Obama’s Talk of Reconciliation

U.S. President Barack Obama’s choice of Turkey as his first visit to an Islamic country, from which he sent out a message of reconciliation to the Islamic World, is of great importance. Turkey has become the foremost Islamic power in the process of establishing a distinct balance of power between secularism, Islam and democracy, all on a firm economic basis.

The message Obama delivered in his speech yesterday sought to affirm that the current U.S. administration wants to turn over a new leaf with the Islamic world, based on shared interests and mutual respect. He also called for the distinction between Islam as a divine message and a number of violent extremist groups (that act in its name).

In short, the U.S. President made a great effort to distance his administration from the previous one, which sowed the seeds of hate in the Islamic World, with its wars and massacres, particularly in Afghanistan and Iraq, and its support of Israeli aggression against Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. He also spoke of his Islamic roots and the his time spent in Indonesia, as if he wants tell us that he understands Muslims and their issues more than previous U.S. leaders.

Without a doubt, this is a good start. The language is different and the intentions are conciliatory. Obama has not used the previous administration’s expression “War on Terror.” He has distanced himself completely from the arrogance of power which characterized the Bush administration’s policies towards the Arab and Islamic world.

Many in the Islamic world will delight in such change, but the question which will remain unanswered in their minds will be whether these sweet words will be translated into action.

Obama spoke about his commitment to the two-state solution – an independent Palestinian state and Israel side-by-side. He also emphasized his support for the “Road Map” peace plan and the Annapolis peace process, commitments welcomed by the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah. But the question remains as to whether he will take the necessary steps to back up these promises.

The Bush administration twice promised to establish a viable Palestinian state. The first promise came toward the end of 2005 and the second at the end of 2008. On both occasions. The Bush administration failed to live up to its promises, even supporting the Israeli government’s policies of expanding settlements, the construction of the racist separation wall and supporting Israel’s blockade and subsequent savage war on the Gaza Strip.

The enduring Palestinian issue will probably be the first test for Obama. Any delay will confirm suspicions of his inability to change U.S. foreign policy. As for the most serious and most important test, Iran’s nuclear program, it is clear that Iran has neither abandoned its project nor accepted the American offer of political and economic incentives.

So what will Obama do? Will he yield to Israeli provocation and resort to a costly military option? Or will he resign in patience and allow Iran to join the global nuclear club? The coming months will answer all of these questions and will reveal whether Obama will pass the tests posed by the Islamic world, tests which are littered with booby traps.