Commentary: Muslim world "likes" Obama's words

I think Obama has done well within the moderate Muslim community but then again when will the moderate Muslims begin to take a stand against the Islamic extremists?

Kiran:

All that happens from this point on will be far better than what has ocurred in the past. The previous administration did so much damage to America's image overseas. It will take two terms of positive actions to wipe out the last gang of idiots.

Do you guys have donuts with your coffee?

Fred

I saw this segment on CNN this morning and wanted to comment that I thought it was excellent. I was very impressed with Mr. Melhem's comments. They were put simply, well presented, and powerful. I would recommend continuing to have him on the show. It was the highlight of the show in my view.

I also agree that Obama has taken the right steps in reaching out to the Muslim world, especially the fact that he has actually proactively reached out through interviews and rhetoric in his speeches. As a Muslim-American myself, I feel more comfortable with Obama representing the US in front of Muslim nations much more than Bush.

No one ever doubted that Muslims would like Obama.

Well I just feel all warm and fuzzy knowing that muslims like obama's words. Birds of a feather.................

Clearly, communication is helping everyone involved with US-Muslim relations. Presdient Obama is right on trac with early messages of dialog. That should be enouph, but for to many in this country (republicans) it won't be good enouph.

All of this is great "propaganda" until the day we are attacked again on our own soil. These same fools that are saying how great it is to "talk" with our enemies will be asking "why....why did this happen??? Who didn't do their job to protect us???" A very sad day indeed....

uh, pretty sure bush said the exact same thing. in fact, he went out of his way to say it was only the extreme radical factions that attacked us that we were at war with. he said many times he respected islam, and that we were not at war with the people. guess you all forgot that, or weren't paying attention. how convenient.

Should the U.S. trust Muslim allies as much as other allies?

–> 51% yes and 49% No

If you remove the jews vote then it will be 98% Yes and 2% No

I agree with MWN. Mr. Melheim was very eloquent in his responses

A positive step in the right direction...

Obama was absolutely fantastic throughout his trip in Turkey, and the Turkish people embraced this humble, intelligent, eloquent US president. As a Turkish Muslim living in the US I felt proud.

Typical stupidity from the left. Moderate Muslims are not the problem. Did moderate muslims attack us on 9/11? This country is at risk while this president talks to moderate muslims to make us feel good.

"As much as we don’t like Hamas as a group that is pursuing certain policies that is not to the liking of the United States government..." Those policies being the destruction of Israel as official policy, and attacking civilian centers with rockets launched from within civilian centers in violation of international law. Please. There's no difference between Hamas and Al Queda.

Nice segment.

President Obama is doing a great job of reaching out to the muslim world and balancing the US priority of eliminating terrorists organizations such as AlQaeda and others in Pakistan.

The damage the previous adminstration has done to the American image will take a long time to mend. Alas, we continue to receive the same sick messages from certain news media that air 'fixed news" in the US.

I agree with Dan Nelson completely!! Some of the most outspoken people against the IRA, are the Irish themselves. Some of the most outspoken critics of Israel, are jews. When will the billions of muslims in the world stand and take their deep and meaningful culture back from the extremists. I would feel more sorry for the community as a whole, if there was a loud thundering within to stop the violence. There is a murmur once in awhile, but never a loud sound from the billions of muslins out there.

I thought this piece was excellent. I agree that the ball in now in the Arab Court. I believe if America can start to see Arab leaders and arab communities take a stand against those radicals who are causing so much grief both aboard and in their own lands, that the preception will change, and maybe even starting to work together, to obtain peace.

to Dan Nelson: nice post. excellent question.

I love how we get attacked by radical Islam..repeatedly, and feel the need to apologize for fighting back. How very U.N.

I agree with MWN. It's vital to repair ties with the Muslim world, not only present abroad but within our country as well. As a nation of many cultures, our tolerant image was tarnished by the past administration and it's very true that it will take a long time to repair. However, it's refreshing to see that President Obama is taking steps to reach out and reaffirm what our country was founded on, mutual respect and diplomacy.

On the other side though, it's vital at this stage for a strong Muslim leader to emerge and begin the healing within the Muslim world. There are a lot of hurt feelings and for good reason. Hopefully we can see more steps toward a peaceful, stable relationship.

I agree with Dan Nelson's comment completely. When will moderate Muslims take a stand against extremist Muslims who kill each other in huge numbers all across the Middle East.

The reason why Americans don't trust Muslims, is that there is no Muslim group who will come out staunchly against terrrorism, the 9/11 attacks and the mass murder of Muslims by other Muslims.

And also come out against the ridiculous comments like "Israel must be wiped off the map". Why don't we hear from Turkey about ridiculous those statements are and how they don't represent their point of view?

Melhem's pseudo progressive speech is frightening. Hamas, Hezbollah,etc are terrorist organizations that have not only killed Israelis but have killed plenty of American/European civiliians. They are unequivocally terrorist organizations and are also targets in the war on terror. As long they maintain their current ideologies and their militant/terrorist actions. They will be viewed as such. Plus thes organizations are supported by Iran, which exports terrorism. Make no mistake this administration or the Israelis will act soon on Iran.... the nice sentiments and words of Obama only have so much power....

It's wonderful to hear someone else say that the "War on Terror" is impossible, since it's a war on a tactic. I've been saying that for years!

He called September 11, a "fine morning".

I believe Americans, even if ignorant about Islam, would desist from negative comments about Muslims if Muslims would desist from supporting radical positions such as the destruction of Israel, cheering for terror bombings that kill innocent citizens, and threatening people who oppose radical Muslim activities. Let's face it, there is a loud and strident voice coming from Islam that threatens viewpoints that oppose their worldview. For this reason, police in some large European cities refuse to operate in Muslim neighborhoods. Fear and intimidation of this kind is not consistent with wanting Americans, or anyone else who is not Muslim, to let go of negative perceptions about Muslims. Why don't moderate Muslim voices condemn such extremism within their own faithful?

Of course they liked it, he refused to fulfill his campaign promise to bring up the genocide of Armenians done by Turkey in WWI, how convenient. Plus I am sure the like the fact that he looks more like them then all the white men that have President before Mr. Obama, it isn't racist just normal human behavior, plus he was raised (partially) in Indonesia; while I don't think they believe he is "one of them" he is however much closer than any other president before him.

The same can be said for America: when will Christian moderates take a firm stand against Christian extremists?

I, too, am humbled by the words spoken here. As an Arab-American, I find it intolerable to see the ignorance passed on between both sides. Education is the key here, not to obliterate religion but to bring people together through acceptance. I am surprised at the polls recently expressing the American sentiment on the Islamic world. As a citizen, I do my best to answer any honest/legitimate questions sent in my direction about our culture and religion but I do not tolerate anybody who claims that my religious beliefs advocates violence.

Obama acts like he is still running for office. He just wants everyone to like us. In all those speeches he has not identified who the enemy is? If there is no enemy and all Muslims are as gentle as Jews, Christians, and Buddists then why are we in Iraq? The whole thing is a joke. He is acting like evil sects within Islam are a sore subject with "friends" and so he is not going to even broach the subject.

He's right. Bush clumped the entire religious group, and Obama is showing that he can distinguish between the groups of people within the religion.

We can only hope that they end up on our side of the table, alienating the majority of the extremist sects.

What did he say that Bush did not? Many times Bush talked about not being at war with Islam but with the extremist.

Lovely. The Muslim community likes our president, that includes the extremists right? The extremists that curse our existence because we're infidels and want noting more than our destruction. Yea, great.

Obama is spot on with his message. Al Qaeda hung the bait and George Bush took it and then some. Bin Laden wants perpetual warfare. That is his cause. That is his mission. Who better to deliver his never-ending jihad than a superpower with virtually unlimited resources. We cannot win a war on "terrorism" as such a war has no end point. There are no leaders to surrender unconditionally on the deck of an American warship. That said, it is time for the moderate Muslim world to rally for the cause of peace. For two decades they have been far too quiet, and I, for one, am over their Palastine vs. Israel soapbox. Both sides are guilty. And hatred and blame of the West for support of Israel is de-legitimized by the blind eye the moderate Muslim world consistently turns toward intolerant, anti-semitic murderers the world over. If they can protest a cartoon. They can certainly protest another so-called martyr blowing him or herself up next to a bus full of school children.

why do we care what the muslim world thinks of us?

seriously: why do we 'care' what THEIR image is of US

The moderate muslims do NOT speak against their terror. We get very little from islam (aside from some oil..and not even that much)

their religion has DESTROYED the innovation of that entire area.

What has islam invented? Seriously: people need to worry about what Europe, South America and RUSSIA think of us not inbred (as 50% of muslims in the mid east are) followers of a maladaptive system.

WAKE UP

No one has ever said before that we are NOT at war with Islam. I guess everyone else just expected the world to think that we weren't without saying it and attacking Islamic countries.

I think Bush put it out there that we WERE at war with Islam by attacking Islamic countries and never saying, I bear no ill will towards Ilams, I'm just going after the terrorist. No, instead we attack and say nothing about it.

I'm glad we finally have someone with enough brain cells to actually SAY it.

I don't agree with everything Obama does, but at least he can think!

Dan, it's hard to take a stand when your children have been hookwinked into the system. The moderate muslims have fled their countries to a better life (see the problems England is facing) and their children now have no identity which makes them ripe for muslim extremist recruitment.

Obama is a charming diplomat. However, Islamic culture will never fit with Western culture. It's very definition means "surrender".

"Our way or the highway" mentality, with a "holy scripture" permitting (encouraging) death to non-believers.

Until that tenant is erased from the Koran, there will never be a blending of cultures. Westerners will never live under a system like that, but we very well may die under a system like that.

Kiran: . Please try to find out what has been said about islam and muslims in particular since 9/11 by the press, senators and different news channels. You will find hate, distrust speeches only. The positive thing happened only when Ms Campbell Brown and Mr Collin Powell spoke publicly about being Muslim american. That day was an Eid day for many Muslims in America and Muslims around the globe. This is good research topic for you to dig out all the hateful comments that have been passed since 9/11 by the press and news channels...Presidents
speech is very positive and will bring peace in many parts of the world........

#44 is no doubt more acceptable by moderate Muslims than #41 and #43 in comparison. #41 and #43 catered to moderate Christians.

Now what about Christian extremists and Buddhist extremists?

How can he say the US will never be at war with Islam?? Does he plan on being the President of the US for the rest of his life?? He can only speak for his term as President. He may not even be President for a 2nd term. He should have worded his words differently.

Of course, he's one of them!!

Hamas attacking civilian centers–lets see, Israel killed over 1000 people during the Gaza invasion a few weeks back, and most of those killed were civilians. Lets see, Israel used phosphorus agents against civilians in the Gaza invasion, but Israel is not a terrorist country. Americans can be so deluded. Thank God that common sense won last November.

Im sure he is proud of how muslims treat women.

It's a war between Islamic extremists and Christian extremists; and everyone else has unfortunately been caught in the cross-fire.

Scott H, we weren't attacked by an entire religion, only members of a small radical faction. The best way to begin getting our point across (short of yet another unsuccessful and disastrous war) is to begin reaching out to moderates in order to facilitate a deeper understanding of each other's views. I'm a patriot to the core, but some of the comments made to this article, I think, are downright un-American. It's bullheaded comments like "birds of a feather" when discussing Obama and U.S.-Islam relations that is preventing progress and ultimately, doing nothing to help prevent a tragedy such as 9/11 from happening again. Obama's religion, Muslim or otherwise, is a nonissue. He can be whatever he wants to be, just like you and I. I'm not one to say "can't we all get along" for no reason but we should take ignorance out of the equation and have an educated discourse on what the next steps should be.

A good article. It's nice to see our President reaching out to the Muslim world.

To those that say moderate Muslims are not the problem. I totally agree. But, we've got to work to get the moderates working with us. We really alienated them before.

I commend CNN for inviting compelling interviews that help us engage and learn other cultures and religions. Mr. Melhams comments were well articulated and encouraging about the future of US and Middle Eastern relations. However until Conservative news outlets engage academics such as Mr. Melhams, I feel that the the trust issues that exist between the US and Muslim countries will be countinue to be deeply divided.

I don't understand why everyone is trying to fool themselves into thinking that we're not at war with Islam. We are, plain and simple. Someone here asked, "...when will the moderate Muslims begin to take a stand against the Islamic extremists?" The answer is never. The moderates won't stand against the extremists because they agree with them in principle. They just don't offer themselves up as martyrs. Islam has one purpose: to perpetuate itself at any cost, no matter what. Read the writing on the wall. The sooner we realize that any Muslim is an enemy of the West, the sooner we come to "define" the enemy. Secular governments and liberty are contrary to everything Islam stands for. Islam will never tolerate our way of life, and will always attack it.

He is speaking to those who are not the problem here.. Islamic fundamentalists are not going to cooperate with us or those who are cooperating with us.. By cooperating with us they put themselves at risk, those who cooperate with 'infidels' are going to be targeted by the Islamic fundamentalists the same that we are.. It seems to me that there is a very large dyscrepency in Islam today.. There are so many lawful, peaceful Muslims out there contributing in society, but it also seems that there are so many hellbent on destroying it.. I just do not think that the 'peaceful' Muslims taking a stand against the fundamentalists is going to stop the violence and the violent teachings that are brainwashing many of the World's youth..

Who cares what "moderate" Muslims think. They are not going to stand up against their whack job clerics. Besides, Obama is one of them no wonder they like him.

Finally the world can see that many of us respect Muslims as much as we respect ourselves. Too often people with divisive means enter politics and people think that is how all of America/Britian,Austrailia is. We need desperately to get along, The world is falling apart, we are destroying our only home in the universe, we must share it together and respect each others differences rather than try to turn everyone into right wing Christians, God loves all his children. We don't want our children to inherit hell. Yes we can Obama!

nice article, very thoughtful. there is work to be done on both sides to bridge this gap

Muslim moderates have been taking a stand against and exposing the unIslamic nature of terrorism before and after the attacks of 9/11. To see this, all one need do is look at the public statements and visit the web sites of Islamic organizations in North America and overseas. If one limits their grasp of Islam and Musllims to cable and other news outlets, a lot will be lost, or rather, never realized. See what CAIR, the Islamic Society of North America and other groups have said consistently in their condemnation of terror and terrorist groups. It would also be edifying to see the published statements of the scholars of the salafi (traditionist) movement who have condemned, on religious and textual grounds, those groups and individuals who have attempted to evoke Islam to justify their homicidal crimes.

I think Muslims should be more concerned with their own extremists manipulating and destroying Islam than the US government or people of other religions. They are the ones who have done more harm to their religion than anyone else possibly could have dreamed of doing.

Well Obama has proven himself the lapdog of Muslims.

Bill the point of engageing moderate muslims is to get their help dealing with the extreme ones and avoid the extreme ones from recruiting more not to "make us feel good" or dont you think/read?? "typical stupidity from the left" granted leftists can be naive but come on! indeed goodbye to you and your simplistic genius opinions

Bill, Bloominton IL April 7th, 2009 1:10 pm ET

Typical stupidity from the left. Moderate Muslims are not the problem. Did moderate muslims attack us on 9/11? This country is at risk while this president talks to moderate muslims to make us feel good.

Please. There’s no difference between Hamas and Al Queda.

-–

The difference is that they are attacking Israel, not the United States and it is not our job, business or responsibility to police the world. That kind of attitude is exactly why the middle east has hated us for the past 20 years. There is years and years of tension between Israel and Hamas and it's not something that the US has any business meddling in. If Israel and Hamas need our help in resolving this issue, then they will ask for it. Otherwise, until they start pulling out nukes, I say we stay out of it. We've got enough problems.

Dimslie April 7th, 2009 1:03 pm ET

No one ever doubted that Muslims would like Obama.

Lee April 7th, 2009 1:04 pm ET

Well I just feel all warm and fuzzy knowing that muslims like obama’s words. Birds of a feather……………..
___________________________________________

Nice show of ignorance, guys. And is it really a bad thing that Muslims like him? The sarcasm is thick here. Mehlem makes some great points here, stresses education and accountability, and this is your response? Sad to know that there are STILL people in the U.S. who believe that President Obama is a "radical Muslim." Unreal. Thankfully the majority of the country seems to have grown up.

i would like to thank cnn for raising their journalism bar just a little bit here. many good points were made. it is so refreshing to have a trully intelligent president running this country. he is not perfect. but he is doing quite well with a very bad situation, and i think that is a true judge of character. obama is someone i can look up to and admire, and i belive this makes me a better citizen as well.

I believe that moderate Muslims should take more responsibility in convincing the United States and the rest of the world that not all Muslims are like the few who attacked us on 9/11.

This is a very smart move on Obama, part, engage people with different believes,now we in America have a lot to do also,their are pockets of haters here especially people who listen to and believe every word on the talk radio shows which are mostly geared towards the bush mentality, with time hopefully even these people will be engaged in intelligent conversation and be accepting of other peoples believs.

Never Forget! Who are we apologizing to?! Let the muslim's prove to us that it is their religion these cowards use to kill innocent human beings and make a stand. They can be so critical, but as soon as the criticism is focused on them they go bersirk!!!!!

While I find Mr. Melhem's comments enlightening – the reference to the poll is laughable. Why would Americans trust any new Muslim ally as much as countries that have been allies for decades? Allies that have proven through wars and different leadership that at their fundamental core they have certain beliefs that are unwavering and consistent with America's? Bottom line – as elequent as Mr. Melhem dances around it – Americans need to see action from the PEOPLE of Islam when segments of their religion do horrible things – they react when a Koran gets ripped or a comic gets published, but are silent when children get blown up. It's the fundamental disconnect between citizens of the two worlds – and it has nothing to do with the leadership in these countries and everything to do with how we view each other and value each other. People of Islam can look at Americans and point to huge segments of the population that are sympathetic to their people, their suffering, and the violence that they live with. Americans never see the same from Islam.

I think the difference between Hamas and AL Queda is that Hamas
has real greavance and are haveing trouble being heard by the
west.Al Queda has no defined grevance but they are able to get
a message of hate out to the world on a constant stream of
media forms.

I continue to be confounded when Obama says about the same thing that Bush said. But Obama gets credit for it and Bush does not. Bush never talked down to Muslims and he never grouped them all together and called them all radical. Bush had two major targets. Saddam and al Qaeda.
Thanks to Bush, Iraq has democracy.

"now the president could look at Muslim leaders in the eye and say, I’ve done certain things that you wanted me to do, closing down Guantanamo, I’m getting out of Iraq. I sent a positive message to the Iranian people......I want you to deal with the problem that afflicts your society. Which is essentially a problem of governance of which you as Muslim leaders and Muslim elites and Muslim ruling classes are responsible for."
Hmmm, I really wonder what the response of the muslim leaders and elites will be to being told by the American president to clean up THEIR governence problems in their own countries. I bet they just jump however high Obama tells them to now right?? Get real.

I believe that most Americans have been to some extent brainwashed by the previous president and his administration into believing that Islam is our enemy. I agree with Mr. Melhem's assertion that President Obama is clearly defining our enemy as al Qaeda as opposed to all Islamic groups. During the last 7 years, Muslims in this country and abroad have been living under a stigma put there by the Bush administration to incite support for their actions in the middle east.

I believe that people of all religions have extremists. I hope that President Obama will continue and succeed in his efforts to reach out to the Muslim world. While we may be divided on ideology, we should not be divided on our will to rid our cultures of extremism and any other fringe elements that threaten our survival.

No surprises here. The right-wing extremists are still whining about the last election, kissing the feet of Bush – Cheney, spending way too much time listening to the FOX Channel and their merry band of liars, and spouting out with their false accusations about Obama as a Muslim. What fools! Perhaps these extremists idiots will soon be goose stepping in a parade down main street?

Hi, well with all respect to Mr Melhem, but Mr Melhem's words does not reflect all muslim impression about if Muslims like Obama or not because Muslims cannot judge him now, he has been only in post for less than 100 days, and muslims still did not see any actions from Obama towards the israeli-arab conflict, he said that he is an ally to israel and he will always be. So he is already have taken side in the conflict, i think US should be neutral and fair between arabs and israel and support both sides. So till now Obama's actions towards muslims and arab are still similar to Bush. Concerning Afghanstan, they are sending more troups, so were is peace in that country then? In Iraq, there will be a lot of troups even with the huge number of soldiers withdrawn. It does not matter if you have 200 000 vs 50000, in both cases the troups will be still there, the control will still be there. So i don't see Obama's actions and message are matching when he says he wants to be friends with the muslim world. Mr Melhem is very unrealistic and spoiled by his presence in washigton and just listening to what washigton is saying. Mr Melhem is actually disconnected from his environment and his words unfortunetly does not reflect in any measure what the muslims think about what is going on now.

I say the moderate muslims have taken a stand against the extremists. The stand is that the moderates continue to move forward with day-to-day life and operate within their communities. People still go to their jobs, take care of their families, kids go to school, pay taxes, etc. If that isn't the biggest stand against extremism, then perhaps you need to define it as your own version of a stand instead of asserting your personal opinion as the absolute definition.

I think this interview is particularly on-target. Muslims do stand to be engaged much more as potential partners under the Obama Administration, and there is no question that particularly aiming all of our military and intelligence efforts against al Qaeda is going to get us the support we need from Muslim nations and individuals. Radical Islam, by itself, isn't actually a justification for what al Qaeda does. The terrorists of that particular network, and its true copy-cats, are disrespectful of their elders and their efforts to retain peace and pleasant relations with legitimate trading partners internationally. In essence, there are no caliphs today and the terrorists would still act as they do if there were caliphs and they acted peacefully because they wished to. Al Qaeda operates by murder, fear, and stupidity (as in great ignorance). This is not what Islam is capable of giving to the world, as it did with Baghdad in its original heyday before being sacked by the Mongols. People should look to the co-existence of Jews, Christians, and Muslims in Spain there was for a long time after the Middle Ages (I'm not actually sure of the dates myself). The cultures respected each other, shared, and people worshiped God without hurting anyone.

It's about time for the uninformed citizens of the U.S o get a positive example of how to relate with groups different from their own in President Obama. Too many people lump religious extremists with the rest of the culture. America has radical Christians who terrorize women and doctors on a regular basis in our own country. Clearly though we are able to separate them from the moderate Christians here, or Christians would be persecuted on a major scale. So why is it so hard to do the same for Islam? The only answer I can think of is ignorance.

