common dislike for the US.
A wise political leader understands that such animosity between nations is not conducive and mutual respect and diplomacy is.
This is what our President is trying to do. Obviously the old policy of bashing and threatening opposed nations has failed. We can see that in the fact that nothing has resolved and the threat of nuclear warfare still exists. How about trying a different method? How about recognizing the Iranian people and government as civilized society and respecting them as equal human beings? This might work. And if it doesn’t, it will at the very least show the Iranian people that the American government now wants peace and negotiations and maybe the Iranian people won’t be so susceptible to the anti-American propaganda. It’s called diplomacy boys, and it works a hell of lot better than bullying.
Paul - you want to start the impeachment process because the President reached out to a nation at odds with us? Did you want to impeach Bush when he led our troops into Iraq based on a lie? And got us into a deeper deficit than ever before in history? How about when he failed to adequately address our domestic problems by handing over important jobs over to his "buddies" who were clearly incompetent to do the job? Or how violated the Constitution with his "Presidential Orders" and by disrespecting the essential role of Congress? I can go on, for pages and pages of all the reasons why Bush should have been impeached.
Obama is furthering the diplomacy and trying to prevent a nuclear threat by mending the hatches...if you like perpetual animosity and hatred, I can see why you would want to impeach a president who actually understands a little something about foreign policy. And you should call up some of those extremist Iranian clergy you talk about for a cup of tea...cause you are no different.
Posted by: nancy | March 20, 2009 8:22 PM
I am so shocked at the ignorance, hatred, and lack of the understanding for the prospects of diplomacy. I guess the only people who decided to post comments were those who regularly watch O'Reilly and believe the Bush Administration actually advanced our foreign and domestic policy. Essentially, the same as the extreme leftists, your personal identification with being anti-left also removes you far from reality.
The Iranian government does not want to convert American to Islam. That is not why they have, for the past 20 some yrs., been in conflict with the US. That is simply an ignorant comment rooted in racism.
The reasons for conflict are complex and rooted in history starting with Operation Ajax, leading to the puppetteering of the Shah in the 70's and ending with an embargo and ousting. Of course, the embargo and ousting were responses to the hostage situation. But the continuous disrespect since the release of the hostages, together with the historical intermeddling, has left the Iranian people with sour feelings. The Iranian government surely advances in uniting its people in their common dislike for the US.
A wise political leader understands that such animosity between nations is not conducive and mutual respect and diplomacy is.
This is what our President is trying to do. Obviously the old policy of bashing and threatening opposed nations has failed. We can see that in the fact that nothing has resolved and the threat of nuclear warfare still exists. How about trying a different method? How about recognizing the Iranian people and government as civilized society and respecting them as equal human beings? This might work. And if it doesn’t, it will at the very least show the Iranian people that the American government now wants peace and negotiations and maybe the Iranian people won’t be so susceptible to the anti-American propaganda. It’s called diplomacy boys, and it works a hell of lot better than bullying.
Paul - you want to start the impeachment process because the President reached out to a nation at odds with us? Did you want to impeach Bush when he led our troops into Iraq based on a lie? And got us into a deeper deficit than ever before in history? How about when he failed to adequately address our domestic problems by handing over important jobs over to his "buddies" who were clearly incompetent to do the job? Or how violated the Constitution with his "Presidential Orders" and by disrespecting the essential role of Congress? I can go on, for pages and pages of all the reasons why Bush should have been impeached.
Obama is furthering the diplomacy and trying to prevent a nuclear threat by mending the hatches...if you like perpetual animosity and hatred, I can see why you would want to impeach a president who actually understands a little something about foreign policy.
Posted by: nancy | March 20, 2009 8:31 PM
Thank God. Finally, a FREE World leader who actually wants to make the world a more united, safer, and peaceful place. It makes it a lot easier to breathe when there is someone with this much intelligence, integrity, and humanity representing us Americans.
I am so grateful that the powers are finally beginning to shift away from darkness and hatred.
I pray that all of you with such hate and darkness in your hearts give yourselves a chance to heal before you leave this life. I pray this for you because as a human being with this beautiful gift of life, you deserve to live free from suffering. You deserve to live a joyous life full of desirable experiences, and that hate in your hearts will only bring YOU suffering. The hate hurts you more than any one.
As for the unfair Despot rulers of Iran. If they are so arrogant as to not respond with the dignity, integrity, and honesty that is being extended out to them by President Obama, then we have to get forceful with them.
At least with the diplomatic actions of our president, we can do it with a clear conscience, that we did our best to be humane, peaceful, decent, evolved human beings.
don't hate your way to a heart attack, tough guy.
--Peace
Posted by: nick | March 21, 2009 12:20 AM
Thanks Nancy for your impressing analyzing. Iran want to want everyone to be converted to the Muslim religion? looks like they do not know anything about Iran. I am so pleased with Mr. President's speech and I really look forward to see some improvement in our relation.
Max
Posted by: Max | March 21, 2009 12:51 AM
I agree with those who suggest that diplomacy should precede any resort to force or hostile action. After all, Obama is a new President with new ideas. It was worth a try to reach out to Iran. Those in the Iranian leadership could only say no.
.
Well, that’s exactly what they did. They not only declined Obama’s invitation for friendlier dialogue, they rebuffed his message as an insult to the Iranian people. In particular they criticized him for congratulating the Iranian people on their New Years celebration while, at the same time, suggesting they were involved in supporting terrorism and seeking to obtain nuclear weapons. Ayatollah Khamenei, the real head of the Iranian government, said: “He insulted the Islamic Republic of Iran from the first day. . . . If you are right that change has come, where is that change? What is the sign of that change? Make it clear for us what has changed.” He went on to characterize Obama’s speech as representing no change whatsoever between him and the Bush administration. He also indicated that the United States needed to change its foreign policy in a number of respects before a better dialogue might ensue. Our friendship toward Israel was on the top of the list of things for us to change.
.
So now what? Many Republicans and conservatives are thinking to themselves, “I knew this was going to happen” - and not without some justification. I’m sure some of our European allies are happier that we have changed our policy toward Iran to one of handling it with kid gloves. They’re probably thinking that we are less likely to take hostile action toward Iran to further either our or the U.N.’s policy toward Iran. But what do we do to contain Iran and yet keep from looking weak? They DO view words as weakness if not accompanied by action. Keep in mind also that there is a big difference between bowing down and bending over.
Posted by: John W. | March 21, 2009 8:45 PM