- ActivitesObama
- May 10, 2009
- 11 minutes read
Obama picks Egypt for Muslim address
President Barack Obama will make his long-awaited address to Muslims in
The speech, fulfilling an Obama campaign promise, will focus on how Americans and Muslims abroad can secure the “safety and security” of their children in a more hopeful future, Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs said.
The trip, certain to unfold amid a massive security operation, will come as Obama tries to ignite stalled
Arabs and Muslim believers across the world have been alienated by the war in
Gibbs said that the exact venue for the speech had yet to be decided, but most speculation will center on
“On June 4, the president will give a speech in
He added that there were no plans for Obama to make any further stops in the Middle East during the visit, which will precede a trip to
The president promised during his 2008 election campaign to make a speech at a major Islamic forum within the first 100 days of his administration which ended last week, but the timetable slipped for logistical reasons.
He did however make a speech in the Turkish parliament last month, during his first presidential visit to a Muslim-majority nation, declaring the United States was not at war with Islam, and noting his own partly Muslim heritage.
As Obama tries to kick start Middle East peacemaking, the visit will follow trips to
Obama is also trying to coax sworn
Gibbs defended Obama from claims that by choosing
“It is a country that in many ways represents the heart of the Arab world,” Gibbs said. “I think it will be a terrific opportunity for the president to address and discuss our relationship with the Muslim world.”
Obama last month reached out to Muslims from the well of the Turkish parliament.
“You cannot put out fire with flames,” Obama said, arguing that brute force alone could not thwart extremism as he sent a flurry of coded messages throughout the
Obama, who spent part of his childhood in
The president said
“The
Within days of taking office in January, Obama launched his effort to engage the Muslim world by granting an interview with the Al-Arabiya television network.
The White House also said Friday that Obama will visit the German city of
Obama”s great-uncle, Charlie Payne, took part in the liberation of part of the
Payne was a private in the 89th Infantry Division during World War II when he took part in the liberation of Ohrdruf, a forced-labor camp that was part of