"All of this is great “propaganda” until the day we are attacked again on our own soil. These same fools that are saying how great it is to “talk” with our enemies will be asking “why….why did this happen??? Who didn’t do their job to protect us???” A very sad day indeed…."

It's people like this who are the problem. Not all Muslims are terrorists. If you treat them like terrorists and tell them they are horrible people, they will not like you. If they don't like you, they won't help you. If you treat them with respect, they will.

Muslims do not like terrorists any more than you or I do. They give their religion a bad name. Under Bush, they were tolerated as we were seen as an overbearing tyrant bent on empire. Which wasn't too far from the truth. Obama has extended a hand of friendship. One which most Muslims are more than willing to take.

Of course they like his words, he is one of them. He weakens this country by wasting tax payer funds and weakens the military. We will not have missile defense because he is cutting that program and here are muslim nations working towards nuclear missiles. He cuts funding for the front line strike fighters to protect our troops from the air. I hope this country can survive until 2010 and finally 2012 and remove him and his demorat spenders from the congrss.

Well, i am not surprised. After all ..Obama has Muslims in his family.

Isn't interesting how Obama's media hasn't let one negative comment through on this one? Of course they like his words..... he's handing them this country on a silver platter. I think it's disgusting. And so is he.

Hear is the thing. Moderates are trying to curve extremism, but it has been our actions that been hindering them for a long time.

Why do you think Iran became an Islamic Republic instead of a Democracy? Its because we meddle with its affairs, anti Americanism didn't sprout out without a reason. Its the same with other countries as well, if you care to do research on them (don't use Wikipedia or unknown internet sources).

During the Cold War, we made Al Qaeda and the Taliban into sufficient militants in order to prevent communism from spreading in Asia and the Middle East; and now, they are monsters on the loose. Hense why its so important that the United States achieve a true victory in Afganistan and Pakistan.

There is a ton of ignorance within the United States that needs to knock out. We have Evangelical flagellents like John Hagaee and Parsley who are preaching the end of the world, anti-semites who foolishly believe the United States is run by Jews, and athiests creeps who are causing trouble. We swallowed lies, fabrication, and vague information at movies and Media who use controversy and bad publicity. The list continues on, and it doesn't help people who want to bring moderation to Islamic countries.

ou know what is also sad. There are Muslim Americans who are fighting in Afganistan and Iraq, and some of them died. Yet there are Americans who still insulting their religion.

Whle I agree with you that there there are needs of changes within the Islamic countries, you have to understand that in some countries that are predominatly Muslims, there are a handful of fools who don't pay attention to the Quran, hense the human rights abuse and honor killings (culture practice, not religious laws). Moderate Christains should watch out as well, because there is a growth of Christain extremism coming from the west and south of the United States.

Did Mr. Obama go to the Blue Mosque?

If he did why was there no TV, or Internet coverage?/

If not, why was his schedule changed?

All of those who have posted negative comments are the problem that we face in our own country. You're brainwashed by the past 8 years of irresponsible rhetoric.

How selfish and self-centered it is when you think that Obama wants to communicate with Muslims to make us feel good? Who do you think we are? How do you think we got here in the first place? You fail to see the big picture, which perfectly reflects the short-sighted decisions of the Bush administration.

There is no single "answer" to terrorism, no instant gratification, no bullying. The rhetorical damage of the Bush adminisration was astounding and now Obama and his administration have to make it right to reverse the delusional paranoia that you so liberally throw spread.

Dan, excellent post. Answering your question on when moderates will take a stand against extremism: we have been fighting them all along. Not physically but rather we have been fighting a war of words. The physical fight between moderates and extremists will come though. Extremism will not win.

Maybe Obama should go to an Islam country and practice his politics there because he sure as hell does not garner any respect from this American citizen whose forefathers fought in the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, WWI and WWII. They did not offer themselves up for the Muslim fath and customs. The USA has done more for Muslims than they have for Catholics or Protestants or Jews. It's time Obama realized that Christians and Jews elected him to the White House and not a handful of radical Islamic Muslims.

Funny Wyatt mentions Whack Jobs. It takes a Whack Job to know one.

But for those of us who are not as ignorant as Wyatt, we know Obama is doing a great thing. I may not have voted for him but I'm very proud of him. He's won this (mostly) Republican over.

RC

I love how the ditto heads just keep repeating what Rush Limburgher says over and over and over. What has Rush done for this country besides line his pockets by keeping people divided?

Listen up, people - if someone says "all Americans are evil" are you going to feel more like helping defend those people against attacks from the ACTUAL enemy - a small percentage of idiots like the Ditto Heads? Or - if someone talks to you INTELLIGENTLY, points out he understands we're NOT all Ditto Heads and, therefore, we need to stand together against the Ditto Heads - would that make you feel more like lending a solid hand?

Get over it, Bushies. Our past president was an idiot. Our past vice president was evil. We are now blessed with someone who indeed has a LOT to learn...but that's what makes him so endearing. Why? Because NOT knowing what to do is sometimes the very best way to do things in a different way and find NEW ways that actually WORK.

sohel – your statements are baseless and not facts you should not make baseless comments. Not all jews say that first off. I am not jewish or israeli but come on

The muslims really love obama since he bows down to the saudi king. Search the internet for pictures of obama almost kissing the kings feet.
READ THE KORAN AND SEE WHAT THEY ARE TAUGHT AND WHAT THE BELEIVE.

Gee I wonder why?

let me expound on this a little..i agree with those of you who say that moderate muslims have not done nearly enough to deal with the extremists nor do i trust most od our so called allies such as thegovenrments or pakistan..still by lumping all muslims together for those of you who do so..you are playing right into bin ladens hands as this culture religious war is exactly what he was hoping to provoke and start instead we should just wipe out al Qaeda and the other like them ..instead of helping them the way bush did when he spoke of a "crusade" however most of you bushies are to ignorant and uneducated to understand why that was a serious mistake (as was relying on afghan mercs and rewardsinstead of American Troops to capture/kill bin laden when they knew more or less where he was)

Obama understands the situation very well, and is delivering the right message. He's stepping up the attacks on al-Qaeda, while trying to drive a wedge between them and the mass of Muslims, who seem to be receptive to his approach. Treating all Muslims as if they were al-Qaeda is a losing strategy. Ergo, not a strategy to be chosen by smart people who plan to win. Similarly, not all Nicaraguans were Sandinistas, and not all Sandinistas were implacable enemies. Mikhail Gorbachev was Soviet leader, but he wasn't faking his desire to abandon at least the worst of those politics. Supporting the moderates doesn't mean the extreme won't again attack on US soil, and we all understand that. But we want the world with us against the attackers. The Bush-Cheney-Rumsfeld policies of lies, agression and torture drove more Muslims than we will every count toward the terrorists, and set us back at least a generation. Obama is refocusing on the only strategy that can win: ally with friends, neutralize (at least) the undecided, identify your enemy, isolate, attack.

Heh, I read some of these comments and I guess it answer my question "what happen to all the open minded, outspoken conservatives and hateful bigots?"

I disagree with Hisham Melhem and his notion that we in the United States use a predisposed notion of who and what the Muslim and Arab world is based on what happened on 9/11. There are many other events that have occurred both before and after 9/11 that give us a pretty good idea of that area of the world. It very apparent that many people in the Arab and Muslim world hate us simply for living out our Western ideals. Places like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait etc. are our best friends right? That is a laugh, they selfish and only seek their best interests. Least we forget the money hungry Sheiks running around all over the place in their Bentley s building cities simply for bragging rights. They love the money they are rolling around in, yet at the same time do nothing to help the international community. These people turn a blind eye to the radical's in their own country, and by doing so only add to the problem. Yet at the end of the day it is United States that constantly gets bashed because we all that is wrong with the world.

What do we care what the muslim world thinks of us – Obama has done this country a great disservice by bad mouthing the US for it's so called arrogance, and kissing up to muslims.

This character needs to be watched very carefully or else we Americans will lose everything we ever had, including our prestige.

I have a questions for some of you commentors:

Dimslie, what do you mean by "No one ever doubted that Muslims would like Obama."?
Do you actually think the President of the United States is a secret Muslim spy? Do you think he's going to single handedly surrender our military over to Islam?

Lee, "birds of a feather" so that means if your white you're a member of the klu klux klan? If your Irish you belong to the IRA?

and finally Scott H, When did you hear President Obama apologize to anyone and any time during any of the speeches he delivered over the past week? He made factual statements about where our society has gone wrong and where their society has gone wrong. Then he said he needed to put that behind us and work to defeat a common enemy.
Please tell me whats wrong with that?

You people are so filled with contempt that you don't take time listen.
If not that, then you just don't what to listen. In either case, I wish you well.

To live in peace, let live in peace.

In general we are living in fast paced world with super communication,and above the economy of the countries are tied to each other so as values of cultures.Therefore what President of USA has seen as a global leader to focus in getting folks on a single platform to fight evils regardless of religion.None of the religion preaches killings.I believe very strongly that President Obama message in general to all muslim world is positive.However,they need to understand and act in a positive and mature way to accomplish peace and harmony.

Wow. How comforting to know moderate Muslims like Obama. Did anyone seriously think they wouldn't?

At some point, America will have to stop blaming President Bush for everything that they consider a mistake, etc. I, personally, think of America as a Christian country, not a Muslim country!

I'm tired of hearing about the comments that moderate muslims are not standing against extremists. Are moderate of anyother religion standing against extremists in their own religion? Pakistan lost more men than USA in fight against terrorism.Give us a break!

Sure they do! They know that he's Muslim by birth! For a muslim that's a-o-ta!

Moderate muslims have the potential to become extremists if you continue to (accidentally) bomb their villages and kill their innocent families. Alliances with moderate muslim nations will only strengthen United States position and the world, and assist in the defeat of Al Quaeda.

I'll believe it when they stop killing people !!!

I agree that Obama to some extent is getting positive feedback from the Muslim community. However, I also think many Muslims are still waiting to see what he actually does, and they are therefor very cautious towards him right now. We must also remember that there is a population of 180 million people in Pakistan, 99% who are Muslim, and they place much of the blame for their problems on the US. Many people there feel the increase in bombings throughout Pakistan has much to do with the CIA drones in the western region. Obama needs to not only reach out to Turkey and the Arab world, but also to Muslims in other regions, especially Pakistan.

READ THE KORAN AND EVERYONE WILL UNDERSTAND WHAT ISLAM IS REALLY ABOUT. DO NOT CRITICIZE BUSH, HE ALWAYS STATED ISLAM IS A "PEACEFULL RELIGION'.
READ THE KORAN AND YOU WILL LEARN THE TRUTH. ISLAM IS PEACEFUL ONLY IF YOU FOLLOW THEIR RULES, OTHERWISE YOU ARE AN INFIDEL. TRY VISITING AN ARAB COUNTRY AND SEE HOW FAR YOU CAN GO WITH CHRISTIANITY. IT IS OUTLAWED.

Look,we shouldn't give a hoot what the Europeans think,or the muslims,or anyone else for that matter.That was the problem with Bill Clinton.He could have had Bin Laden killed many times but he cared what everyone would think.I pay taxes for my leaders to keep me and my family safe.Like it or not,we weren't attacked after 9/11.Someone has done something right.I have no party affiliation.

Beware, most Muslims are more guided by their religion, not as much even by their country or their well being. I have seen that Muslims go back to their Islamic roots again and again – given a chance, they will not only trash not only the West but also the Eastern countries and their religions. I hardly recollect having a decent discussion on global equity with Muslims ever – even the kids I went to school with seem to have been indocrinated by the Saudi funded mindset of Islam over every thing. The damn oil has destroyed a sense of equity amongst Muslims.

I find it surprising that Pakistanis seem more concerned about India tha they are about the Taliban barbarians at their gates. If Muslims all around the world get out of their Islamic mindset and look to coexisting peacefully with all other religions, the world will be a better place. But that is too much to hope for, is it not?

Nataly April 7th, 2009 1:21 pm ET

Lovely. The Muslim community likes our president, that includes the extremists right? The extremists that curse our existence because we’re infidels and want noting more than our destruction. Yea, great.
greg / chicago

no not right.. it does not include the extremists (or at least the ones that attacked us) and if you were not ignorant and uninfomed you would know that in fact al Qaeda immediately tried to denigrate Obama and there were broadcast intercepted that they wre hoping for another republican and were afriad that obama would help turn people in the muslim world against them..boy you would be a great extra in the movie "idiocracy" are you one of those people that think Iraq did 9/11 too?

Talk is cheap.

Carol W. and Paul Reilly have it right. I still remember the dancing in the streets celebrating the events of 9/11 in practically every Muslim nation. Also this comment by Melhim, "that fine morning in September 2001", makes me think that even moderate Muslims have a positive memory of the events on 9/11.

what? most of the posts (dimslie, lee) on this are NOT blind bigotry claiming Obama is a muslim... prepare for th eappocalypse

Bubba....you are wrong...Turks like Obama- but not because of his color...Remember, it is not onlyTurks , pretty much all Europeans like Obama...think why that is? Because Obama has integrity, he speaks wise, he is honest and he really wants to change things...He took a country that has huge ecomocic problems, at war in two difficult regions, have bad reputation all around the world...Look what Obama did...Your reputation is getting better...You should be happy and thank him for that...What US need is more allies and friends...and thats what he is doing...It is a miracle that how he manage to win the hearts of even Turkish people in 2 days...Good job Mr President....

Im sad but not surprised by the ignorance and hatred being spouted off in these comments. Surprise, the ones spreading hate against another religion are righties. Great for a party to stand for that. Hate.

The President of the United States needs to get his tail back to the US and take care of the economy-oh that's right that's just Bush's fault. He needs to quit these celebrity pageants and get his tail to work-I guess he is though-all talk and the sheep keep following him! You know in 4 years when Obama fails miserably it will still be Bush's fault. Give me a break!

Is Obama currently running for President of Europe? It's hard to distinguish between what he's said and what the local politicians there have said. Throwing the USA under the bus is a good way to unite the people... I just didn't ever imagine that our President would be doing that.

Wow an american president getting muslims on his team in one visit? Those who want to criticize should have your heads examined. Finally we have a president that can actually have an impact on our US/Arab relations in a positive way. Repugs will attack his visit and will try to minimize it but it's impossible now that almost all arab nations are responding postive to our new president. GO OBAMA WE LOVE YOU NO MATTER WHAT THE RETARDED RIGHT HAS OR DON'T HAVE TO SAY AND WHO WOULD EVEN CARE!!!! YOU ARE OUR PRESIDENT!!!!!!

Making "nice" with the Islamic countries will prove to be a mistake for this "one term president."

New global policy goal: Eliminate all extremists.

The conspiracy-ridden extremist Bush regime is now contractually gone after eight years, thanks to our good ol' American principles of democracy which always prove to save us in hard times.

Now we as a global society must focus on eliminating the other extremist regime that has caused so much mistrust within our world, Al Qaeda.

Jocko, when you say "we Americans," don't include me. I don't want to be part of the broad, ignorant generalization you just made. Just because Obama isn't arrogant enough to pretend like we didn't make mistakes by bunching every Muslim into one group and treating them like every single one of them had something to do with with 9/11, he's attacking the prestige of this great country. Your comments are dangerous and inflammatory.

I think there are many that believe that it's best to just shoot and ask questions later, that's where the Bush administration took us. I think people that buy into that message should just put their head in the sand and wait for this impending dooms day that is heading towards America. Look, an attack on this country could happen at any time and from any faction. Look at Oklahoma, that wasn't a Muslim group, it was done by one of our own who happened to hate what our government had become. I think it's more important to understand and talk with others to see what can be done than to puff your chest out, grab the biggest stick and start beating everyone on the head in the name of fighting terrorism. All that does is create hate towards America, which in return creates more danger towards America.

Starting positve dialog with other Muslim countries can only help our cause in the long run. Moderates that believe we are not a hating country will work with us instead of against us. Believe it or not, most everyone in this world wants the same thing; a safe environment to raise their children, jobs, and fredom to practice and live their lives under their own religion. I am personally not religious but I do respect others and their religion, is that so hard to understand and follow?

You think we're opening ourselves up to more attacks with Obama having these talks with others around the world....? Just keep doing what the Bush administration did, keep bombing the hell out of everyone, keep talking down to people and pushing people around... see where that gets you. Oh, I know, it gets you into a deeper hole in which to climb out. It gets you more people and countries upset at you and less willing to help your, so called cause. Act like a bully and the majority will rise up to meet you in force.

Love and understand thy neighbor, and together you can solve the problems well all face.

This is clearly a step in the right direction. The new President is to be commended. Now it will be important for thoughtful leadership to be displayed in the Muslim world. If we all take steps towards the moderate middle good things will happen.

Now we must focus on bringing the "two state solution" into reality in Israel and Palestine.

Philip. You've been drinking too much of the Kool Aid! Wake Up!!

Oh yeah,why are we al;ways concerned with how the muslims think of us?Why aren't they concerned with how we think of them?Why is the onus always on us?

Change the culture in Washington by recognizing and acting upon the fact that the U.S.-Israel relationship is harming this country by keeping us, in the eyes of much of the Muslim world, closely tied with and supporting an occupier, oppressor and perpetrator of war crimes against the Palestinian people. Israel benefits from a destabilized Middle East (peace with its neighbors will not keep money and arms flowing to the Jewish state) but we do not. When we give unqualified support to this aggression in the form of cash and the sophisticated weapons used to crush the Palestinians, we are complicit in these crimes, and rightly considered to blame. Please have the moral and political courage to stand down the Israel-first forces, including those within your own administration, and reconsider the wisdom of maintaining this blind and detrimental relationship with Israel.

Go Figure!!

For 60 years, Israel tried to resolve the "palestinian problem" by using the force and it didn't work. It's a fact: it did not work. Maybe it's time to realize that a new way to think and to act is necessary in order to solve the tension and to live in peace for those 2 countries. If you look back and read any book of History about the creation of Israel , you can find that unfortunately Israel was made on a injustice: the displacement of the palestinians. And the children of those displaced generation are the current terrorists. The children living the conflict right now in everyday life have a good chance to be the terrorists of tomorrow. A child who loose his house, his brothers and sisters because of an israelian bomb will keep anger. And Israel will never be in Peace. If the government of Israel and their friends (United States of America) could acknowledge that an injustice was made .... it might help a lot. Really a lot. This idea is not really new, a lot of jewish communities think that way. Unfortunately the media do not give them so much opportunities to express their opinion. Peace in this area will help not only for the homeland security but for the security of the world.

Jojo,

You do understand that 9/11 happened while Bush had been in office for quite sometime?

Reading through some of these comments, I can see that my fears about what reaction the headline for this article would provoke are coming true. For some reason which I cannot exactly identify, quite a lot of people in this country are absolutely convinced that President Obama is a Muslim.

What really puzzles me is that several of these folks with whom I have come into contact are people I had previously believed possessed of a respectable amount of intelligence; folks who have demonstrated that they possess reasoning skills and healthy amounts of skepticism. All of these folks also voted for the Republican candidates for President and VP last November–I'm not saying that no Democrat- or Independent-associated people believe this nonsense, just that the ones I have personally spoken with on this subject have so far all been Republicans.

Why do we even know what a political candidate's religion is, unless we attend the same worship facility as he or she does? Why are people so obsessed with giving life to the rumor that Obama is a "secret Muslim"? And even if President Obama were a Muslim, why on Earth would that matter? The United States is not–technically not anyway–a religious state; our President is not head of any religious sect by right of his presidency.

It's really curious that with the world, the economy, our country in the states that they're in presently, people are so obsessed with President Obama's religion, and in holding tight to their hearts a false knowledge about his religious affiliation.

We will be all warm and fuzzy UNTIL the next time we are attacked. Making nice with Muslim countries will make Obama a "one term president." The clock is ticking.

Ahmad: "uh, pretty sure bush said the exact same thing. in fact, he went out of his way to say it was only the extreme radical factions that attacked us that we were at war with. he said many times he respected islam, and that we were not at war with the people. guess you all forgot that, or weren’t paying attention. how convenient."

And then he invaded an unrelated Muslim country. I can't think of a way to send a more muddled definition of your enemy.

gee mali must be talking about msnbc..talk about biased

It's time to dial back the amazement. What Obama is doing is called diplomacy and it's pretty basic diplomacy at that. We haven't seen much of it from either side for the last eight years, so I can readily understand the younger folks not recognizing it.

In this interview, Hisham Melhem engages in some pretty impressive diplomacy of his own. It gave me a chance to forget the beheadings, the beatings handed to rape victims and the executions of converts to other religions. His words remind me instead of incredible decorative art, advances in chemistry, and the preservation of some of the greatest works of my own ancient, secular culture.

Fools. You want life like that, then move there. If anything, go visit, live it for yourself. And while you are at it, take your sister, daughter, mother....see how they like it...fools.

nothing but opinion of fair minded Muslims .. the ones that would never wish harm on us to begin with. get some radical Muslims opinions and not so sure they are going to suddenly start wishing us well.

@ ADFX:

Oh, I don't know.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_inventions

Just what we've always needed: a touchy-feely President. I think I'm going to vomit, and then prepare for terrorist carnage in our own streets.

If more moderate Muslims came out loudly against the extremists, then maybe there would be a higher trust toward our Allies. Countries like Jordan and Turkey are very forward looking. They need to be the leaders in the outcry against Muslim terrorists and Muslim extremists. For Hamid Karzai to sign a law allowing the rape of women is just another sign to the West that Muslim thinking is archaic at best. It will take Muslims to stop Muslims.

johnny chimpo

Oh yea bush was in office for a whopping 8 months before 9/11 gee..could it be it was in the works before then...i think we now the answer.

Dan and others, what do you know about muslims? What do you consider a "moderate" muslim? The ones that burn american flags and throw shoes at the President of our great country, as opposed to the ones that slam planes into buildings? I suggest before you start throwing out words like "moderate" read the Quran and the hadiths, then maybe you will be informed enough to make such assessments

This is a Christian Country ! How dare he make that comment. He keeps getting by with murder and you people keep handing him the ammunition with a smile and a pat on the back.

Perhaps Obama is viewed a little better than Bush, but I certainly don't think the Muslim world likes America or any other non-Muslim nation for that matter, very much, nor are they likely to.

The entire problem is very much a religious one, and not one of country or government. The Muslim world wants the entire planet to be Muslim, and there is no changing that.

The conflict will remain, no matter who is residing in the White House.

Sohel-
What are you talking about with the "Jew vote?" If we remove the "Jew vote" it would have been 98% for trusting Muslim allies...what does this mean? Jews represent a very tiny minority in the United States they cannot turn a poll by 50% points. Are you then suggesting that there was a sampling error, that they were over represented? Or is it that you are just regurgitating the same nonsense about a worldwide jewish conspiracy that seems to be the hallmark of every racist? Ya know, perhaps we could just put all of these Jews somewhere so that they would not bother us anymore....maybe large camps where they could work and be seperated from the rest of us. Good thoughts, Adolf. Your comments are about as useless as you are.

Commentary: Who Cares

How can you people think this is good in any way. And now they are cutting the defence budget. Sometimes I wonder if some of us have forgotten what these people did to our country and our allies. No matter what Obama says I will continue to call them whatever I please.

why do Muslims have a better perception of the US now .... because President Obama is less "West" and less "Christian" .....

Read the Koran .... the Muslim religion all of them if they are honest will admit that the Koran teaches and demands that Islam must conquer either by education or by the sword the entire world for Allah. And that means that every person on this planet will either die, be a second class citizen or convert to Islam and live under Sharia law.

Is that what each of you want? If not, you better not just sit back and watch but you need to enter the conversation and know what you are talking about and not simply be led by the nose.

Islam hates the western culture, the Jewish religion and the Christian religion .... and will use compromises and "sheep's clothing" to gain the upper hand.

@sohel

You wrote:

Should the U.S. trust Muslim allies as much as other allies?

–> 51% yes and 49% No

If you remove the jews vote then it will be 98% Yes and 2% No
********************************************************************
That was an extremely anti-Semitic and crude remark. First of all, there are not nearly enough Jews in the United States to make that big a difference. Second, not all Jews are anti-Muslim. I am a Jew, but believe in fairness for all. There are many like me. I look forward to a two-state solution in the Middle East. Do not tar us all with the same brush. While there are certainly Jewish bigots, most Jews are not. Especially most American Jews.

I agree Melissa, if President Obama were a Muslim, who cares. I think most people who find that to be a negative thing also have never read the Qu'ran or even understand what Islam is about. I am a Christian and have many Muslim friends. They want the same things anyone wants, and that is peace.

Building a partnership with the Muslim world is a critical component in the war against Al-Qaeda and their allies. America will not survive as a global leader without such partnerships. As we see more troops blowing their brains out, coming home hopeless and demoralized, violence re-erupting post-surge, radicals gaining ground in Pakistan, it is abundently clear that simply throwing more guns and ammo at the problem is a losing strategy. Yet Right Wing idiots on these posts sit in the comfort of their homes and cry for the continuance of a war run on failed strategies. Christ, stand before these morons, use your best Southern drawl, say stuff like, "God bless America", and they'll believe anything. Suckers, all. Meanwhile, Haliburton, KBR, and the rest of Bush/Cheney's cronies get richer, and American soldiers die...for nothing.

As someone who has spent significant time working in Muslim nations, along side Muslim people, I am very pleased with Obama's words and actions towards this region.

The only way anyone will make positive gains in the war against Islamic terrorism is to win the support of the Muslim people. You cannot cure a cycle of violence by using more violence. Give me one instance in all of human history where that philosophy worked? Take all the time you want.

Giving kind words to Muslim people has no adverse impact on our military operations against militants like Al Queda. I wonder how many of the naysayers on this blog have been to a Muslim country or know anything about Muslim culture or history?

I think Melhem hit the nail right on the head when he said 'ignorant'.

Lee wrote:

"Well I just feel all warm and fuzzy knowing that muslims like obama’s words. Birds of a feather…………….."
----------------------

Way to stay on topic. Obama is not, nor has he ever been Muslim. You would have thought that this nonsense would have faded away after the election cycle ended...

dear CNN:

each "obama is a muslim" and "we're at war with islam" comment above is a demonstration of your failure to provide the American public with accurate information. please take them as such. the stakes are too high to permit such nonsense out of a sense of false equivalency. both sides are entitled to their own opinion, their own agenda, their own hopes and their own fears, but they are NOT entitled to their own version of the truth. facts are facts are facts.

i'd go so far as to say it's your civic duty.

thank you.

The point is simple. The United States got rid of Bush and replaced him with someone who actually has a plan and knows we are part of a greater community, and although some people who have posted here don't want to admit it, the universe doesn't revolve around the United States.

With that being said people in the places like Pakistan, Afghanistan etc need to get with the program and not allow these radical's to run around blowing everything up. That is unacceptable.

To all of you who think we are at war with Islam...you show your profound ignorance.

The US could NEVER go to war against a religion because that – and every other legitimate religion – has a constitutionally protected right to practice that religion IN THIS COUNTRY! How can you go to war against that which you protect with your own laws?

Islam is not a crazy cult that feeds people poisoned Kool-aid.

Just like the wacko Christians in the our own terrorist groups (aka Aryan Nation, etc.), Islam has extremists that attempt to hijack the religion to accomplish a distorted goal....chaos and perverted justice.

Until the US can say unequivocally that we have no domestic CHRISTIAN terrorists training camps in our own country, we have no right to expect foreign countries to rid themselves of theirs.

Most terrorist attacks in the United States were perpetrated by American Christian terrorists...some of which may be your neighbors.

Grow up and realize the world is smaller than it has ever been and it is not ours – Americans – to rule.

We are a superpower only militarily. Our achilles heal is the economy and to waste billions and billions of dollars on a war against a tactic does no good. Obama is correct in his strategy. If we can raise the power of the people across the planet to stand up and fight against all forms of terrorism, we will win. To do this, you try to make new friends and allies based on this common goal...stopping terrorism will create prosperity for all.

Money talks, and war brings money. On the one hand Obama is giving Pakistan military and economic aid, and on the other hand the insurgency is being fueled to destabilize the country. That is how the war merchants and bankers operate. Let us see if Obama will actually follow up on all the nice words.

Unfortunately many people are missing the point here. Due to Bush registration's actions over the past 8 years, the entire world turned against United States. Mr. Obama is trying to heal these damages that were done. He is on the right track and hopefully will be successful. Choosing Turkey, the most modern predominantly Muslim country, a democracy who has been a strong US ally since 1950's to address the Islam world was very meaningful and set a great example. This is definately a good start and hopefully will be cherished by all.

I love the way obama is reaching out to Muslim world. All these days during the Bush regime people especially Muslims felt thereat to their identity. We respect our religion as Christians repects their. A Mutual respect will get great results. I am a Muslim, I hate what alqaeda does, People dont realize that they are killing Muslims as well. They are barbarians who need power. Try to display equality between an Israeli civilians death to a palestinian. To all media channels, Call terrorism as Terrorism and not islamic/christian/Jew terrorism. It hurts a lot to a moderate Muslim like me

I am more afraid of radical Christians and right-wingers in this country than I am of Muslims elsewhere in the world. They do more to hurt our day-to-day lives (living, preaching fear and small-mindedness)...

I am glad Obama is in the white house and has his priority straight and he is not following some dogmatic ideology that Bush was following. Can you imagine if he was defeated and Sara Palin was in the white house. We would have been in such a mess if that ever happened.

Obviously, not all Muslims are terrorists. The problem is, that most Muslim nations side with each other, terrorist or not, over a Western nation like the U.S. It is a Muslim brotherhood. And when one of the brothers does try to break away and takes sides with us, they face a backlash from the rest of the Muslim nations, especially the terrorists. After 9/11, I believed very much what President Bush said, "if you are not with us, you are against us". I still believe that because I have not forgotten the horror of that day and I have not forgotten that the threat is still there. My feeling is that while most of the peaceful Muslim nations certainly make great allies, we should not be kissing their behinds. Muslim extremists have been the predominant source of all terrorism for the last 50 years and there doesn't seem to be much dissassociation by the non terrorist Muslims. I just don't believe that we can fully trust them yet.

Of course Obama will be liked as long as he presses the right button. Remember in the eyes of the Muslim world, America is the great Satan. That will never change. You got to be a fool to over look that.

Melissa,

I agree with your post in its entirety. The sad reality is that the United States is arguably one of the most Christian countries in the world, which is why we have become a target of competing religions. We symbolize Christianity. The reality is the GOP is really the evangelical party, and the Democratic party is becoming the religiously apathetic (read: tolerant) party. I respect everyones personal liberties to believe as they wish, but when they band together as bigots and fight wars against other groups in the name of religion, I have a huge problem. In my eyes, it's just as wrong for a Christian to kill a Muslim as it is for a white man to kill a black man. I hope and believe we are on the cusp of a religious awakening similar to that of the civil rights movement in the 1960s, but I'm admittedly pessimistic of man's selfishness. I see our human nature and ignorance as what might be an impossible hurtle towards peace.

We must never let ourselves become complacent or comfortable about the Islamic world in general. A great many Muslims foster and encourage hatred and intolerance to the West. Islam is not so much a religion, as it is a way of life that is ideologically opposed to Western values and traditions. While President Obama's words will likely bring a heightened sense of security for the short term, let us never forget the atrocities committed in the name of Islam worldwide.

Clark read my comment above. I am glad to see that some of us are aware of stealth jihad. To all muslims that understand their book, a person is either a muslim or is an enemy. Islam is incompatible with free speech, freedom of religion, freedom of association, etc., look no further than how muslims treat non-muslims in muslim majority countries. It is sad that many will consider me bigot for stating an inconvenient truth about islam

President Obama is an intelligent and compassionate leader. He is not so insecure that he has to demonize others to make himself feel more powerful. We need to wake up. We are not in this world alone and long gone are the days when we could tell everyone else what to do and they would do it.

No matter where people live or what religion they practice, if they want to leave in peace with us they should have our respect – not agreement always – but respect.

Despite our current economic situation, America continues to be blessed and this President is one of our biggest blessings.

Obama is Half Muslim. So He has those core values & principles that Muslims preach and practice. He has proved to be genuine in his words so far. I am sure world is looking for more actions than words. But surely this is a nice tone and a new start. Yes we can put all the bads of the past behind us. That is the only way we can move forward with hope. Bush Administration were busy using Muscle Power and "Either with us or Against Us" Policy. Obama seems to have understood that Justice for all is the only way to achieve harmony and the much needed peace throughout the world.

This conflict has always been a conflict with Islam...hear me out first...the west never declared this, but Osama and the rest of the extremist rabbles did. Again, it was the Islamic extremists that declared a war between the WEST and ISLAM.

Now, I have noticed a lot of apology demands from that side of the fence. Be it about our movies, cartoons or other negative images. Too bad. No apologies. I am getting a bit tired of having to tip toe around cultural groups because everything slight gets taken in offense by someone. If you don't like the movie, don't see it. Don't like the cartoon, don't read it. Just do it quietly.

Bruce,

So what you are saying is that Bush was in office for close to a year at the point 9/11 happened?

You think Clinton's people just forgot to make Bush aware of Bin Laden?

@ sohel April 7th, 2009 1:08 pm ET
Should the U.S. trust Muslim allies as much as other allies?
–> 51% yes and 49% No
If you remove the jews vote then it will be 98% Yes and 2% No

Um, Sohel? Jews make up 2% of the U.S. population. Please go back and study your mathematics. Anit-semitic much?

Moshe Chaim writes "Those policies being the destruction of Israel as official policy, and attacking civilian centers with rockets launched from within civilian centers in violation of international law. Please. There’s no difference between Hamas and Al Queda."
DO YOU EVER ASK YOURSELF WHY THEY ARE DOING THAT? IF I SPIT ON A NEIGHBOUR, SHOULD I BE SURPRISED WHEN HE PUNCHES ME IN THE FACE?

@ Dan Nelson and others with the same question

I am sick and tired ofthis very stupid question. Muslims have been denouncing extremists and extremism since this whole mess started. Are you people deaf or blind? Ive seen it on CNN as well other news channels. Google muslims against terrorism, or against binladen, etc.
What do you want? Mass protests? That doesnt do anything, just like we know extremists that conduct mass protests wont achieve anything. They continue to isolate themselves. Muslims will continue to reach out directly and personally to other communities which does alot more than yelling at people in the street.

Its funny how int the Muslim world(they have to have their own?) they are upset because they feel they do not get the respect they deserve yet they show NO respect for any one else. I have yet to see an American soldier cut the head off a Muslim civilian on video tape sent to CNN. I have yet to see christians/jews/budhists...ect...ect..dance in the streets (as Muslims did worldwide) when Muslim civilians are killed. Islam is like cancer and it is spreading globally. You dont negotiate with it and say "ok, if you just take the liver and leave the rest of my body alone, I wont go to chemo". You kill cancer or it kills you! That fool Obama is trying to reason with cancer in trying to make the fluffy talk with muslims. When will he finally understand that the moderates will smile and shake hands while the radicals cut the heads off his daughters. You will not hear the moderate muslims rise up and say it was wrong. Obama is THE TROJAN HORSE of the rest of the non-muslim world.

Just wait and see!

It is not an issue of "not liking what Hamas is doing". Hamas is murdering Israeli civilians using whatever horrific terror tactics they can accomplish. Fine. Don't lump them together with Al Qaeda, but don't give them a pass either. If you say "We will not talk to you unless you do A, B and C" what difference does that make? Hamas wants to smuggle weapons and murder Israelis. They don't want to talk to the US. They want the US to force Israel to ease travel so that Hamas can smuggle in more weapons. Discussion is not a goal for them. The statement should be "Do A, B and C, or we will come after you in the same fashion we come after Al Qaeda." That will make a difference, if you start going after them. Punishing with silence has not had any effect on Iran, which supports, trains and funds both Hamas and Hizbullah. Take a new tack.

Why wouldn't they, he is one of them!

It's obvious that the media is the tank for Obama. They only report on what they want you to hear. I'll bet that you won't see this comment on this blog and if you do, God Bless CNN . Americans know what Obamas real intentions are and with that said, we'll see you in the mid term elections.

AH "I agree Melissa, if President Obama were a Muslim, who cares. I think most people who find that to be a negative thing also have never read the Qu’ran or even understand what Islam is about. I am a Christian and have many Muslim friends. They want the same things anyone wants, and that is peace."

If you have read the Quran you would be concerned in the event that any of our leaders were muslim. You say that you have many muslim friends that want what us Christians do. Answer this, why can't you get a group of 5 muslim leaders EVER to condemn the horrific acts commited in the name of Mohammed.

Don't trust me, read it for yourself. You and your muslim friends just don't understand islam....period

Islam does not teach you to Hate anyone or any religion. Islam teaches us to spread love. there are people like Clark who twist words and give Islam a bad name.

I'm relieved every day, by the words and deeds of our president. The whole package is sooooo much better. Peace is possible again. Progress is possible again.

Both domestic and abroad, we are a stronger country. It is unbelievable how the GOP is trying to make us seem like failures and weak, when it is the exact opposite. I'm glad the country as a whole is not buying the FIxed news lies.

Only because we allow freedom is that 24 hour noise allowed to continue. They can count themselves fortunate for now in their fear-pedling world. None for me thanks. I choose freedom.

Finally, a president that knows how to put complete sentences together.

Obama is doing the right thing and handling it like a true statesman. Rather then an attitude of committing mass genocide (Bush/Cheny Philosophy) and murdering our own children in the process, he is taking a proactive approach. Remaining strong and at the same time, respectful. Through open talks an eight year war can be put to rest and the TRUE hunt for Bin Laden can begin. Eight years of ignorant wars in lands that had nothing to do with our true enemy produces NO results other then alot of dead kids (Bravo republicans, you must be proud).

Only cowards fear muslims. Brave men and women are willing to meet them both at the table as well as the battlefield. Obama is brave, while the Republican fruit cakes (Bush, Cheney, Rove, Limbaugh, etc) are cowardly terrorists!

Now have to add Jocko to list...

"bad mouthing the US "??
"kissing up to muslims."??

Tell me what line in what speech did the President "bad mouth"
our country? What exactly did he say that you consider "bad mouthing"? What did you hear him say that sounded like
"kissing up to muslims"?? It amazes me when I read crap like this from people like you who proclaim their love and pride in America.
We are still the most envied nation in the world. We have the most powerful military in world. Just one of our aircraft carriers could destroy most of the countries in world. Yet guys like you, Don, fgd,
and the others act like your panties are on fire just because our president tries to stirke a civil tone with another society. Grow up!!!

Clark, you said a mouthful! When are all of you naive/tolerant/mealy-mouthed nice Westerners (translate: morons) going to get it? READ THE KORAN! They have all the time in the world to wait for us to either die or convert. If they would all publicly declare that they have given up this B/S, stop oppressing, beating and mutilating women (and the lame women themselves STAND UP and stop complying with the ridiculous headscarves and worse), then maybe we can talk about tolerance. Ever wonder why they always invite you to their mosque? To have some cookies? Duh, they want you to get curious, see how "nice and peaceful" they are and then CONVERT! All religions should be tolerated - except the ones who want to convert everyone else. I love and support our President, but to say he's got his hands full is an understatement!

We're still in Iraq. Many thousands of Muslim prisoners are still held indefinitely in Guantanamo, in Iraqi prisons, in Israel, various Arab countries (at the behest of the US), not to mention in secret prisons. President Obama has made Afghanistan his Vietnam and ours. He gave Israel the green light to massacre over two thousand Palestinians in Gaza, the massive prison we help maintain. And to reward Israel, we just sent another huge shipment of weapons to them a few weeks ago.

His 'words' may be a breath of fresh air, but President Obama's actions are no major departure from those of his predecessor.

The world's problem can be solved with (2) "Adam Bombs"
One in Israel and the other in Palestine.
Problem Solved !!!

Western propaganda against Muslims has made 1 billion Muslims, monsters for everyone. Obama did not say anything different than Bush. In fact, the current administration is throwing more drones in regions of Pakistan that has compelled millions of poor & destitute people move to other places. More women & children are killed by drone attacks than the West's claim of Islam's ill treatment of women.

To: Clark

Before you made a hate comment against Islam you should read Koran not you heard from someone. There are plenty of stories where a Muslim gets rewarded to help a non-Muslim folks. For example this Muslim man saves his money to go to Hazz but he found out that his neighbor who is no-Muslim hasn't been able to feed their family. So he donate all his savings to this no-Muslim family. But Allah (God) granted his hazz without even visited Mecca because of his deeds. So please read it before you spread hate messages against Muslims.

Rhonda – He called September 11, a “fine morning”.

He means it was a fine morning until this happened, not it was a fine morning because it happened. Get it? And English is your first language??

I can, a kind of, understand why Islam is against the United States;But I do not know why isit going against a country like India wheres people of all relegions live together? Is all other relegions are the problem source or is it Islam? So even if the President is appologetic about Bush and his actions, still US may not find reliable allies among Muslim countries.

Henri, the enemy is ignorance and hate. That is who the enemy is. Not only with extremists outside of this country, but within as well. We have prolife extremists who bomb abortion clinics. How much sense does that make? I am not pro abortion, I just feel that the fanatics are what hurt our country too. Ok, so its proven that Muslims were the ones that did the attacks on 9/11. Its ignorance to believe that all Muslims are like these animals, just as it would be ingorance to believe that all Japanese are bad, or Germans are evil like Hitler. The only true Americans are the American Indians. The rest of us are decendants of Europe, Asia, the Middle East or Africa. We need to get over ourselves. Read or listen to the news daily and see how much evil is right here in our own country. Too much of it.
Some of the Obama haters aren't helping either. He is the elected President of the United States,. He deserves that respect which seems to be something that we are lacking in how our children are even being raise today. All that I read are personal ASSUMPTIONS when I read this retoric and hate. Give the man a chance. He is trying like no other, instead of sitting back and just spewing opinions and not helping. You have 4 years to PROVE that your opinion holds water.

This all means nothing. America can try to make ties with the middle east all they want, but nothing will happen until England does something to reverse the damage they have done. Do your history, people.

So glad to know that muslims like Obama. Doesn't suprise me. Some of the extremists probably love him too...they see it as a path of opportunity to attack our great country once again. Those of you that think Obama is on the right course...are dead wrong. He is funding for abortion and embroynic stem cell research. Why has America turned their back on God and His principles. It's right in front of you people...can't you see?

I'll be impressed with the muslim world when I see as many demonstrations over terror as I do over cartoons.

Have the Muslims a "New Testament" version of the Koran...I mean one that deletes their nutty philosophy...convert or die???

Ahmad

Yes Bush paid lip service to the muslim community but actions speak louder than words! Plus youre either too ignorant or shallow to not have caught an important part of the interview above. There are "subtleties" in the words spoken by each with intended messages and meanings. Such as Bush's use of Islamofascism. Youre gonna have to think alittle harder and deeper. Thats why the world is in such a mess, because people are too happy to settle on what they like to think rather than delve into the topic more objectively.

SED: These same fools that are saying how great it is to “talk” with our enemies will be asking “why….why did this happen???

Are you saying that ISLAM is our enemy? What are you a 12th century crusader? Why don't you go wash my car you dim bulb.

My hope is that the moderate Muslims would stand up an army to battle these extremists. You can't talk to these kind of people if you want to call them people, you have to kill them to be rid of this kind of ideology!

Jon Ansell,

Timothy McVeigh . . . your thoughts?

I have always thought the solution to this conflict is to give credence and relevence and a voice to the Moderate elements within the Islamic religion.

SF,

You're right, except that you're overlooking the hypocrisy that Christianity is very much the same thing as Islam. Are you familiar with the Crusades? Most wars fought around the world have ties to religion. Argue that Christianity (the US) is being peaceful now, but look around at the distrust of Islam in this country. Why? Because most Christians are trying just as strongly to convert the world is Christianity as the Muslims are to Islam. The Bible has passages just as gruesome towards non-believers as the Koran.

I guarantee a high correlation between those who are Christian and those who support the war in this country. It's not a coincidence.

As Mike mentions above, our targets were "Saddan and al Queda". Why Saddam? When did he attack the U.S.? Yes, Bush did group Muslim elements together when they were totally seperate. We never had any justified reason for starting a war in Iraq.

Ahh, yes the Left is in power, so if we love everyone, then they will love us back. I hope Obama is right, because if he isn't, then expect a second 9/11 type attack. Moderate Muslims are not the problem.

usmc1 wrote:

"And now they are cutting the defence budget. Sometimes I wonder if some of us have forgotten what these people did to our country and our allies."
-------------------------

Incorrect. The defense budget isn't being cut. Under Gates' proposed changes, we'll see spending shift away from a handful of projects involved in military hardware and missile defense programs and, instead, go toward intelligence gathering and reconnaissance.

This should have happened immediately after 9/11.

until the arab community denounces terrorism, it will not matter what our president or for that matter any leader says. any student of history realizes you cannot trust everyone all the time, when it comes to diplomacy, and as the ancient Greeks used to say, you have to have eyes in the back of your head, lest you perish at the hands of those who attempt to fool you into believing they are your "friend" while they pull out the long blade of the sword and be head you!

Obama is smart to pinpoint the enemy as "al Qaeda", instead of lumping together all Muslims as was done too often in the past.

But look at this board. There are some who still think Muslims=terrorists.

Can't these people get it through their thick skulls the difference between radical organizations like "al Qaeda" and all Muslims? I mean, does the radical Jewish Defense League represent all Jews?

Ridiculous stupidity on this board.

Jennifer, your "I am more afraid of radical Christians and right-wingers in this country than I am of Muslims elsewhere in the world. They do more to hurt our day-to-day lives (living, preaching fear and small-mindedness)…" is so chicken-little.

We are a country of many many Christians and approximately 7 million muslims. Ask yourself this – who is doing the blowing-myself-up-to go-to-heaven-and-get-20-virgins"

I'll take small minded sermons and day over the hateful even smaller minded, "kill Jew" propaganda that muslim leaders preach, and you would, and will one day soon, when Sharia and jihad are at your doorstep

I think President Obama knows to keep his friends close and his enemies closer.

After reading enough of this it is plain to see the we as Americans are in two camps – radical (hawkish) and considerate (peaceful). Gee kind of sounds like the way some see Islam. To be clear – radical Islam = hawkish Americans, moderate isalm = considerate Americans. It's great to make generalizations that everyone can agree upon. Don't you think?

Jon Ansell you are an ignorant idiot that has never read the quraan
go to hell

Of course the muslim world likes Obama,they saw how deeply he bowed to the Saudi king & saw it as a subservient act.Just reflex on his part but hey........

robert smith said: April 7th, 2009 1:18 pm ET

The same can be said for America: when will Christian moderates take a firm stand against Christian extremists?

im not sure where youve been for the last 8 years but we have never been attacked be "cristian extremists"...

For many years, the United States has publically taken a role as a proxy for the Israel government, rather than mediating as a fair and balanced partner. This has allowed the extremist fringe in the Islamic world to present a rallying point to recruit terrorists to their cause. If we want to affect change to alter the Middle East to a more moderate style, we have to stop allowing AIPAC (israli lobbies) to direct our public policy regarding the Palestinians. Desperate people do desperate things, and we have to put hope into the Palestinian's lives just as you did for America during your campaign. Only this will stop attacks on Israel in the long run, and I think it is in Israel's best interest also to live in peace with their neighbors.

Of course the Muslim community would embrace Obama because Obamas father was a muslim. What ignorant people do not understand is that Obama will say anything to please a crowd. He says one thing at one event and completely something different at another event.
The true measure of a human being is character and standing up for your principles. Obama has no principles and thinks the Presidency is a popularity contest. Eventually it will all catch up with him. I really hope he understands that their are people in this world whose mission is to kill as many Americans as possible at any cost. I am really starting to fear another 911 with this liberal 2 faced smoke and mirror politician at the helm.

SF and those who say the Koran teaches everyone not Muslim is an enemy:

How do you reconcile Christianity's spread around the world via swords and guns? Like an African leader once said, no one forced Islam on his continent with a gun.

I am a Christian and I know our history. We have only recently replaced our guns and swords with medical and economic aid. But our goal is the same...to convert other countries to our religion or our form of government.

Christianity justified the lynching of my uncles within the last 100 years. It condoned racists, Jim Crow, and segregation by quoting verses from the Bible. It outlawed marriage between the races. It attempts to control everyone's morality based on it's interpretation of Gospel.

How is that any different than Islam? The only difference is what side of the world you live.

The same token, though, I do not believe our country should allow the majority to instill any religios based laws anywhere. When Muslims are the majority of a town or county, they should not be able to pass laws based on Sharia and neither should Christians based on the Bible.

Get rid of these silly Bible belt laws against Sunday alcohol sales. Get rid of these silly laws allowing pharmacists to refuse to fill legal prescriptions for birth control.

We are straddling a dangerous fence when we allow for ourselves that which we would not allow for others.

My religious beliefs have no business telling you what to do in your home. Yours has no business in mine.

The same goes for countries, too.

I have to object to those comments implying that Turkey, a secular but predominantly muslim country, does not take stand against radical extremists.... Turkey has been a target of these extremists since long before 9/11... one of the most recent attacks was:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3222608.stm

Turkey is a secular democracy and thus a great threat & a target to radical extremists... please also keep in mind that Turkey is Israel's strongest ally in the region... second strongest after US in the world if you ask me... the Turkish PM might be a hot-headed person as seen in Davos but he is not Turkey... people come and go... countries & their ties stay....

It is so unfair to claim that Turkey does not stand againt radicals... it simply is not true...

What's up with this little comment?

"al Qaeda that visited us with their destructive deed on that fine morning in September 2001."

Muslims dont understand our problem with them because they dont grasp a concept as simple as the separation of church and state. America has no problem with Islam or muslims, unless they enforce laws based solely on religion. So we object to their laws, and they see that as an attack on their religion. That's the equivalent of American police arresting people for eating meat on Friday. It's ludicrous. Keep religious laws in church and out of the public administration of society.

ADFX....wow. That was the most uninformed, idiotic rant I've ever seen. What has Islam contributed...Well, since history books are just that..HIS-story, let me help you out a little bit. When Europe was in the Dark Ages (you know, the Sun revolves around the Earth kind of thing??) Islam was the (then) World leader in the Sciences (math, medicine, geometry, etc.). Ever heard of Alchemy, Alcohol?? Both Islamic words AND sciences/contributions of science. People flocked from all over the then known World for all the knowledge to be found in Islamic territories (Timbuktu, Egypt, etc). Ummmm...were people flocking to Europe? Quite the opposite...fleeing is more like it (you know...the plague and all). There is nothing of "value" in Europe–no resources–like that oil you so graciously spoke of. Ever hear of any other countries "invading" Europe? No need...nothing there. That's why THEY invaded everyone else!! So, to bash a belief or religion based on the actions of a few (next time...make sure to throw Jim Jones and David Koresh in there–though I highly doubt you even know who they are, judging from your comments–seems like you allow "others" to do your thinking for you) is utterly ignorant. Free your mind...your " you know what" will follow...

@usmc1 April 7th, 2009 1:58 pm ET
-------------
And no matter what you say, the rest of us will continue to think people like you are ignorant, uninformed idiots. You lump all muslims in ONE category. By that logic, if you are christian then you must be one of those freakin lunatics that murders prostitutes in the name of Jesus. As a christian myself, I have to recognize the nut cases in my religion. And based on seeing comments like yours, the nut cases in general that are part of the american society.

If you are a marine, then thank you for serving, but you are one of the few that I am ashamed to have had you in my ranks!

Winston Churchill once said "better Jaw Jaw then War War." Churchill was a FIGHTER, but he understood the value of discussion, negiotiation, and making allies. If we can ENCOURAGE moderate Islam by acknowledging its value and significance, we help to create allies in the war against al Qaeda...we did NOT defeat Hitler or the Soviet Union on our own. What's wrong with trying to make friends and allies in that part of the world where our adversaries are actually based? What's wrong with trying to encourage the Islamic World to understand that the United States does not view them ALL as the enemy? Huh?

dolartil...do not go about bashing christianity, while your defending Islam. I think we can all agree that different religions all have their problems, and all make mistakes. "All will fall short of the glory of God". This, however, does not give us the right to do the things we do. God gives us all a choice...which I am amazed by. He does not force us to be a follower of His ways (Which again amazes me) He did so much for us, yet we have turned our back on Him. Everytime his people sin...we are crucifying Him yet again. Yes, some say their christian, but don't act like it. Some say their islam, but don't act like it. Sounds like you were defending the islam religion while bashing the christian religion...if their a what you call christian terrorists...are they really christian at all? Saying and acting are two different things my friend...

Oh, and PS – I'm a dyed-in-the-wool old hippie, Bush-hating liberal. And I still say, if y'all don't start understanding what it is Islam really wants, i.e., for you to convert – you'd better start getting used to the loss of your freedom right now.

I don't think Mr. Melham understands this from an American point of view. He is too biased towards Islamic nations. If Hamas acts like terrorists, looks like terrorists and talks like terrorists, then chances are they are terrorists. It is no wonder Americans don't trust Muslim allies. I certainly don't. I believe it states in the Koran that it is acceptable to lie about your intentions if it means protecting yourself only to do harm later. I'm very wary of trusting anyone, let alone Muslim nations.

Yes they love it when he tells them how arrogant, and shamful the Uniteds States of America is.
I'm sure they do like what he say's.

I don't get why we label this as America reaching out to the Muslim world. Why not America reaching out to the Arab world, the majority of whom have Islam as their religion. What about the Arab Christians? Is Obama not "reaching out" to them as well? We can't please all of the people all of the time.

Let's be congenial to those who respect America and the great things we've done and crush those who would seek to destroy us. It's really not that complicated – let's not fight stupid wars, but is there a more noble cause than defending our borders? Doesn't matter if they're Muslim, or Buddhist or Confuscianist or Christian (cf Venezuela and its crazy leader).

The trip to Turkey in the frist 100 days of this Presidency is a milestone in the history of the US. It is time that we move forward instead of looking backward and partner with the muslim world who share the values of US and support us in our fight against the extremists and fundamendalists.

I do agree with the comments made by our President since he took office this year that we need to extend the hands of friendship to the muslim world if they want partnership and can fight the non state or state actors if they want to be USA's enemies.

We need to be rational about our affairs with the foreign policy and should not be stuck on ideology rather should be pragmatice and realistic to help solve the problems in the muslim world.

Let's hope and wish that the USA is in good hands both domestically and foreign policy wise. Let's all americans unite instead of being divided by ideology, religion, race and ethnicity and realize our American dream toghether as a people and a civilized society.

for all of those who voted for him,now you will reap what you have sown,and for those of us that didn't,al we can say is " I told you so!!"

"Clark April 7th, 2009 1:58 pm ET

why do Muslims have a better perception of the US now …. because President Obama is less “West” and less “Christian” …..

Read the Koran …. the Muslim religion all of them if they are honest will admit that the Koran teaches and demands that Islam must conquer either by education or by the sword the entire world for Allah. And that means that every person on this planet will either die, be a second class citizen or convert to Islam and live under Sharia law."

Whoa – something crazy in a religious text that doesn't really apply to modern sensibilties??

What a shock.

And, you may want to read the Bible sometime. It also contains some interesting "rules and requirements" that would get a modern-day practitioner a life-sentence in today's America.

Why is it that you think moderate Muslims do not speak out against terrorism? I belong to several Muslim groups that do. On 9/11 almost mosque and many muslim communities express outrage. Must we get on loud speakers and go up and down my block to show how upset I am about Muslim extremists. Sorry, but as an American Muslim, I dont feel i have to show any more outrage than my Christian neighbor. Though, i did go to marchs and demonstrations denouncing this abhorant behavior of killing in the name my religion.

I think the reason we see so many Obama bashers and Islamophobics bashing this commentary is because they still can't face the fact that the world and the universe doesn't revolve around them.

Seriously people, as the days changes and the world is moving foward, why do we go backwards and continue embracing bigotry when the Muslim world is started to like Obama, and perhaps opening up to the west? Isn't that what we are fighting in the middle east in the first place? To end hatred towards eachother and other religions?

Obviously some people around here have too much time on their hands and would rather sign in with a different name, bash the commentary and make invalid opinions, then leaves. Even in the land of the brave, there are plenty of cowards.

Oh sure, you have the right to be ignorant and intolerable of the world. however, I have the right of being intolerable to the intolerant and the ignorant. Freedom of speech at its fruitation.

Henri: If there is no enemy and all Muslims are as gentle as Jews, Christians, and Buddists then why are we in Iraq?

-Well........... you got the Buddhists right, although you misspelled it!

I think it is very sad how Americans talk negatively about their own American President and then they expect other countries to like us. If you have no respect for your own then why would you expect respect from the rest of the world. I am refering to all these negative comments about our great President Barack Obama. The great thing about our President is that he takes all your negative and demeaning remarks in stride and keeps on moving, that is what makes him so great!

@sohel
You wrote:
Should the U.S. trust Muslim allies as much as other allies?
–> 51% yes and 49% No
If you remove the jews vote then it will be 98% Yes and 2% No.
********************************************************************
That is why decent people may have and have problems with Muslims. Because people like you, sohel, want to remove Jews, and Israel, and non-Muslims, etc. You are the problem, not the solution. When people like you will learn that the world is not all Sharia, but it is plural and complex where everyone has right to exist, other people will stop perceive Muslims as intolerant group.

"...Al Qaeda hung the bait and George Bush took it and then some..."
Greg/Chicago.

I suppose by bait you mean 3000+ killed by fanatical extremists? Should we have just rolled over and played dead? That comment dishonors those that died on September 11 2001just going about their daily lives.

Dan, moderate Muslims have taken a stand against extremism. Moderate Muslims do not believe that extremists represent Islam or what it stands for, Islam stands for submission to God, and for Peace. Moderate Muslims do not defend the acts of extremists and cannot, for it goes against their fundamental beliefs. If you look at organizations like CAIR, Council on American Islamic Relations, you can see what moderate Muslims stand for.

And why wouldn't they like his words? He is a fellow Muslim. They can't get us from the outside, but certainly from inside.

How are you suppose to "clearly" identify the enemy when they inflitrate the United States, are issued visas, enroll in US flight schools for training and then fly on US airlines in order to crash them into American buildings?

@Patrick April 7th, 2009 2:14 pm ET
-----------------
How appropriate. A moron advocates "pro life' one sentence after he advocates slaughtering people in war. You kind of people are pretty messed up in the head dude. You're either one or the other, but when you are both, you are simply an idiot that swallows anything put in your mouth.

i have to agree..

WHO CARES what 'fanatical' religious bigots think about the USA???

only the typical brain-dead lemmings will care or like this story.

this is nothing but a desert-fried-brain's concept of religion.

as for MAH, i will never read such a piece of crap that is the koran.

ANY book that tells you to hurt others is WRONG!

any book that tells you to hurt others that don't believe what you believe...well, that's just for iTarded fools.....much like the muslim world.....and all the religious world for that matter!

get a life....give up your fake man-made gods and get a life!

life is MUCH more fun and fullfilling when you don't have to guilt and/or fool yourself into believing gods exist.

gods are for the weak and for those that need a scapegoat for all the bad AND good things that happen in their lives!!!

SF – I have read about Islam, and I by no means claim to be an expert. We could go back and forth all day about what is said in the Qu'ran as we could also do with the Torah and Bible. They all have in my viewpoint positive and negative aspects and we get to choose how to interpret those. I think there are parts of Islam that are very beautiful as there are in other religions. When you look at history, we have all committed autrocities. Everyhting that is written is in context of what was happening in that time. What I do know, is at the end of the day people want to make sure their families and children are safe.

ALL MUSLIMS ARE NOT STUPID, NOT ALL ARE IGNORANT, NOT ALL HATE THE USA, NOT ALL WANT DEATH FOR EVERYONE, NOT ALL BELIEVE THAT GOD (AS THEY CALL ALLAH) MADE THIS BEAUTIFUL SELF-SUSTAINED WORLD WITH ALL THESE DIFFERENT PEOPLE SO THAT STUPID GROUPS HATE OTHER STUPID GROUPS. ON THE SAME GRAIN, ALL AMERICANS ARE NOT STUPID, NOT ALL ARE IGNORANT, NOT ALL HATE ALL THE MUSLIMS, NOT ALL WANT DEATH FOR EVERYONE, NOT ALL BELIEVE THAT GOD (AS THEY CALL "GOD THE FATHER") MADE THIS BEAUTIFUL SELF-SUSTAINED WORLD WITH ALL THESE DIFFERENT PEOPLE SO THAT STUPID GROUPS HATE OTHER STUPID GROUPS. MOST PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD ARE INTELLIGENT, KIND, LOOK OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER, AND MOST EVERYONE IN THE WORLD WANTS TO LIVE IN PEACE, PROVIDE TO THEIR FAMILIES WITH A HOME AND GOOD FOOD AND EDUCATION. LET'S CONCENTRATE ON OUR MUTUAL INTERESTS, NOT ON OUR DIFFERENCES. OBAMA IS RIGHT.

I think Obama is doing a great job with the Muslim community. I think that President Bush did this country a disservice when he his words made it appear that America was at war with Islam. Even the title of the war "The War on Terror"- that in itself is an impossible war to win. How on Earth could America go after such a broad enemy? It could never win that war. BUT- like Obama is showing the world, including the Arab allies, is that America is at war with AL QUEADA. Which is what we should have been doing from the get go.
I would like state that I am a Christian. I respect Islam, I do not believe in it, but I know that we have freedom of Religion. Islam in itself is not a violent terrorist religion, but the Terrorists have twisted it, and used it as such.
I suppose someone living about 1000 years ago would have said the same about Christianity- I mean the Catholic church was committing or encouraging the slaughter of MILLIONS of "heretics" which we now would call "protestants". Torturing them and burning them at the stake. The Church also killed millions during the crusades. What happened to "love thine enemies", "Thou Shalt Not Murder", and "pray for those persecuting you" ? BUT my point is, CHRISTIANITY itself is not a violent religion, even though in the past people have USED Christianity to support their violence. ANY Religion can be "hi-jacked" and used in a bad way. That is just the sad truth.

Again I think President Obama is doing a great job in the Muslim/Arab world.

Hi

I am a muslim and brought up in muslim family environment until I came to north america in my mid 20s. Now I am in my late 30s, so I got both flabour.

One point I can tell, muslim will surely have some confort with Mr Obama's word but belive me this is not enough. The mistrust already in with both side (muslim and western would) both needs to come together. 1.4 billion muslim' can't be bad. If they would have been bad, you can't live here. Check your neighbourhood or within your collegues, you will find someone who is from muslim would, you just don't know that.

Bush said the same thing!!!!!
but from a position of strength....not the weakness and arrogance of Obama
"let me state this as clearly as i can".........yep he is another Carter
just a mediocre show

Peter, the Muslims know who the terrorists are too, not to worry. The ridiculous stupidity is believing that Obama's popularity with Muslim moderates will have the slightest effect on the extremists. If you think that's so, I suggest it's time to come home from the fair.

I think Obama is doing a good job for the pickle he is in. The ancient way to deal with other people who want to kill you because of your religious beliefs was to destroy them. But because we will not take such a measure we have no choice but to talk to them.

Christiniaty in its early form was brutal and even by the 16-17th century, Catholics advocated burning and beheadings of heretics. You were either were a Catholic or a heretic. Plus the countless wars based on religion including the Crusades. No doubt that extremism still exists in Christianity but the reside in the outer fringes of the core. Islam, by contrast have many factions practicing extremism closer to the the center of the core. Does that mean Islam is bad and Christianity is good ? No ! Like a mountain that was previously a volcano, it takes many trials and tribulations for a religion to evolve and moderate and "cool" down. What we are seeing is some of these moderations in Islam and we should reach out moderate to moderates and get the extremists to the core faster. What has happened in Islam is that the moderate are having a hard time pushing these extremists to the fringes when any alignment with the West is seen as appeashment and cowardice to the relagion of Islam. Yes, Islamic moderates leaders must rise and lead (btw, they have before – Sadat) and the West must work as trusting and fair partners..

To Mah and Maria

"Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued." (9:29 Jizya is the money that non-Muslims must pay to their Muslim overlords in a pure Islamic state.)

Those who reject (Truth), among the People of the Book and among the Polytheists, will be in Hell-Fire, to dwell therein (for aye). They are the worst of creatures. (98:6)

Surely the vilest of animals in Allah's sight are those who disbelieve, then they would not believe. (8:55)

Thou wilt not find any people who believe in Allah and the Last Day, loving those who resist Allah and His Messenger, even though they were their fathers or their sons, or their brothers, or their kindred. (58:22)

There are at least nine places in the Qur’an where believers are warned not to befriend non-Muslims:

O ye who believe! Take not for friends unbelievers rather than believers: Do ye wish to offer Allah an open proof against yourselves? (4:144)

WHERE DO YOU THINK THESE LOVELY VERSES COME FROM??? And purposefully I stayed away from the "if you see a jew, kill him" verses. So lets just say, your look here, look over there areguments are not working

Kiran Chetry needs to get her facts straight before discussing Islamist groups. Grouping Hizbollah, Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood, and others into the same category and then saying that the US considers all of them terrorist groups is ridiculous.

Officials of Congress have met with the Muslim Brotherhood, and they are not considered a terrorist group. Chetry's comments simply demonstrates her lack of understanding of the complexities of the region.

I think the US would be willing to trust our "Middle Eastern" allies such as the Saudis if it weren't for the detestable fact that so many of their petroleum funded dollars are finding their ways into the coffers of organizations such as al Qaeda.

How can we trust an "ally" when they are sending material assets to our supposed joint enemy?

Here is the truth, the internal conflict between Moderate and Radical Muslims is very intense than how Americans view them combined. The aim of the radicals is to fast-track the revival of Islam thru any means available and then deal or kill with the Moderates first before aiming to conquer the world.
Any honest Muslim that understands the Holly Quran will tell you that Islam is absolutely about submission with no objection. You either agree with the teachings or be killed. Those who call themselves Moderate Muslims are pandering away from the fundamentals of Islam probably because of their ability to decode what freedom and liberty means – a product of civilization and democracy. This is the reason they will never confront the radicals hence President was talking to those who do not have guts to act. How do you fight the radicals who have the guts to kill themselves and every one?

My conclusion is this: there will never be a day when radical Muslims will accept Western culture because to do so means that the Holy Quran is wrong. Are they ready to say that?

Are all you people really this stupid? How soon we forget who attacked us and dare I ask what was it that we were doing as a country to provoke the 911 attacks? They had 8 years under Bill Clinton to plan this, now we have 4 years of Obama for them to plan their next attack.

No one ever doubted that the Muslims liked Obama! But I believe he
is rocking the American people to sleep and patting the Muslim nations on the back while they are snickering behind his back. They will catch
America unprepared and wreck havoc on our nation again. They hate America and everything it stands for and will not stop until it is destroyed.

It is hard for some people to accept that not everyone cares about their position. People die, and to some this is a tragedy of unspeakable measure. They expect all to be equally shocked, but we're not. If muslims do not feel like taking a stand against terrorism, who cares?

Some equate this indifference with 'supporting terrorism' or 'not loving the USA'.

BrianG in Sugarland, TX

You are taking the very definition of "Islam" out of context to justify your poor vision of the world around you. More power to you but to clarify, the term "surrender" in this case, refers to surrendering to a higher power. It's very simple. Not difficult to comprehend. again, comments like these are symptoms of how uneducated the general American population is, as was pointed out in this article.

"Keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer".

Sohel, your statement:

"Should the U.S. trust Muslim allies as much as other allies?

–> 51% yes and 49% No

If you remove the jews vote then it will be 98% Yes and 2% No"

would make it seem like Jews dominate the U.S. While there are probably twice the number of Jews as there are Muslims, the vast majority of the population are of some Christian faith i.e. Protestant, Catholic, Baptist, etc. Additionally, there are probably 10 agnostics, atheists, etc for every Jew. Your math only shows your distorted perspective.

Wow, I don't know what disturbs me more. The ignorance of some of you people. Or the fact that you are probably breeding and passing that ignorance on. There is nothing wrong with bridging the gap and forming an understanding between nations. Putting religion aside to form a common peace and to attack a common foe. WAKE UP!!!

It is about Time!!!

We can no longer continue to hate, hate, hate in the Name of God.

You cannot teach children to respect one another, if governments
do not.

Our Children are the next generation. We need to lead by example.

Our President is on the right track.

The time for a peaceful resolution to all global issues is now.
we have to work together to solve major issues, including
the current Economic fiasco, left over from the last administration.

So, for all that has developed to date, I feel much safer in the world
at large, then I ever did under the "War on Terrorism Mantra".

I hope in time our people will come to understand each other
as human beings, not as religious enities.

Wow, comments like the ones from dimslie, Lee, and sohel are exactly the type of ignorance and hate that we have to put a stop too.

"Well I just feel all warm and fuzzy knowing that muslims like obama’s words. Birds of a feather…………….."

Just silly.

I don't see, with the tone this post was made, why this would make any sense, being that president Obama is a protestant, the largest Christian denomination in the U.S.

And no, just because his middle name is Hussain, does NOT mean he is a Muslim (and not that it should matter any way) or an Arab,...80% of the Arabs in the U.S are Christians anyway.

A basic lesson on statistics: There are about 50,000 muslim terrorists (a legitimate or even a little overblown estimate).
There are 1.5 BILLION muslims in the world.
50,000/1,500,000,000=.00003 times100=.003% of muslims are terrorists.
Labeling a whole religious sect as the enemy of a nation based on the ideologies and actions of .003% of that group seems unfair and rather stupid to be honest.
There are about 3-6 Million Muslims in US itself living peacefully with their neighbors and doing many of the same things that other Americans do incuding paying taxes, getting involved in community organizations, doing jobs in the government itself, and etc. I can't believe there are people hear who blame the whole islamic world for the actions of few who, from a religious standpoint, have misinterpreted the wording of the holy koran. It's like saying that all Christians are Racists based on the activities of KKK. I don't contempt my christian or jewish or hindu neighbor thinking that they are going to burn down my house anytime, because of what happened in history or recent events. I laud the efforts of Obama to distinguish between Terrorists and other Muslims.

Excellent overseas trip by president Obama.

Now, this is what statesmanship is all about.

Fred Robinson said:

All that happens from this point on will be far better than what has ocurred in the past. The previous administration did so much damage to America’s image overseas. It will take two terms of positive actions to wipe out the last gang of idiots.

Do you guys have donuts with your coffee?

Fred
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""`
Really Fred?

So I'm guessing that the WTC, Pentagon and the White House were attacked on 9/11 because of Bush? I guess the Khobar Towers, the USS Cole and the American Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were attached because of Bush? I'm guessing then too that the US Embassy in Iran was overrun and our citizens were held hostage for 444 days because of Bush?

Please. Stop with your Pavlovian need to lay the blame at Bush and realize the fact the both Europe and the Middle East have hated the US for far longer than Bush's 8 years.

One major aspect of our culture that confuses Europe is how we are able to have so many from divergent ethnic groups moving in the same direction. The European Union hasn't been able to achieve that as of yet but we have.

Look past the rhetoric Fred. You'd be surprised what you can learn.

Obama is The Midas Man of this time... wouldn't you agree.

Muslims love BO! thats fine and dany but lets not forget that binladen also worked with the americans in afghanistan fighting the russians. look what that love affair led to!! Most everyone who has in one or another "loved" us have also been our worst enemies.keep your friends close and your enemies even closer

Mohammed–
Obama is not half muslim. Everyone, stop with this crap! How is that even possible? The presidents father was from Kenya and he was an athiest. If anything that would make him half athiest. President Obama is a Christian. What president Obama is half of, is black. His ethnic background is not a relevant indicator of his religion here.

Da Professor April 7th, 2009 1:35 pm ET

No surprises here. The right-wing extremists are still whining about the last election, kissing the feet of Bush – Cheney, spending way too much time listening to the FOX Channel and their merry band of liars, and spouting out with their false accusations about Obama as a Muslim. What fools! Perhaps these extremists idiots will soon be goose stepping in a parade down main street?
---------
They will only be doing that to blend into the parade of goose-stepping leftists and fascists, since dissent is clearly not going to be tolerated.

I wish people would educate themselves before posting and showing off their lack if intelligence on the matter at hand. President Obama is NOT MUSLIM. It's the stereotyping and bigotry against an entire religion for the acts of some extremists that cause all of these problems. Reading some of these posts, are like listening to Archie Bunker.

These comments always make me feel so proud to be an American! Uninformed Bigotry, GO!

I never thought I'd be saying this but for the last 7 days President has been way off Mark. His tour had little to do with pursuing goals, but much on mending fences. But much like at home, he knows little and mending them because he’s obviously has never built one.
The U.S. has spent trillions leaning forward to do what the U.N. would not do and Arabs cousins would not. And just because every effort did not meet the social specifications of hand wringers and pacifist he see’s reason to apologize? The Arab nations have had trade routes to Africa for hundreds (some say thousands) of years yet where were they during the seasons of Genocide? When has the Muslims nation lead the world in anything? How can you possess an overabundance of one of the most precious resources the world needs and have so little interest in pursuing the most vicious in your midst?
The reason Bush was seen an evil man is because he was (believe it or not) acting like a true Muslim. Can you imagine a Muslim male waiting for a consensus on what to do about someone who has attacked his home? Or suffer the indecisive pangs of weak political support from those who say (we’re with you all the way)? The Muslins community is eerily Patriarchal and has long enjoyed an America that was anything but. As for the Islamic world, it did not understand the attractiveness of Bin ladin, during the receding influence of Russia and the U.S.

All in all, maladaptive is not a word I would chose to describe the culture of Islam but it is very close. And President Obama is giving the Muslim world a break when they need to be held to a higher standard.

When will we see coverage of Obama bowing to the Saudi King?

I don't like Obama, I didn't vote for him, and I think he is putting us at risk. As a Christian, I feel my rights are being violated and stripped every time that man opens his mouth. If he was a Christian like he says, his actions would reflect this... While Christians should reflect tolerance we should NOT make happy with the countries we are at war with... I know not all Muslims are bad but I don't agree with their religion just like they don't agree with mine.. no happy love love there.

"There are at least nine places in the Qur’an where believers are warned not to befriend non-Muslims"

And yet, we Christians have the history of the Spanish Inquisition, and there are no such words in The Bible.

It is never the faith, ...it is the interpitation or way a faith is practiced that is objectionable.

MattyB

I am unimpressed with your "look over here" (the crusades) and "look over there" (christians converting people of other faiths) arguments.

First of all, if you knew anything about the crusades, and I'm not suprised that you don't, you would know that the west was being swallowed up by force by islam. The crusades were attempts by Christians to maintain their values and all those other things that come with the love of ones own culture. This is the abridged version, if you want we can get into detail.

As far as Christians converting others, who freaking cares. The difference is that we don't foce people to convert, we don't make it difficult for others to practice their religions, we don't kill those that don't convert, we don't tell fellow Christians that if a fellow Christian converts to Islam, to kill him or her as the case maybe. These are all the things taught by the Quran and the hadiths. Did you know this?

Those who don't like what the President is doing that has changed the negative to positive, should form a new party. I suggest you call that party "Neocons"; that will clearly identify their cause as was written in their doctrine many years ago.

Most people of sound mind has seen a positive change in the direction this country has taken over the past eleven weeks.

As the saying goes; if you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen.

BY THE WAY.

MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD IS A DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZATION

AGAINST IT'S TYRANT GOVERNMENT.

JUST DO YOUR READING.

Nothing will change until the moderate Muslims stand up against the radical factions within Islam.

I'd even be satisfied if any moderate Muslim simply said " Hey, we don't agree with Hamas, Al Qaeda, etc. Its wrong to kill civilians"

Until then, its all just meaningless words.

oh and "Sohel", saying that the percentage of Americans that trust Muslim allies would dramatically rise if the Jews were not allowed to vote.....? I hope you were joking.

Do you happen to wear a lot of green?

This comment is for Mike, that said "Thanks to Bush, Iraq has democracy." My question is "When did Iraq ask us to intervene and force our western ideology of democracy on them?" If we like to spread democracy so much, why haven't we intervened in the Darfur region of the Sudan or other places in the world under an oppressive regime?

A lot of folks have complained here that Obama's words were aimed at moderate Muslims and therefore miss the mark. Fact is, most extremists are moderates who have been pushed to an extremist mindset through ignorance, fanaticism and the hatred of a mutual enemy. By connecting with as many moderate Muslims as he can, and re-enforcing the fact that we are not at war with Islam, Obama has ensured that a great many moderates will be less likely to turn extremist.

Look at what our war in Iraq has done. It is a fact that our occupation of Iraq has been used by extremists to recruit many, many moderates. And our previous administration did nothing to stop it. By standing on the soil of an Islamic nation and stating that we are not at war with Islam, Obama has taken a lot of wind out of the extremists' sails.

Funny thing is, it appears that only our own American extremist conservatives seem to have a problem with this.

Where to start, well, why is it that no other country wants to take Gitmo prisoners. Its not because they do not have prisons, they do not want the stigma and potential unrest caused by the Muslims in their countries. And if you look at all of the Arabic countries that prisoners have been sent back to they just release them and they go back to being terrorists. Next the fawining over Obama, gives a good speech. And if and when there is another attack, Obama, Biden and the left will be blaming Bush, but gee, I do not recall any further attacks on us here since 9/11, wonder why, remember, those that throw stones at glass houses...

To SF: Again you take verses out of cotext for your own intreperation. Please visit your local mosque. They won't bite and take those verses to someone who can give a correct intrepretation of them like a IMAM.

Well why not bring up Christian extremist in our own country?? Remember DAVID KORESH??? Supposed Final prophet??

I am not sure how much more Muslims in America have to say over and over again that we reject violance of any kind by any religion including ours over and over. If its not getting through to you then God help you.

Franklin – is that what you really believe Christianity is about? Yeah early Christianity was violent – it was a persecuted religion. Don't confuse nation-building with Christianity. It's become so typical to say things like "oh well Christianity is violent, look at the crusades!" The original purpose of what became the Crusades was because the Christian east called for aid. What do you think about the Muslims who swept West and killed Christians in the Balkans or in Spain? What about the Armenian genocide or the Turkish occupation of Greece? What the Crusades it turned into was a social movement of the disenfranchised (ie 3rd, 4th, 5th born sons) to be able to do some fortune seeking. Look at the 4th crusade – Christians from the West attacking Christians of the East. Very sad. Just because a war is based on religion does that denigrate the value and core of what that religion stands for? If you really think the crusades were 'true" Christianity then you are dearly mistaken. In the end, no one is perfect or blameless. If we believe in love and goodness let's try to live it. That's what Christ wanted, us to love one another, especially our enemies – yes we all fall incredibly short. We need to be vigilant against hypocrisy in all its forms.

SF, try to put the sentences you derived from Quran in to context. Its not appropriate to take out few sentences from here and there and post it. Read it from start to finish and you would feel good.
Don't be a hate-monger who just spreads hatred no matter what the situation is. People/Muslims are trying to reconcile in to a modern community with mutaul respect shown towards them and you are going backwards with all the B.S.

Just a thought, doesn't it make sense to visit Arab nations and maintain peace? Unlike the bomb and torture policies of Bush, it seems that our president has accomplished a lot by reaching out to the Muslim community. If what he is doing is building an alliance with more nations, then why are people scolding him? Why not reach out and come to peaceful solutions so our troops don't have to fight anymore. For those that want war, you strap a helmet on and a grab a rifle and fight all you want. All I am saying is focus on the real issue, terrorists, and not just an entire group of people. The last thing we need is America killing the wrong people again......

Guess what Bushies, Islam isn't going away, no matter what A-Team fantasies you want to believe. The Bible is loaded with xenophobic passages, just like the Koran. Peace, which is the ultimate goal of Christianity, is unattainable without diplomacy. Those of you that think that the USA can just go out and dominate the world need to take a look at the fiascos in Korea, Vietnam, and now Iraq. Extremism is just facism. The NAZIS WERE CHRISTIANS! That doesn't make every Christian a nazi. If you like, GO JOIN YOUR LITTLE BUDDIES BUSH AND CHENEY IN THEIR UNDERGROUND BUNKER, AND LET THE REAL AMERICANS CLEAN UP THIS MESS.

"If there is no enemy and all Muslims are as gentle as Jews, Christians, and Buddists then why are we in Iraq?"

Who *EVER* said "all Muslims are gentle..."?

I don see a single post here on a comment anywhere in Obama's speech saying this.

Your tone, if not your words however, lead one to believe that you feel the exact opposite about ALL Muslims.

And that is as rediculous as Bin Laden labeling all Christians as anti-Muslim or "Crusaders"

It is sad that there are posters that don't see that when he said "fine morning", he was being sarcastic. It's really where most americans hang their hat of distrust for the Islamic and Muslim community. It's also a great thing that eveyone doesn't like President Obvama. If everyone liked him it would be more cause for concern. There are things he has said or decisions made that I don't agree with but for the most part I am happy that he is representing us as our President. He is doing it with class, dignity and as a STATESMAN. Him being respected worldwide is critical. To some of you, how the world outside our borders see us doesn't matter but it so does. Try travelling internationally and people knowing you are american and the treatment you get. Ask others why they would hide the fact that they were americans while they were out of the country and now it's okay to be an American outside our borders. We can not be an island unto ourselves. When we feel like we don't need anybody because we're all that, failure is sure.

Check your history, treaties, allies and world relations have been critical to our success and existence. Don't get it twisted, we need people that aren't like us to work with us. That's part of the problem with this country, because you're different you aren't worth talking to and I'm better than you. Even coporations understand the value of TEAMWORK. Get a job and buck the team, you will be out of a job.

The fact that you don't have to be identified, it's okay to spew out the hatred in your hearts because political correctness is not necessary. Trust when I tell you, how you really feel will be known by whomever you are hiding it from. For those of you that don't mind everyone knowing your hatred, it will come back to visit you on the back side and oh what a harvest it will be.

It's Clinton: The sequel. Turn our back on rising threats against us in the Islamic World. Be naive. Ignorance is bliss, after all. Is Saudi Arabia really our friend? Perhaps B.O. should meet with Hamas Leaders and have a hand-shaking photo-op at the White House. That will make everything better...right?

Make no mistake about it...if Islamo-facists had access to a nuclear bomb...New York City would be a smoldering pile of debris. But, we're not at war with these "peace-loving" people are we.

For those who say Obama is "one of them" meaning Muslims, you're morons. Obama is a Christian. He just happens to be brilliantly intelligent and understands the art of negotiation as well as the world around him. For those of you who don't know, Barack is a Biblical name, a fierce warrior who fought against the Philistines. So his name is just as much Christian as Islam in origin. Just as his mother and father were Christian and Muslim, respectively.

Obama is the perfect individual to heal the worldwide wounds caused by the Bush administration. As for myself, I have never been so proud of a President. I absolutely beam when I listen to him. I truly believe this man was born to lead our country at this particular point in history. Try supporting our new President instead of condeming him on false pretenses.

I am amazed and ashamed that Lee could make such an ignorant remark as below. He probably thinks that the world is flat and that there was no Holocaust also. Beside that, I will say that Obama is reaching out to try to mend fences which hasn't been done since Clinton. Bush has been arrogant and angry in his dealings with Muslims and it is a breath of fresh air to have a leader who can see farther than the next oil well.

I agree in pinpointing the enemy, but Koran states only Islam all others are Infidels nothing but Islam is allowed where is the compromise in that?

I don't believe we are at war with Islam, but what are the long term views and goals of this religion.

I know Catholics believe that Hell awaits any who don't believe, but nothing about destroying others that don't believe.

So where does this leave us?

The truth is universally recognized when it is heard. And the truth coming from Obama's mouth is resonating in people's hearts as just. In retrospect, what happened with Bush was unfortunate because it was a poorly thought out knee-jerk reaction to 911. A real recipe for disaster.

What Obama is doing now is make all that dysfunction conscious and restore some sense of reason to help alleviate the resentment that has built up and continues to linger between the US and islamic world. I am so thankful Obama is now the present. How or who else would have been able to speak from core values such as humility, honesty, intedrity, and fairness? These are traits of strength not weakness because they bring people together instead of dividing them.

If this guy can do what he has done in just 3 months, imagine what it will be like in 4 years or God willing in 8 years.

OK, Obama gets and"A-" or a "B+" for his words and his tone. What he does not get is a good grade on results – In Iraq, In Afghanistan, In Iran, In Gaza, In Syria, In Israel. He largely gets an "Incomplete" in results as we have yet to see any tangible "results". Yes, it is very early in his administration, but let us not annoint someone for success when the real work of diplomacy is yet to start,

Now for grades on the tangibles on his trip.

On selling his stimulus plan concept to Europe, he gets a "D". The
G-20 did not buy into it.

On getting military combat troop support from NATO for Afghanistan, he gets an "F" NATO turned him down cold.

On his reaction to the ballistic missle test by North Korea, he gets an "F". The UN has not even acknowledged the incident, and Obama devoted just a small portion of his speech in Turkey to it.

SF

where are you getting yours sources from? From the actual Quran or from some website that fabricated the teachings?

Bravo President Obama!
There so many Good things the U.S. President has said & committed America to on this trip. But just speaking to & about the Muslim world with respect, courtesy, hope & an interest in listening is an amazing difference.
It is well deserved & Long Overdue!
We all have more in common than we have differences!
It is amazing how much Christianity & Islam are alike!

I am all for starting new with the Muslim world. Hate and discontent will never enable this world to live as one. Now we need some action by the Muslim world to show that they are also willing to change. All too often the Muslims mention Abu Ghraib or the atrocities that the US has committed on the Muslim population. Where were the Muslims when the radicals were cutting of Daniel Perils head or any other head of a person because they disagree with their beliefs? I still remember the jerks dancing in the streets in celebration when the towers fell. Not one Muslim leader has ever raised their voice in protest for that atrocity. Cooperation is a two way street and I for one will be skeptical until the leaders of the Muslims world reject the radicals and stand up for what is far and just. It all starts with FREEDOM of religion and they need to stop calling me an infidel just because I am a Christian.

Birds of a feather??????? Ignorance like that is so distressing. Obama has repeatedly said that he is a Christian. However, his father was not, his family is eclectic in their beliefs, just like mine. When will people stop lumping everyone into groups and slapping a label on them? That's easy, that evades responsibility, that's ignorant.

I'm very impressed with Obama; not only with his ability to speak in complete sentences, but his ability to clearly make distinctions between Islamic peoples and terror organizations like al Queda, which are, btw (are you listening 'birds of a feather' guy) a VERY SMALL minority in the muslim world.

We have our radical groups too. Anybody remember the Michigan Militia, anybody remember the KKK, (still both alive and kicking, by the way).

Would you like our entire nation to be judged on the actions of the Michigan Militia, or the KKK, or other such demented organizations with paranoid agendas? That live their lives by fear and hate? I don't.

And likewise, we should be educated enough, adult enough, and nuanced enough, to make those same distinctions in other nations. If we don't take the time to do so, then we are just as bad as every other group that rules out of fear, ignorance and intolerance.

Time to wake up America. There is a HUGE Muslim population in this country, just like their is a HUGE Christian, and huge Jewish population, and so on – we are melting pot of many religions, many ethnic groups, and we are a global economy and global world. The quicker we learn to get along with the rest of the world and find common ground, the sooner we can create a world that our children will find peaceful to live in.

Instead of finger wagging and name calling ... how about we all educate ourselves about the issues at hand before we make ignorant statements, or think because we're nice to people, that's going to provoke an attack. A Muslim nation did not attack us, al Queda did.
Try to make the distinction, so we stop looking like a nation of ignorant fools.

In the words of Bush, stop "misunderestimating" our neighbors.

To SF: Ever read the Old Testament? Christians spilled a lot of non-Christian blood over it. And what finally stopped the killing of the Crusades, Inquisition, witch burnings, etc., etc., etc.?

One word: reason.

The first step towards disarming any ideological enemy is through the use of reason, not force. If you would have us at war with Islam because you believe their bible compels them to kill you, then you are no better than the most extreme of them. You lack reason, common sense, humanity and most of all faith.

Who cares if they like us or approve of what our president says. If they dont like, they can eat our nuclear tread.

Is Obama doing the right thing trying to bridge the gap with the Muslim world? It depends on your viewpoint.

If you believe muslims are inherently evil and the US should exterminate them, then probably not.

If you're a true Christian and believe we are truly ALL brothers and sisters in God, then Obama is doing the right thing.

Which is it going to be, moderates Christians and moderate Muslims working together to eradicate fundamentalism, or Muslim radicals and Christian radicals trying to kill each other?

It all depends on how strongly you believe in Jesus and his teachings.

If you truly believe in God you should support any effort to extend a hand to former adversaries and try to make peace. If you KINDA believe in God, then go ahead and support continued war.

I have this feeling that our(read world's) love affair with Mr. Obama will be there for long, and we will thank American people for choosing him to be the president. It is such a positive change.

God bless !

I would like to see the poll that Hisham Melhem is reffering to in his comment. Secondly, what "actions" has Obama done? Iran's fist remains "clenched." When has appeasing our enemies done any good. What is wrong with calling a spade a spade? Political correctness is going to get us all killed. We can't call a Hamas leader an "Islamo-Fascist" as he chants death to Isreal and America in the streets while strapping a bomb on a 15 year old girl for a suicide mission for fear that we are going to offend a Muslim in Instanbul? Wake up America! Well most of us are at work while Kiran Chetry spouts gobbily-gook nonsense on the TV anyhow. But I guess 52% of the populus watches.

MattyB – I'm an atheist and I support the war against all terror groups. This includes Hamas Hezbollah, Al-Qaeda etc. etc.. If Islam doesn't change these two edicts which basically state (not sure of exact wording) that 'you cannot decide not to be Muslim on pain of death' and that 'religion is a group decision' , then eventually Islam itself should come under attack.

By the way Mohammad started Jihad way before there was ever any Crusade.

What a strong, positive, and educational point of view. I would like to applaud CNN.

I think we should all take a collective sigh of relief when we see such a drastic turn of rhetoric pointed at our policy makers. Clearly, this is because of a new vision from the policy makers themselves.

Here is to hoping for positive results in our effort to reach out to those people who have wrongly been targeted as "Terrorists."

No Christian, Jew, Muslim, Taoist, or any other religion should or can doubt what is central to all religions, that of peace and an aim of mutual understanding.

It is important that we give all people their room to be angry, as certain events like 9/11, as well as Guantanamo Bay will invoke. Let us do our part to help calm such situations starting with those around us. Rejecting anger as being housed only in "idiots", is unfair, and will likely only incite more anger. Give people their space, and if there lies a lack of understanding in that anger, may we all be educated enough to show them a light.

Cheers

AH – show me one verse in the Bible that says "to kill Jews", show me one verse in the bible that says Jesus slept with a nine year old, show me one verse in the bible that says that you or I should kill an ex-Christian from converting. You will not find one. I can go on and on about the lovely things you will find in the Quran.

Look I am a civil rights attorney in Miami, FL. I represent many people including muslims because I believe in our freedoms and the rule of law and all those other things that are incompatible with islam. This, incidentally, is how I came to know about Islam. Muslims tell me islam is not a religion of peace, it is a religion of submission.

I too want my family, friends and my country to be safe, that is why people need to know.

Dan, from an Islamic standpoint, terrorists are never Muslims because they commit some of the basic "Sins" such as: Murder, Suicide, Back Biting, etc. So to call them Muslims is a disgrace to the religion of Islam. Second, "moderate" Muslims as you call them will oppose these terrorists if three fundamental criterias are met: one is that the US government as well as its public respect the religion of Islam much like they do with Judaism and Hinduism and etc. By respect I mean, leave the people alone in the Muslim countries and don't try to destroy their integrity. IT's natural for people to support the terrorists when they see foriegners recking their land and fighting what seems like their saviors(Afghan Civilian Deaths) . You have to educate the public about these terrorists and how they mean harm to the society. Pakistan comes to my mind where a MOSQUE was bombarded by terrorists.
Second, the local leaders of ISlamic countries should have their own campaign and propaganda where they fight the terrorists as well. Again Pakistan is a good example. Diplomacy is very much required and Obama should actually meet with the locals although Security is a big concern there.
Third is that no matter how much respect you give to Moderate Muslims, all muslims condemn the actions of Israel which has been a caustic barrier between America and Muslim world. US should limit their relationship with Israel to trade, and US should be an Ally of Israel as well. But when it comes to Israel doing things such as in December 2008, that has to be condemned. Many western EU nations condemned that but US never officially did. You have to use humanity for everyone. The ratio of death toll of 6 to couple ten thousands will anger anyone. If US shows that it does not support the way Israel conducts certain things, and takes actions such as sanctions and withdrawal of funding, then that itself will gain America 70% Muslim approval. Through diplomacy and education (on both sides), terrorists will not be as supported nor will they be born.

Distrust of Muslim governments stems not from "misunderstanding" but from repeated failures by Pakistan and Afganistan to act against our common enemies.

Sohel, do you really believe the crap you said? You must be pretty horrible at math and ignorant of the beliefs of Christian Americans, because there aren't NEARLY enough Jews in the US to make your statement feasible, and American Christians are significantly less tolerant of different people people than Jews. Get a clue!

I do not care if the President is a Muslim, Christian, Jew, atheist or Buddist. What I do care about is the Constitution and upholding it, as the Bush administration did NOT. President Bush thought he was charged with God's work (his intrepretation) so he could do whatever he pleased, and was within his right to ignore the Constitution.

I am pleased the current President is reaching out to build a stronger alliance with Europe and the Middle east. We are stronger as a nation when we work in concert with others.

He will be a friend to all..........................just a warning.

The moderate Muslims cannot go against the Terrorists as they will be found out and their heads cut off including all of their family. This Koran they read from day one is full of hate if everyone in the world does not follow their religion. They do not believe in anyone with a believe system other than theirs and thats a fact. These radical Terrorists that Obams can't for some reason come right out and say would like nothing better than kill all of us..

"...when will the moderate Muslims begin to take a stand against the Islamic extremists?"

An excellent question Dan!

Hopefully, those who are educated and not living in third world conditions, can have their voices heard.

This is why Obama started his reach out to the Muslim world in Turkey. It is a very moderate, modern country by western standards, and one of, if not the least anti-Amercian Nations in the Middle East that is predominantly Muslim. And they have a bit more freedom of expression in their nation.

Those who are living in poor conditions really don't have an out let,...or are much more concerned with day to day living.

"Moderate muslims have the potential to become extremists if you continue to (accidentally) bomb their villages and kill their innocent families."

EXACTLY.

"Maria April 7th, 2009 2:11 pm ET Islam does not teach you to Hate anyone or any religion. Islam teaches us to spread love. there are people like Clark who twist words and give Islam a bad name."

OR

Read any quote from the Taliban, Al-Queda, etc regarding the justification for killing they quote . . wait for it . . . THE KORAN YOU MORON.

Ned wrote: The NAZIS WERE CHRISTIANS! That doesn’t make every Christian a nazi
Think again, guy. The Nazi movement was not Christian, in fact, it was decidedly unchristian. They actually had very similar views to that of the early Communist leaders in USSR. Hitler and his top cronnies were a mix of pagan/athiest/and some kind of white supremacist prophets of a new religion. Ugh, why do so many people know so little of history? Stop distorting the past to fit your incoherent ramblings.

Hey Republicans, we tried it your way for 8 years and look where it has gotten us. So, stay in your 20% zone and keep listening to Limbaugh your leader. The remaining 80% of us are looking forward to a much better world to live in..

Oh, Jojo, President Bush had been in office for 8 months when we were attacked on September 11, 2001. In fact, he had received a Presidential Daily Briefing a month before that while he was clearing brush in Crawford. This memo, received on August 6, 2001 contained a two-page section entitled "Bin Ladin Determined to Strike in US". And, Bush chose to ignore this memo.

For Jennifer : – With that kind of attitude and intolerance, I find it difficult to believe you are Christian.

I really really wish people would educate themselves thoroughly on a topic before debating it.

assumption: the extremists and terrorists who guard their secret plans until execution share them with moderate muslims.

I agree, Peter. Some of them also think President Obama is a Muslim. Following their logic that would make him a terrorist, too. We really need to improve education in this country.

The right wing of America is no different than the Taliban. We need to confront our home-grown extremists.

Again and again, I see so many comments from those with very little intelligence. And, if anyone want to do a little analysis, if is evident the lack of intelligence and hatrid comes from the liberal side. The biggest difference between liberals and conservatives is the liberal hatrid shown by their by their actions and comments. The other main item is the unability of the liberals to take responsibility for their own actions . . . they get great enjoyment about blaming others. Come on people, try to give some positive ideas or comments.

It is very disturbing that some thinks that "muslims" are the "enemy." They are not. Radical islamists are the enemy...not normal, everyday muslims.

Also, Obama is not Muslim. Although, honestly...whats wrong with being muslim anyway?

What Obama said is great. It is what a true leader would do. Bush lead out of fear, not with facts.

I think its GREAT that Obama is engaging with the Muslim community. As a recent convert to Islam, I can not say how sad I feel that there is so much ignorance out there on the perception of Islam. These extremest who blow themselves up, who kill, who threaten are NOT Muslims. Al-Qaeda uses Islam to their benefit, everything Al-Qaeda does is forbidden in Islam. They interpret the Koran their OWN way. Just like the early Christian did to justify the Crusades!.......

And by the way.....Jihad DOES NOT MEAN HOLY WAR!

I think it is very telling that those who are right wing will quote George Bush as if he is a living God, while those on the far left would like to burn him in effigy. I guess no one feels that there are centrists who believe that some of Bush's policies worked (like the surge, which I totally agreed with simply because I felt Geo did not put enough troops on the ground at the get go), however, I also feel there is room for Obama's brand of diplomacy.

I dont think it makes me or anyone else wishy washy who just want to see an end to the war in Iraq and Afghanistan and hope that a combination of troops, tactics and skillful diplomacy from Obama (lets all agree that was not Geo's forte) will do it.

It takes and has taken more than one political party to make America the power and the great country it is today. We must stop being party loyal, stop allowing the media to shape our political and idealogical opinions, we must begin to think and shape our own thoughts regardless of what party thinks is right. Stop labeling people whose opinions differ from yours, stop looking down on and name calling, and begin to really consider different options even if someone from a different party attempts to make a difference. I am aghast that many One Party feel they are religously and morally superior to to other and call them Godless! I am appalled that many of the opposite party feel the others are fundamentalist backwoods hicks.

Lets just focus on ending the wars and doing the right thing.

Comments like that from "Chuck" make my blood boil. Obama is NOT a Muslim, he has said over and over that he is a christian. And trust me, if Muslims were all so hate filled as all of the backwards thinking people who post these kind of comments here believe, then he would NEVER claim to be christian! Don't you get it? Muslims are not all bad just as I as a Christian am NOT a bad person even though others who call themselves "christians" do horrible evil acts in the name of christianity. Please open your minds and escape from the bigotry that you all are dwelling in. That is the ONLY way to make our world better. Wake up people I mean seriously, the president has an arabic middle name. So that automatically means he's Muslim? Guess what? I have a Polish last name and that's because it is the last name of the man who adopted me. I actually don't have any Polish blood in me at all! But using your logic I MUST be Polish.
I have many friends who are Muslim. I live in a state (Michigan) which has the largest Muslim population outside of the Mid East and you know what? I know just as many beautiful, wonderful Muslim people as I do beautiful, wonderful Christians. And I think that makes my life a more full and happy one. I wish for peace in our world and I thank God we have a president who is more tolerant and intelligent than so many of you on this board.

What is it that separates the hateful propaganda of some of the posters here and the hateful propaganda that brings support for people like the Taliban in Pakistan? Nothing.

@ Lee:

Please refrain from your conspirital and inflammatory trolling. You must be one of the 19% of misinformed, ignorant people who believe that President Obama is diminishing the country in the eyes of the world.

Obama is another Jimmy Carter.....Hopefully he'll be more successful..

What a difference it makes when the speaker projects intelligence and not just cowboy rhetoric. The time is past when America can threaten and cow the world into cooperation. It's time we took our place as a member of the world body and not its commander. The US will need the help of moderate Muslims to defeat al Qaeda, and the way to get that is to treat them with respect.

Whether we like it or not its time to move forward America. I'm ready to move forward, are you? .

I'm slippin' into the lava
And I'm tryin' keep from goin' under
Baby, who turned the temperature hotter?
'Cause I'm burnin' up, burnin' up for you baby

For Maddawg – your statement (well all of them were pretty weird, but this one really made me laugh) "ANY book that tells you to hurt others is WRONG!"

Have you ever read the Bible ?

President O is preaching to the choir. As a successful American politican he must follow the ancient adage: When in Rome do as the Romans do.

Nothing will come of this reaching-out because Muslims will fail to acknowledge tan internal shortcomming that exacerbates the instability (Who is to blame for the 150,000 killed in Algeria?). The PC culture of our times forbids Americans from holding critical views of others (e.g. Jews, gays, blacks etc.) without being labeled as bigoted. It is because of this convention of what is allowed to be said or written that President Carter was not allowed to speak at his own party's convention.

Just a view from outside the US. I'm from Ontario Canada and thought maybe some might appreciate an outside view.

As has been mentioned on numerous occasions and confirmed by US national polls, most americans believe their image on the world stage was greatly tarnished under the leadership of the Bush administration. This is true, in fact when i was travelling in Europe last year I met two Americans who had fixed pins of the Canadian flag on their luggage and in talking they said they did it because people respected them and treated them better as a result. I see this not as an indication of Americans themselves, but rather an indication of their government's foreign policy. To be sure, there are radical religious and political groups in almost every country in the world, whether operating in plain view or underground, they exist. Had one of those groups attacked another country or international institution, America would never have allowed another country to wage war on their soil, and from that, what right does it give them to do the same eslewhere in the world? It was discussed at several points in discussion groups here what scenarios people would have been more supportive of the 'War on Terror' and general consensus was this: That had the US approached the countries and requested their help/permission to engage the enemy, and respected that response... the worldwide response would have been much more supportive, as has been the case with Afghanistan, albeit this process didn't unfold idilically either. The point is that as a world power, they US has taken liberties to pursue their interests because of their 'moral superiority' and 'obligation' to 'save to world'. While admirable in their cause, is it their choice and willingness to act unilaterally without proven cause or permission that has set them apart. For this, people resent the US, whether it be for their boldness or the principles of their actions, the result is the same; A mistrust and distaste for their leadership based on the boldness in acting unilaterally without regard for situational politics.

"I am not sure how much more Muslims in America have to say over and over again that we reject violance of any kind by any religion including ours over and over. If its not getting through to you then God help you."

Mo – You can become an Atheist like myself and realize there is no god. Go ahead open your eyes and see the light. Religion is not required to lead a moral life.

Well, who would have imagined that??? Of course they like him and what he says. He is one of them and is selling Americans down faster than the Titanic hit the bottom of the ocean. You liberals keep on and see where it gets you – Don't come crying to us when you or one of of your loved ones is blown to pieces by Nobama's little terrorist playmates.

Christians, muslims, budhist, shintoist, animist, believers and non-believers should come together to fight terrorism, injustices and anger throughout the world. His Excellecy Obama reached out to the Muslim, and that is good. It is up to the Muslim hierarch to start in their mosques by preaching to the young adults that terrorism is anti-muslim and has no place in that religion. This will not be enough, but it is start that will help.

For all those ignorant please read when somehting isn't properly exaplined like SF's comment. Context is important. I am a Christian who is tired of reading nonsense from those who have no lcue. I spent 2 years in Iraq, studied Islam and couldn't believe how similar it is to Christianity. Christainity has its own violent past.

1) In Leviticus 25:44-46, the Lord tells the Israelites it's OK to own slaves, provided they are strangers or heathens. (THis was actually used by American Preachers to defend slavery)

2) In Samuel 15:2-3, the Lord orders Saul to kill all the Amalekite men, women and infants.

3) In Exodus 15:3, the Bible tells us the Lord is a man of war.

4) In Numbers 31, the Lord tells Moses to kill all the Midianites, sparing only the virgins.

5) In Deuteronomy 13:6-16, the Lord instructs Israel to kill anyone who worships a different god or who worships the Lord differently.

6) In Mark 7:9, Jesus is critical of the Jews for not killing their disobedient children as prescribed by Old Testament law.

7) In Luke 19:22-27, Jesus orders killed anyone who refuses to be ruled by him.

SF, you claim : "The crusades were attempts by Christians to maintain their values and all those other things that come with the love of ones own culture."
Did you know that the crusaders were also ordered to kill as many Jews as possible while on the crusades?

You better do a little studying on Islam before you go applauding all this propoganda. The stated purpose of Islam is to take over the world and the Koran says it's OK to do it by lying, cheating, stealing, murder and anything else the "faithful" want. If you don't believe me then you should read about how the muslim world is waiting on the 12th Iman. This Iman will arrive and cause terror and destruction throughout the world in the name of Islam. This Islamic belief is why the entire Islamic world does not speak out against terrorism. In fact, this guy calls 9/11 "a fine September morning". Even when trying to deceive us he slips up. Obama is an idiot for believing their rhetoric. Common people, quite being blind sheep and take the time to study and understand what we're up against.

What our president is trying to do is create a more positive image of the U.S. for the Muslim world through respect, which a portion this country doesn't have much of for Islam. If a pro-American culture blossoms in the Middle East, don't you think that will lessen the amount of Islamic militants wanting to suicide bomb us? It would definitely be worth Pres. Obama "embarrassing" us, as Fox News puts it, by using good diplomacy.

If killing innocent is terrorism then Bush regime has killed 500000 innocent iraqis..hmmmmmmm

The speeches were lovely, the sentiments noble, but none of this is gong to mean spit unless moderate arab's develop a backbone and stand up to the fanatic's among them.

And aren't we all glad we are not living in Afghanastan right now if we are a woman? Nothing like giving the thumbs up to rape and yes, I'm sure all the women there are absolutely thrilled with a law that requires any of them to need permission to leave the house.

Getting the moderates to trust you is a solution to the bigger problem, and that is: why are these kids going off to training camps in the first place. Also, if the moderate population are in agreement with backing the US, we would have much more military help from countries like Pakistan, whose border regions we desperately need help in. Defining your enemy is the only way to get helpful allies. If we have a war on terror, which looks a lot more like a war on a bunch of islamic countries, muslims will start to see us as an enemy, right when we want them to help us find terrorists.

“If there is no enemy and all Muslims are as gentle as Jews, Christians, and Buddists then why are we in Iraq?”

Most idiotic comment I've heard in a while...There are extremists in every religion. And as a Christian, Christianity in its fringes can be just bad as extremist Islam. The war in Iraq was initially intended for American dominance in the middle east.

It's so annoying to hear people harp on about how moderate Muslims should condemn the actions of extremist Muslims. When was the last time you heard the moderate Christian community condemn the actions of Christian, right wing zealots after they go on homicidal rampages or blow up abortion clinics or start wars with non-Christian countries (you know, like Bush said – going on a "Crusade")? The fact is, many moderate Muslims DO condemn these actions, but they are not given a forum to get this message to the rest of us. It's much more fun to watch right wingers blast Islam on a talk show than to give a forum to people who voice peace and moderation.
Also, people need to be able to distinguish between a crime committed by a person who happens to be Muslim and a crime committed in the name of Islam. The language "Muslim extremist" and "Islamic Terrorist" is used to describe any violent conflict in the region regardless of the true intent (tribal conflicts, ethnic cleansing, etc) and it gives the impression that anytime a violent act is committed, its motive is always religious in nature when that is just not true. It's simplistic at best.

It is unbelievable how not one Turkish person has commented on the fact that they are referring to Turkey as the Muslim world!! Turkey is not a part of the Muslim world or the Arab world or the middle east. It is NOT CATEGORIZABLE. STOP IT! I live in LA and was born and raised in Istanbul, and can easily say that I am more European/western/mannered and cultured than any American I have ever met, and a lot of Europeans. So stop trying to categorize Turkey as a part of one thing ("the muslim world") because it is WRONG and if you do not know this by now, you better start reading some books, or travel, or even listen to Obama's speech in the Turkish parliament a couple of days ago. It is the most infuriating aspect of living abroad and being exposed to comments like this in the media.

P.S. Bubba: Obama looks nothing like a Turkish person. Maybe a Kurd from the eastern part of Turkey. You have no idea what you are talking about. Open your eyes and learn something.

I’m glad that SF pointed those verses out.

Most people listen too often and do not read and study the religion they defend. The bottom-line is that when you actually take a look at the origins of the Koran you’ll find a great amount of differences from the widely believed “spread love and peace” mainstream ignorance.

In all honesty, if you compare the Koran with the Torah, you’ll find that both have just the perfect amount of similarities, however, the Koran is twisted so perfectly into an opposite, evil direction.

I challenge anyone to study and read the Koran for themselves and then compare your findings with the Torah or Old Testament of the Bible – for those of you who don’t already know, you’ll be quite surprised.

Obama is cutting US arms programs to fianance billions of dollar he pormised to give muslim countries like Pakistan and Afganistan. Once their financial need is over those very countries will turn against the US and will be in a brother-brother relation with Iran.

To Bridget and every other moron like her, this president in a few short months has worked harder than Bush did in eight...

MORONS

Mo & Shafiur

If you knew your religion, you would know that you and I cannot interpret the Qu'ran.

Are you familiar with the Quranic abrogation. The principle of abrogation the abrogating and the abrogated directs that verses revealed later in Muhammad's life, when he had the juice and power "abrogate" - i.e., cancel and replace - earlier ones whose instructions they may contradict. So the warmonger prophet's teachings in Medina, overrule passages revealed earlier, in Mecca when he did not have the juice.

The Quran itself lays out the principle "2:106. Whatever a Verse do We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, We bring a better one or similar to it. Know you not that Allah is able to do all things?

"Allah is able to do all things" - even change his mind.

To confuse matters further, the Quran was not compiled in chronological order – the suras were ordered from longest to shortest regardless of when written.

However, if you read Mohammed's teachings in chrono order, you will see that all he left behind was hate and violence against none muslims.

Tell me Mo & Shafiur. I want to get "if you see a Jew, kill him" in context.

Israel vs. Hamas.

Both parties are to blame for the hostilities that occur. Israel is not the innocent martyr that is portrayed in our media. They attack, Detain and torture people themselves. The US should not be associated with that country. The Israelis use there alliance with America with out concern or condemnation. Our Leaders take a hands off approach to the atrocities they commit. If Israel wants money and weapons from the US then why are they not forced to a peace accord? Where is the International community on this?

Hamas targets innocents in markets and religious centers. They kill indiscriminately. Negotiations are never up front or Honest on either side. There can never be peace when either side is willing to negotiate.

I for one am glad that our President is making an attempt to talk and show respect to the Muslim world. Some of the views posted here are extremely disheartening. Do you really believe that the US can continue on the "Bush" path without severe repercussions? We need to be a strong but fair nation. Because people are different does not make them wrong or evil. Lets focus on the extremist and put them where they belong...6' under. The world needs the Muslim and Islamic leaders to come forth and help root out the extremist. That is the only way to combat and irradicate the problem. We have taken that first step.

Did he say on that "fine" morning of 9/11? Yes, yes he did.

This is a good discussion and applaud Malhen from the Al Arabiya tv on his answers. There is a big misunderstanding within the American media and society alike about Islam. There is no such thing as moderate Muslims. I understand, those who are making efforts to separate between good Muslims and bad Muslims refer to the good ones as moderate, but in fact there is no such a thing as a moderate Muslim it is like saying a moderate believer!! what's that mean?

Honestly a Muslim or a Christan or a Jewish fundamentalist is nothing but someone who believe in the fundamentals of his religions. The distinction here should be between a knowledgeable Muslim who will never blow up a building with innocent people and an ignorant or someone who pretend to act in he name of Islam or other religion who is easily influenced or have a different agenda then serving his believe. So the name moderate Muslims is an invention that has no meaning. When you are religious, it means you follow the rules of your believe and if that makes someone to be classified as "bad" then it is the wrong approach.

In Islam specifically, some in the media refer to a moderate Muslim, someone who does not follow the rules of his religion. Well my friends there are no such things in Islam. You need to pray daily, fast during Ramadan, give charity and observe certain rules, if this make someone classified as non-moderate Muslim then the Media has much to learn about Islam and faith.

Just a note , those in Power in the Muslim world the media classified them as moderate Muslim states, their leaders might deserve the title because the majority of them do not follow Islam but they like to keep the name. The majority are oppressors of their own people, they are thieves by investing the people's money for their own benefit and you see how the state of the Muslim world is especially in those rich countries where people live below poverty line...If America is to act under human rights , they should not blame Islam for it but the leaders they support...the Muslim world is in need of a real change.

The scary thing is after the last 8 year it is now collaborating with the enemy to be civil and decent to them. How quickly we each forget the own tenants of our own beliefs.

The first thing we need to get rid of is the consuming fear that seems to hover around the right. They whipped you into a hysteria with 9/11 and weapons of mass destruction that now you cant imagine a world without hostility between us and muslim countries. It wasn't always this way. Its time for us to be the better man, our country made it policy to punch or attack first...........that very concept is deeply wrong. What happen to the noble country that went to war after Pearl Harbor or to defend Korea, Bosnia and Kuwait? We are losing our morality and Obama is TRYING to bring it back to our daily lives.

Besides haven't you all heard you catch more bees with honey than vinegar............the hardass cowboy tactic was an abject failure. New tactic for a new day.

Let's see. A muslim says nice things about other muslims while blaming his own country for all the world's problems. I guess the muslims do like Obama!

As far as I'm concerned I don't care what the Muslims think. They aren't Americans so I could care less what their opions are.

No Mike, it is not getting through to us. We cannot hear that. If the community really believed that, the mainstream media would have at least one report with one thousand protesters in Washington claiming what you are saying. Certainly when the cartoon in the Netherlands was published, there was a huge voice which everyone heard.

Islam is like cancer and it is spreading globally. You kill cancer or it kills you! That fool Obama is trying to reason with cancer in trying to make the fluffy talk with muslims. When will he finally understand that the moderates will smile and shake hands while the radicals cut the heads off his daughters. You will not hear the moderate muslims rise up and say it was wrong. Obama is THE TROJAN HORSE of the rest of the non-muslim world.

Wake up, it is the 21st century. We live in a global community, the last person who wanted to remove a "cancerous" culture from the face of the Earth was Hitler! How can reaching out to moderate Muslims bring about the fall of the West? It's amazingly hypocritical to say Islam is evil when it shares so many similarities with Christianity. I doubt you even know who Muhammad is.
I would much rather have a president who uses diplomacy and reaches out to the world then one who rushes in guns a blazin', alienating everybody against us, wasting American and countless civilian lives just to appease his buddies in Halliburton.
You have to earn respect, and the last time I checked, invading foreign countries and preaching your own hateful philosophy doesn't make you allies. People like you have given America a bad name, you sit by and let a moron and his self-centered puppet master drive our country towards a cliff, and when somebody tries to turn things around and move on you call him a terrorist hugger simply because he doesn't look like any previous president (or anybody you're comfortable with) and can actually read a book without having to look at the pictures.

Keep you friends close... Keep you enemies closer.

Members of Islamic terrorists groups are NOT MUSLIM!!!!! They say they're Muslim to help recruit the ignorant and the hungry, but they DO NOT practice the peaceful and loving edicts in the Koran. And just remember that Cheney has touted himself as a deeply religious man! Can you think of anything more hypocritical?!!!!!! And just so you know, there are orthodox Jews called "MODESTY SQUADS" in Israel that roam the streets making sure young girls are dressed appropriately and not mingling with young men! Remind you of the Taliban? And Orthodox Jewish newspapers recently photo-shopped out a picture of a female cabinet member from Israels's cabinet photo!

Not all Muslims are created equal and the same is true for Christians, Jews, Hindus, etc.

Probably won't take long for them to realize that there is no correlation between Obama's words and his actions.

Fools, fools, fools.
WTF is wrong with most of you?
This is not a good thing.

For Sherry in SC.

Please tell me you have no children, do not have access to any children and have no plans to procreate.

Yep, it was clearly the fault of George Bush that Islamic terrorists planned 9/11. He was so mean to them. Oh, wait, that was all planned years in advance while Clinton was in the White House. Nah, it was still Bush that caused it. I'm pretty sure he used a time machine somehow.

Why do so many people here seem to think that other countries/cultures must be exactly like ours to be of any value? Maybe there would be less friction (i.e., less WAR, perhaps?) if certain knuckleheads would stop insulting other cultures for being different. And that goes for everyone, everywhere... God bless the whole world, no exceptions!!!

Oh, and lest I seem off-topic to those of you who don't know where I'm going with my rant, President Obama may count this American, Catholic female among his most ardent supporters! He's a a credit to this nation and I'm confident that he'll go down in history as the initiator of some wonderful changes for the better. I can't wait to see the United States build and strengthen alliances with the Muslim world!

I am suprised at how many people thought this Dr. was so smart and articulate. Did anyone notice the way he referred to 9/11 in his first response!! –

"It’s al Qaeda that visited us with their destructive deed on that fine morning in September 2001."

He calls it a "fine morning!!" Looks like a very poor choice of words to me, and perhaps its a textbook Fruedian slip.

Look, this guy insults Americans by dismissing their legitimate concerns regarding their Muslim allies as resulting from ignorance. Isn' the fact that Saudi Wahhabism is both the inpiration and funding for terrorist groups worldwide reason enough for legitimnate concern? I think that if the commenters on this site were educated about real wolrd dynamics, that vote would sway a lot further than 51 to 48.

Every religion has fundamentalism and every fundamentalist group commits acts of terror. IE the KKK and other white supremacist groups or the IRA. Islam has fundamentalist groups and moderate Muslims DO take a stand against them and condemn what they do even the Arab governments have spoken out against Al Qaeda etc. Taking a stand against something is not enough. Nor is Obama's proclamation of partnership. The western world is responsible for all the problems in the middle east and Asia and its time we take the correct steps to fix our mistakes. The root of all extremism, violence and poverity is lack of education. Educate a community and you grant them a lifetime of peace, food and shelter. The middle east is littered with fundamentalist schools (Madrassahs) instead of schools that provide a professional education.

April 7th, 2009 1:08 pm ET

Should the U.S. trust Muslim allies as much as other allies?

–> 51% yes and 49% No

If you remove the jews vote then it will be 98% Yes and 2% No

You moron, Jews make up only about 2% of the US population

How quick we are to forget about the Christians attempts to erradicate the Muslims (a little something called the Crusades).

BOTH sides have done some pretty rotten things to each other. The only way we are ever going to be able to truly live in peace is if both sides start talking to one another again. I don't mean shouting slogans or ideology, I mean actually talking to one another. Both sides have legitimate concerns that the others need to address.

I have no problem with Obama being the first to extend out his hand. I also have no doubt that if attacked, Obama's administration will respond with an appropriate level of force.

We have good reason not to like Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran... but we aren't at war with them. Stop treating them like we are, or we could find ourselves at war with them too. We are already in 2 wars, we could probably handle one more (small) regional conflict, but nothing more. We simply can't fight the ENTIRE middle east at the same time.

It is frequently more important to talk to ones enemies than your friends. Remember the cold war? Even Russia and the US saw the need for a direct line to resolve disputes before going nuke (literally).

Obama... keep up the good work!

Samuel, Thomas, Matt so all you can do is point a finger here and there and say the christians did this and the jews did that and apparently this is your solution to fighting terrorism. And Samuel yes I do read Jihad Watch and I suggest you do to. As a result I bought a Quran. Does that answer your question?

Bob.........I'm not the moron sweetheart. Thanks for the name calling, shows your true colors.

To Sohel
Your comment is ignorant

Give me one good reason they would not like him? He is downgrading us in front of them. I wish he had stayed in Turkey . He should feel welcome there.

It is sad to see so many comments by people defending Bush and calling Obama Muslim. One even said Obama is still campaigning. You all are the ones still campaigning. During a campaign a candidate has to have clear distinctions that differentiate him from the other candidate. Therefore it tends to be extreme. (Check out factchecks.org instead of listening to Rush next time. ) Once the election is over it is about bridge building and ally building.

Since we are not at war with moderate Islam, and moderate Islam is the pool from which extremists draw recruits, it makes perfect sense to educate and help them so they are our allies and do not fall prey to the radical recruiting which has used Bush's words and deeds as a proverbial recruiting film.

The world is getting smaller and it happened at a ligthening pace during Bush's administration. Not his fault, just happened. We need to change our tactics for that reason alone yet there are many other reasons.

I challenge any of you non thinking dogma filled misplaced conservatives to give this audience a shred of proof that Obama is a Muslim.

Ignorance, like that displayed by some posters here, maligning Obama for being "birds of a feather" with Muslims, attacking the left, snidely commenting negatively with no substantive participation in the discussion - that is an element presenting far more danger to the U.S. than any "terrist" group.

I read so many CNN articles that contain poor grammar usage and misspellings. It makes me want to heave. Honestly, CNN is a major Democratic supporter with an agenda like none other so I can only take those that conduct these interviews with a grain of salt. I'm very pleased that Obama is closing Guantanamo because now we can release the villains back into the wild where our Special Forces will hunt them down and get rid of them once and for all. We won't have to spend the money to keep them subsiding any longer.

I support the President. I am an American. Add me to the poll.

This is exactly what we need. We needed a gutless president to appease those passive-aggressive types.

I'm just waiting until we're asked to "cut down the mightiest tree in the forest with....a herring."

Thanks for the free pass to ride "shotgun" in Obama's hellbound handbasket.

Anyone who thinks that all Muslims are created equal are truly ignorant! Members of Islamic terrorists groups are NOT true Muslims. They say they're Muslim to help recruit the ignorant and the hungry, but they do not practice the loving and peaceful edicts in the Koran.

How's this for hypocrisy. Cheney has touted himself as a deeply religious man. A man who thinks waterboarding isn't torture! A man who finds war an orgasmic experience!!!!

Another example of hypocrisy. In Israel there are Orthodox Jews called "modesty squads" who roam the neighborhoods of Israel making sure girls are dressed conservatively and not mingling with young men. Remind you of the Taliban???? And let's not forget that Orthodox Jewish newspapers just used Photoshop to remove a female cabinet member from Israel's formal cabinet photo!

Evolve people! If we're lucky, Obama will usher us into a new era of enlightenment and the rest of the world will follow!

I think what we may need now in the near future is for Obama's counterparts in the Arab and Muslim world to visit America and make the same kinds of overtures that Obama is rightly making to them and their constituents.

America needs to be educated on Islam just as much if not moreso than the Muslim world needs to understand that we do not hate them. Communication breeds understanding. Hearing them out does not mean we have to adopt their points of view, but we need to be open to it.

There is an incredible parallel between the Islamic world today and Germany in the 1930's. The Nazi's were never anywhere near a majority of the country, but were able to get elected to power and lead the world to war. The reason is that the majority of 'good' Germans either agreed with the Nazi nationalistic goals or by their silence allowed it to happen. Islamic terrorists have hated us long before 9/11 and the invasion of Iraq. All during the 1990's we were targets of increasingly more severe attacks including the USS Cole, two US embassies in Africa, and the first WTC attack. You can't blame Bush for these, since Clinton was president. All through this time, the majority of Muslims either supported the terrorists with aid and sanctuary or passively accepted it. After 9/11 which of our Muslim allies came with us to Afghanistan to track down al Queda? Not a one, including fellow NATO member Turkey.

@ Linda who said: "Must we get on loud speakers and go up and down my block to show how upset I am about Muslim extremists. " I answer yes, yes, yes. After 9/11 the was much news coverage of celebrations in the Arab street. If you sit in silence while others celebrate terrorism, you are as bad as they are.

@Jabril, yes when Europe was in the dark ages, the Islamic world was a bastion of knowledge. Since then, they have been left in the dust both technologically and from a human rights perspective by the West. It is they who are now in the dark ages. And yes, Muslims did repeatedly invade and try to concur parts of Europe. Ever hear orf the Moors among others? The Christian crusades ended centuries ago, the Islamic crusades are just getting started.

Ask some of the 9-11 survivors how peacful that day was?

I am very proud and hopeful for our new young president. I think we all need to change our concepts if we are to have a better world and our country back to greatness. His family is great too. This comes from a senior white one time republican who has always vote heart and gut so I guess that makes me an independent.

It is comments like those made by Lee that make this countries citizens look so ignorant and narrow minded. If anyone doubts that our image has suffered, here is proof .

Some of these comments are pretty insane. We are at war with Islam and any muslim is at war with the West??? Are you serious? I converted to Islam 6 years ago and have since fought for my country in Afghanistan twice. As did the 6 other muslims in my company. Islam defines my spiritual connection and method of worship with God. It does not define my citizenship or my allegiance to our great country!

However I will agree as a muslim that there is no moderate voice to speak out against the people and the ideology and methods they use to slander and pervert my religion. Shame on us muslims for being quiet while these few hijack Islam

If open communication with muslims would solve all the fighting and issues in the middle east, don't you think someone would have thought of that before Obama? If you think they are interested in world peace... think again!
I watched the entire speech on CNN. When Obama told them and the muslim world to not worry because he is one of them, it made me feel like there is a hypocrite leading America. I have no issue with "muslims" and am not prejudice by any means, but there are reasons there has never been peace in those countries. Someone needs to tell Obama this is not "Mr. Roger's Neighborhood".

Larry from Mass.

"OK, Obama gets and”A-” or a “B+” for his words and his tone. What he does not get is a good grade on results – In Iraq, In Afghanistan, In Iran, In Gaza, In Syria, In Israel. He largely gets an “Incomplete” in results as we have yet to see any tangible “results”. Yes, it is very early in his administration, but let us not annoint someone for success when the real work of diplomacy is yet to start."

Your statement makes no sense whatsoever. So after less then 3 months in office he is suppose to fix almost 8 years of backwards politics so you grade him an incomplete? Of course they're incomplete. Its going to take years to fix this mess and no one is annointing him anything. People are happy b/c we finally have someone who is starting the process of diplomacy after years of warfare.

I am at work right now and there is so much to say I wish I had the time! I am absolutely shocked by the negativity in here. Muslims are not the enemy.

Of course they like his words. They know they can continue to support terrorist without any worry about the U.S. Govt doing anything about it. These countries like to play both sides and they hate our country for what we believe in and our way of life. It's not based on who sits in the White House, that is just an excuse for terrorist. Obama reaching out to these people shows our new weakness and we will pay for it before he is out of office.

i think as muslims we dont have problem with americans but with jewish people , epecially those who are killing inncent poeple and taking others land ... unfortunatly , they have got some power in US and they can influnce the american policy toward arabs and muslim .... so they qouestion is that Mr obama will be able to control the jewish loby or not ???????????????????

Why does it matter? Muslim? Jew? Christian? US, Turkey? All that makes us different is a bunch of labels and titles, geographies, and cultures... There is no right or wrong.. no better or worse.. the fact is, we're all made the same.. inside.. just different on the outside... It shouldn't matter that he's reaching out to the "muslim" community, or the Jewish community..The fact is, he's reaching out... To our fellow HUMAN beings. It's ridiculous to think that your ideas and your thoughts are more important because of your label, or your faith. If we all just put aside the black, white, brown, Christian, Muslim, Jew, US, Europe, Africa factors.. the things that obviously make our lives a bit different... then we'd be focused on the idea that in the end.. God or no God, US or Saudi, Pink skin or blue skin... english or arabic...whatever difference it is that seperates us so, from loving one another, and caring, is that we're all HUMAN BEINGS! Who knows why were here, or what the sole purpose is for us being allowed to be ALIVE... who knows? But the point is.. in the end.. we all are on this earth together, and we will all die off from this earth one by one or in mass quantities... regardless of any difference.. we all are living, and we all will die.

As if we deserved 9/11

Give me a break.

Almost ALL Islamic leaders condemned the actions of Al Queda after 9-11, EVEN the Iranian ones. Iran even helped us against the Taliban in the north and gave us permission to fly in their airspace.

After Bush invaded Iraq and called Iran a member of the "axis of evil", the rhetoric ended.

Ever wonder why?

It saddens me that so many Americans DO have short attention spans and short memories.

I think Obama is making a poor mistake. Muslims teach hate and they hate us, so how can they be our frriends? I think that 65% to 75% of mainstreem America believes the same way I do. You can say that CNN's polls say otherwise, but guess what they are liberal and it's funny how that their polls always agree with Obama. Bottomline folks, Obama could care less about you, he's a Muslim socialist, he hasn't really did anything he said he would do so why believe him. You can also say the reason they hate us is because of G.W. Bush. Well the reason they hated President Bush is because he took a stand for America NOT Islam.

[...] UPDATE: Aparently, his comments were well received. [...]

Once again SF, where did you get your sources from? From a website or from the Quran itself?

I read a thread that Muslims are not Americans. Time to open your eyes. I am a Muslim and a loyal American.
Obama is trying to reach out and we in turn must reach out to him and support his efforts to bring understanding among people. It is through understanding that we bring people together. I have neighbors who follow Judaism and Christianity and they are among the nicest people I know. Why is it if we can get along in a neighborhood but cannot in the world.
Every religion has bad apples who twist and distort religion for their own personal agenda. Every religion teaches us to be good to our fellow beings and not lie and cheat. Muslims are no different.

When American troops are on the ground enforcing Israel's border and the Oslo agreement, there will be respect for America's words,

Comment from Rhonda "he referred to Septemeber 11 as a fine morning" – dangerously stupid context to put on a comment. It was a fine morning, a beautiful morning – until everything went wrong That's what he meant you ignoramus.

WOW! After reading many of your comments, I have to question why Congress receives so much criticism for being partisan. How can we ever build positive relationships with those who's way of life differ from ours when it's apparent by this blog that we can't even stand ourselves? By some of the comments here, maybe it's time for us to re-learn what America is all about.

SF ..SF...SF

Wow SF, I am stunt to your rather narrow knowledge of Koranic translations. !!!! let me give you a background. Each prophet that came before Mohammad had miracles, the Miracle of Mohammad was mainly the Koran...how?
1.The Koran verses, if you know Arabic, and I know you don't, is a miracle own its own. no one can write arabic the way the Koran is written. Read books from the scholars in the Arabic language you will learn more.

2.The verse you mentioned was set in the context that the Koran verses are a miracle and only God can write similar or better verses then the existing one. In order to translate Koran, you have to be very well versed in Arabic language and there are not that many.
3. Koran is a miracle because it has predicted many future events some of them has come to pass. In the Koran, in Surat " Al roume" The Romans, God has predicted for example how the Roman were going to loose the coming war and win another one in two years period. With such a precision in timeline, many of those even the Romans who were informed at that time about what the Mohammad in the desert of Mecca is saying, were stunt.

4. The Koran is a miracle because 1500 years ago it talked about the red sea and how it contains sweet water under miraculously separated...

I can go on and on of why the Koran is a miracle...
It is a useless attempt of people of your kind to demean the Koran teaching that you know nothing about and accuse a man to you like Mohammad praised by the most honorable people of this world of his genius, kindness and discipline.

Doesn't anyone see what this jerk is doing to our country? Sure, when you talk to a moderate Muslim, he's going to tell us that he's against the radical Muslim's. Befriending the moderate Muslim's doesn't do diddly for us in protecting against the radical ones.. Now he wants to turn our country into a Muslim country. How convenient. He was even bold enough to say we're not a Christian country. Give me a break. Get out of her you anti-Christ!

I think Obama gave a very good speech and left a very good image as an American president. He very intelligently defined what the US is after. At the same time showed enormous respect for people of other faiths and focussed on partnership and mutual respect. I am sure he can and will bridge the differences. I wish him Good Luck.

President Obama's talks are welcoming signs but by no means will be the end of the issues. The real judgment comes when he shows how much he can deliver. The real issue is not Islam, Iran, Chavez, or other labels. The real issue is the U.S foreign policy after WW2 as well as the few other military and economic powers, which is dictated by the "power through domination and conspiracy at any cost" doctrine. This policy brought prosperity to the few WW2 winners by draining cheap natural and human resources from the so-called third world countries, but yet it caused decades of bloody terrors, wars such as Iran/Iraq war and supply of chemical weapons to Saddam, coupes such as the US/UK1953 coup in Iran and the fall of the great elected Dr. Mohammad Mosadegh. The few ww2 winners dominated the majority of the countries that had nothing to do with the war, but yet had to pay a big price during the war and even a bigger price for decades to come. These countries from Africa to Middle East and South and central America have been practically raped by the world powers multiple times and the scars are not gong to be forgotten, nor they will be forgiven by Mr. Obama's speech.

It's pitiful to see so many people clinging to their fear and ignorance for security. In this time and this place American resources are dwindling. Our economy is languishing. Americans need to recalibrate their expectations. We cannot continue to consume global resources as if they are our birthright. American greed and economic corpulence are yesterday’s news. Wake up and smell the coffee while there are still rain forests to grow it.

"robert Kaminski April 7th, 2009 1:38 pm ET

Did Mr. Obama go to the Blue Mosque?

If he did why was there no TV, or Internet coverage?"

On "The Today Show", they did indeed mention that he visited the Blue Mosque. I was putting on my makeup at the time, so I was listening, not watching; therefore I don't know what they showed. Nor do I know if it is proper to bring cameras, etc. into a mosque.

The ignorance is apalling. Please crawl back into the caves in which you came from so people of intelliegence can have a conversation.

It is so wonderful...to be on better terms with people who beat women, treat 'em like animals, chop off heads, blow up innocent people, commit rapes to shame women into wearing explosive belts and redemming their souls with suicide missions.
Is Obama a Muslim???

And another thing for you closed minded fools who are looking for something to get upset over, when he said "fine September morning" have you not considered it is perhaps because it was in fact, a fine beautiful fall day? Blue skies and sunshine? In almost every article about 9/11 that has been written, they remark on how lovely a day it was as in a beautiful morning UNTIL that awful event! Perhaps he could be referring to that but oh no, no he must be saying it was a great day that is of course the ONLY way to infer his remarks if you're a closed minded fool.

It's refreshing to live in a country where disparate points of view are shared with such vigor. The market place of ideas allows us all to evaluate the comments and come to rational decisions for ourselves. Tell me, in what muslim country is this discourse allowed? Could you imagine a 'mapplethorpe' type display of muslim religous items that didn't result in death threats? We all need to protect the freedoms we have – everyone must be allowed to speak, be heard and appreciated. Again, where is dissent appreciated in the muslim world – NO WHERE.

MATT – Im sick of these ignoramons think that they know things.
Matt, are you really doing this? Must I catergorally go though each one of the verses you quoted or misquoted, and explain them? Keep in mind that the Quran does not permit interpretation, where the bible does and our religious leaders do.

By the way, thank you for all those verses you included in your comment. I'll make sure to thank John Mark Ministries for also putting them on its website verbatim. Be original at least and have some conviction. And remember, pointing here and there is not a good technique for discussion, it mucks things up much like the Quran.

Also none of the bibles that I have read have written said verses as you have

I don't really care what the muslims thinks about Obama. Naturally they like him, he was born muslim. I can't believe how the media and other liberals in the US are kissing up to the muslims. This is a group of people that allow the rape of women and then punish the women if she dares to report it. This is a group of people that want to ban women from even speaking in the media. Come on people, the muslim way of life is against everything that the US proposes to support. Freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of expression, equality between the sexes.

You know, when reading the comments about this artical, I cant help but wonder how people come to some of thier conclusions. People are complaining about how Obama is opening up dialoge with the Muslim world, saying that were going to lose everything we have, or how its going to open up other opportunities for attacks. Come on people lets really think about this. What kind of leader do we want running the country? Someone who tips his hand at a poker game or one that plays his hand close to his vest. Lets remember politics is a game of perception. Just look at the last 8 years. We lost. Now we have to regain ground. Now we have a leader who is trying to soften the perception the World has of the United States, that doesnt mean that we stop doing things for US intrest, but rather alows us to gain leverage to operate more effectivly.

As an American Muslim, I welcome our President's comments. It is time to focus on what unites us all, rather than on what divides us. However, we heard former president Bush make similar statements after 9/11 and then act differently both domestically and overseas. If President Obama truly wants to win over Muslims both in our country and globally, then he will have to follow his words with concrete actions. Resolving the Palestinian issue in a balanced way that respects the legitimate rights of both Palestinians and Israelis would be a good place to start. Getting the FBI to moderate its overly aggressive and intrusive behavior towards the American Muslim community would be a good second step. Finally, encouraging the rise of democracies rather than the perpetuation of monarchies and despotism in the Muslim world would be truly wonderful.

SF,

You claim that the Crusades happened were "attempts by Christians to maintain their values and all those other things that come with the love of ones own culture." I assume the "values" and "culture" that you speak of include feudalism and rampant ignorance, as the Europe of the Crusades (the Dark Ages) was a backwater compared the relatively cosmopolitan civilizations of the Islamic world and China.

You also claim that Christians don't force unbelievers to convert. Well, they may not now, but that's certainly not true historically. Christianity has a long history of forced conversions and the killing of heretics. Take the Reconquista and the expulsion of Jews from Spain as examples.

I'll certainly concede that many Islamic countries today are backwaters that have traded their once advanced, dynamic, and vibrant culture and for a stagnant, repressive theocracies. However, Islam is certainly not unique in this regard, as the potential exists in nearly every religion. History bears out the dangers of fundamentalism regardless of whether it is Islamic, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, or what have you. In my opinion, all organized religions are dangerous, not just Islam.

There is no meaning in blame game. Election is over. Obama is the President. Let him show the Muslim world that he is the President

This is why we voted for the guy! McCain is looked at by the world as Bush 2.0 and I'd hate to have seen what he got us into with his big talk and saber rattling.

This is going to take time but Bush really did some damage over there, don't get me wrong, Bush had his good points but he couldn't have screwed up foreign relations worse. It's good to have a diplomat in office again.

Why does ANYONE care what MUSLIMS think of Obama?
It's what Muslims think of WOMEN and NON-MUSLIMS that concerns me most.

ALL religions are for fools. Just the EVIL controlling the STUPID. However, by FAR, Islam is the worst plague on this planet.
Whever therre are desperate illiterate people, there's ISLAM to keep them ignorant enough to believe their hype.

Their treatment of women ALONE should make Islam POISON TO THE WORLD. They should NEVER be given civilized audience or respect until they JOIN THE REST OF HUMANITY IN THE 21st CENTURY.

The Muslim world will only CONTINUE THEIR PRESECUTION OF ALL OTHERS, even DIFFERENT KINDS OF MUSLIMS, until they are STOPPED FROM DOING SO.

The US should pursue the hydrogen car,
build it for the world, re-build our economy in the process, and we should never again by Arab oil.
Let them pay for their OWN terrorists.

The only problem here is the Arab world hears things differently than the Western world. As I read the comments, it reveals the ignorance we have in that we cannot even use the words Islam and Muslim correctly. Before you applaud, you should really make sure you understand what has been said to a Muslim mind, to a Islam mind. One of these words that you are misusing means "submit," and there are many folks who hear the words Obama is carelessly using as we will submit to your God. I don't think that is the message I am paying the President of the United States to give with my tax dollars.

Thomas- Tell me Thomas who ordered the crusaders to kill jews? Educate me

John read my last comment and please do. Small minded folks are a major reason everyone hates us and if you don't think its important to have other countries likes us then ask yourslef why no NATO ally is sending in combat troops, ask yourself why countries are considering a new global currency, ask yourself why Americans are targeted all over the world?

The Global Economy is what drives our economy. I bet you didn't even know Iran is a huge buyer of our goods which actually grew under Bush. Do soem research yourself before typing away.

One of the reasons that Americans are less than enthusiastic about engaging with Muslims is because of what has occurred in Europe. In many countries where Muslims immigrate, they will not assimilate into the existing culture. The more numerous they become, the more demanding they become that their new home country change the existing culture to accommodate them. Look at Denmark, for example.

As an ex-marine, I would fight with muslims but only if I could keep them in front of me at all times. All muslims' goals are the same as serious Christians-Convert others of a different or no faith. The only difference is their methods. Christians use love, muslims say, "Convert to Islam or die!" I choose "love".

John, did you not see what the last jerk did to our country?

And we're NOT a Christian country, no matter how hard you wish or pray that we are. We are a democratic nation made up of Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Shintos, Scientologists, Mormons, Pagans, Secular Humanists, Agnostics, Atheists, every other belief system you can imagine. That we are NOT a Christian nation is a primary theme of our founding document - the Constitution. To say that we are a Christian nation is a LIE and is Un-American.

The root cause of all Islamic extremist is the United States has publically taken a role as a proxy for the Israel government, rather than mediating as a fair and balanced partner. This has allowed the extremist fringe in the Islamic world to present a rallying point to recruit terrorists to their cause. I think there is nothing to do with Christian religion. Muslim, Christian, Jew it’s all from same tree with different branches. You will see there are lots of similarities in Old Testament and As a Muslim we believe Jesus & Moses are prophet of god and we also belive in their book. We just don’t believe Jesus is son of God. U.S.-Israel relationship is harming this country by keeping us, in the eyes of much of the Muslim world, closely tied with and supporting an occupier, oppressor and perpetrator of war crimes against the Palestinian people. US need to mediate as a fair and balanced partner when resolving Israel Palestine issue and not to bow to Jews lobbyist and their campaign donation. I think this can help a lot.

I am a Muslim American. I agree with MWN. Mr. Melheim was very eloquent in his responses. I wish for peace in our world and I thank God we have a president who is more tolerant and intelligent This is clearly a step in the right direction.

[...] [more] [...]

Its a dog-eat-dog world. We eat them or they eat us. Think this from Pakistan's point of view. Getting BILLIONS of US dollars in aid, using the dollars to arm themselves to the teeth, arms mostly directed towards the western border with India, doing bare nothing to fight the extremists in the north-west. Its like rewarding a dog which bit your kid in the hope that the reward will keep it from biting again. Think again...

John,

Obama is bold because he claimed that the U.S. is not a Christian country? Well, I got news for you: it's not. Deal with it.

dolarbil – I cant respond to your comment, its pointing here and there and has nothing to do with this

having lived overseas for 6 years this decade, those that say how dmaged our reputation is don;t know what theyare talking about.
Obama is potraying a weak, naive leader that will be exploited

Why is it that every country, nationality or ethnic group that we the US has contact with has to go to great lengths to understand there mindset and culture when our mind set and culture is in lager part comprised of all the others. In my apartment complex just going to check the mail I see at least five different ethnic groups, and we all live together in peace.

It seems clear that the United States is at last taking steps to begin to mend the fabric of our relationship with the Islamic world, which got painted wholesale along with our obvious enemies, al Qaeda. That was akin to maligning all Hispanics because we are insulted by Chavez in Venezuela. We must be able to understand and practise the nuances of foreign relations.
We also need to begin to overcome our own American misconceptions, as evidenced in the comment posted by Mr. Nelson, asking when moderate Muslims will "begin to take a stand" against Islamic extremists. Moderate Muslims by the millions have been doing that since before we noticed that the Islamic world existed. They continue to do it today, and many have died at the hands of those extremists because of the strength of their convictions. Every innocent killed by extremism is a martyr, whether in New York, or in an elementary school in Bhagdad.

Samuel – ONCE AGAIN SAMUEL, i read JIHAD WATCH, and as a result I BOUGHT THE QURAN, maybe this time you will get it

I suppose it could be coincidence that the letters which criticize Obama are fraught with grammar and spelling errors, while those which praise him seem to be well-written. I understand fear. Many people have been hurt. I see nothing wrong with seeking to define the enemy clearly. Why is it that so many choose to lump groups together. Those who seek to understand are characterized as naive or weak. That seems unfair. It takes a certain kind of energy to continue to see the problem clearly, and it appears that many simply lack that energy.

John

Please explain to me how not having allies in that part of the world does us no good. Better understanding their culture and having a means to bring the fight to the RIGHT people isn't in our best interest? Also tell me how it is he's turning our country into a Muslim country. In fact, that statement is so absurd that I actually laughed out loud when I read it. It is people like you who actually believe that we do not need any allies that are the reason for our country's decline in the past 8 years. Our arrogance and most of all our ignorance has sent us into a downward spiral not only economically but also in the sense of the worlds' view of this country. We gain more than you can ever imagine from having a voice in that part of the world. When are you going to see what the jerk, Bush has ALREADY done to our country?!

Nice, we have a president with a brain. Keep up the good work Obama.

Kmd – your comment is neither here nor there, yes Mohammed is praised but so was Hitler, except that Hitler didn't sleep with nine year olds (Aisha) What do you have to say. Maybe SAMUEL can help you, am I wrong samuel?

Matt after you biblical verse quotations I thought you were confused, now I am convinced that you live in a box. The US economy drives the Global Economy, not the other way around

first of all whats wrong with guantanimo? or abu ghraib for that matter. you call that treatment rough? made to eat pork? look at girly pictures? make a man pyramid? oohh, thats so chilling. water boarding where no one died? oh i am sure they are scarred for life! why don't all of you sympathy mongers go check out the beheading web sites. yep american citizens getting their heads sawed off with a blunt knife for all the world to see and you think what they get is worse. just a bunch of hold over hippies running this world and now their kids are grown up to disable this country further. why don't you people give a crap about your own people instead of some frikin arab who would kill you in a second if given the chance. wake up people! when the shariah law comes to this country, and the beheadings start, you will be the first in line. better go get your copy of the koran today. you will want to be politically correct when the time comes right?

SED and the extrmists like him are the ones unhappy about US Muslim relation. These western-Qaeda want war and they are the very reason there is war around the world. Why Jews must always want killings and wars. The holy books are filled with there violence.

i think this is the moment to move forward for a world peace.

so the neocons-western-qaeda step aside!!!

Maybe Bush did say some of the things that Obama said. However, the manner in which you say things (the same things) can be percieved very differenty. Bush was unintelligent, not understanding, and simply put not a good communicator. Obama is a good communicator, he knows how to talk to people, how to get people to like him, how to have respect for different cultures, and has a kindness with intelligence that draws people of all cultures to like him. Just look at how many people in all countries come out to see him when he speaks. Were as almost noboby would come to see Bush. Matter fact I can't remember to many times were he would go to other countries just to speak with people and leaders. What Barack has been doing is exactly what we need. I think Obama is doing a fantastic job so far. I have a feeling he is going to continue to do so, and its going to get easier to get things accomplish the more he gains trust.

Throwing criticism without knowledge is the perfect recipe for misunderstantings and conflicts. To all those who blame Muslims as women hater, abusive, destructive and violent, I would like to say that it is not the religion (Islam) that tells them to do so, it is their own actions that stain the religion.

I feel there's enough abuse and mistreatment of women in America as well in the form of domestic violence, rape, date rape, workforce discrimination in terms of pay and promotion etc. But this should not lead one to interpret America or Americans and furthermore Christians as ignorant people.

If Muslims and Christinas alike really read the Quran (and bible) and really tried to understand Islam (and Christianity), then there would be no conflicts today among the two. We are all people of the book and any being who believe in God cannot hate or wish for distruction of any mankind.

Hisham Melhem has a unique perspective - insights into the Muslim world (he's the Washington bureau chief of Al-Arabiya, the Dubai based satellite channel) and the West (B.A. in philosophy from Villanova, studied at Georgetown). He's well respected in both of those worlds because thoughtful people who reside on both sides recognize that while he can explain the views of each, he's an apologist for neither. For several decades he has appeared in valuable interviews on programs like ABC's NightLine (in the Ted Koppel era), Charlie Rose, PBS's NewsHour, Frontline, etc.

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TO: RC– (April 7th, 2009 1:39 pm ET) "I may not have voted for him but I’m very proud of him. He’s won this (mostly) Republican over."

Thank you. Sounds like you're somebody who thinks critically and makes up his or her own mind. I was a Republican for 44 years before he won ME over.

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TO: Rhonda - (April 7th, 2009 1:17 pm ET) "He called September 11, a 'fine morning'"

He's talking about the weather on 9/11. Nearly every news story on September 12, 2001 made some mention of the tragic irony, that such a despicable act could have taken place on such an achingly beautiful late summer morning.

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TO: usmc1 (April 7th, 2009 1:58 pm ET) "How can you people think this is good in any way. And
now they are cutting the defence budget."

You can have your own opinions but not your own facts. The defense budget proposed by Secretary Gates for upcoming 2010 fiscal year represents approximately a 4% increase over the 2009 budget; God knows what it'll be when Congress gets through with it, but probably higher when each member protects projects in the home district, irrespective of whether it's a what our troops really need [DoD News Briefing With Secretary Gates From The Pentagon - http://www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=4396 ]

From your handle I'd guess that you and I are among the relatively few people posting comments here who actually have worn a uniform.

The big questions is always: When will modarate muslims do something about the crazy ones?
The answer is when we leave their countries, stop supporting the dictators that control their countries, change our policies to be at least fair when it comes to Isreal/Palestine. I think that once this happens the moderates will find the radicals to be the trouble itself and will deal with them as they would be the only remaing problem for peace and prosperity between different religions and different countries. As to what Obama is doing, it is way to go. What a great president. Proud to have him as president. We should not change our way because of handfull of idiots. Proof of that is that during Bush''s years we were becoming more and more like the terrorists themselves, by invading Iraq, using torture and such. God bless the USA and the rest of the people in the world who are looking to get along and make this world better for their children.

just a thought. Is it possible for an intelligent , educated person to hate? I keep seeing comments like "you people are obviously uninformed or uneducated. I suppose that is a kind way of saying "Those people who do not agree with me are uneducated or stupid'. This is amusing to me.

It's obvious why they liked his sermon – He is one of them. There is absoutely no doubt that Obama has an agenda and the good of the American people is not part of it. He is as NON American as it get. If he was concerned for the safety of American people, he would not be pushing to shut down Gitmo and bring those murdurers here for our tax dollars to defend.

Read your history books and you will no doubt see how he compares to communist leaders of the past. This man will destroy our country for his own gain.

Get him out of there.

The most repressive societies in the world tend to be those governed by Islamic Law. Was it not in Afghanistan, where the liberated government bowed only to world pressure when they suspended the state ordered execution of a muslim who converted to christianity. This is what those governements do. In his speach to Columbia University, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stated that there are no homsexuals in Iran, at the same time that homsexuals were being executed in Iran for being homosexual. This is what those governements do. In Saudi Arabia, a man visited an elderly woman he had know since childhood, to deliver her needed food and aid to live. But since there was no blood relation between the two, they were both sentenced to x-number of lashes, a number that many were certain the elderly woman could not survive, in essence, a death sentence. Once again, only international uproar called attention to this injustice. To get this sentence commuted, it was claimed that the woman had helped raise the man when he was a child, this hopefully being evidence to stop the lashes. No other reason, such as sanity, or the idea that this may be a way to cruel and inhumane punishment. But that is what these governments do. All of these stories were covered by CNN... and many many many more where these governements have demonstrated themselves as the most repressive and backwards societies in the world. I am sorry, but these sort of goverment sponsored actions do not happen in western socieities, and it is not just a matter of how much someone will suggest that it is all because we just misunderstand each other. I think most people can identify what repressive behavior is.

I'm sick of far-left and far-right nut jobs, I'm sick of ignorance. Let's kill Taliban and al-Qaida (I remember 9/11, it WAS a "fine morning" until those bastards flew in) and leave Hamas and Hezbollah for later, Israel certainly has the ability to hold them off on its own. And if we have to make nice with Iran and Syria, who aren't too enamored of the Taliban and al-Q themselves, then let's do it. Osama and his collection of scum are Enemy Number One - again, I remember 9/11! Iraq was a wrong turn that belatedly could be a golden opportunity. Clarity and strength, not bluster and posturing, will take care of the "Muslim question."

To the far-left: The only bridges we need to build are to demand, here and abroad, that religion stop masquerading as foreign (and in many countries, including our own very occasionally, domestic) policy. And America can't and shouldn't apologize for Bush forever, move on. Islam, its teaching and its history, have its peaceful tenets but also have its violent side (more so than Christianity but only by a nose), and parts of the Koran (like the Bible) can easily be interpreted as a call to murder. And in many areas Muslim culture is admittedly backwards and medieval. America should be friendly to Muslims but cast a wary eye on them at the same time. To the far-right: The endless cycles of violence you seem to support are sickening. Also, when you people say Obama is opening us up to attack, what do you mean? He closed Gitmo but that was going to happen anyway (for legal reasons), just would've taken longer under McCain. I don't recall seeing anything about cuts in airport or seaport security or cuts in special ops that stealthily kill bad guys, so how exactly is our country less safe? Because we're not going to be keeping lists of what people take out of the library anymore? I'm not trying to be snotty , I would like the right to give us specifics rather than just Cheney-ish doom talk.

I am a centirst who slightly leans left, and people who don't agree with me shall burn in hell. I call it "Matticalism." lol

the palestinians and arabs need to get over it. Isreal is going NOWHERE! the sooner you accept that reality the sooner peace can grow. but it wont. every time they tried to attack isreal they have been destroyed. obama will try to take that power from their hands but he will fail. the holy land is not theirs and never will be!

Well I have read most of the comments.... the point is not Islam or Obama ..the point is we all have to stop this fight.... but the sad thing is that it will never stop because that is what we humans do and always have done ... fight fire with fire ... kill or be killed ... i have read some one commenting that the Quran says "convert every one either by teaching or sword" . Islam wants peace ... it is like the usa going around spreading democracy .... history has taught us that is peace is better then war. but we will always have wars ... because we will never try to understand each other … in the end all the world resources (which are not infinite) will be consumed over this fight for idealism (which is a relative term in the first place) ... and why because we are greedy and ignorant. We are separated by imaginary lines, with in these lines we are further divided into religious groups and social groups. We differentiate among us on the bases of color, language, belief, wealth, looks, education etc. This divide that we have limits us, confines us to a singular belief (any belief) and in most cases we are willing to die for that belief or even kill for it!!!!

There are no moderate Muslims there are either Muslims or non-Muslims this new word is not there in Islam … any one who kills an innocent person commits one of the biggest sin … extremism is not a Muslim thing the concept is global. One can call USA as an extreme capitalist state, because USA always fought against communism, and the reason they do so is because of their belief. Their commitment to spread democracy is no different from Muslims spreading Islam.

The right of self defense doesn’t necessarily mean you go around killing every one you THINK can hurt you this way you’ll have more enemies.. A very smart person left a comment saying
“All of this is great “propaganda” until the day we are attacked again on our own soil. These same fools that are saying how great it is to “talk” with our enemies will be asking “why….why did this happen??? Who didn’t do their job to protect us???” A very sad day indeed….”
Let me ask you this… Do you really believe force is the answer ?
There are people with exactly the same point of view in the Muslim world. They want tto protect them selves from the USA. Believe me if USA has a large army, they are fear less willing to blow them selves up just to kill an American …. And in the end like this person saying talks with your enemies will not help you, will cause the most harm to this world today.
We can’t destroy a nation if few people from it are wrong. But then fear rules us and we can’t help it. I said before it is sad that we will never have peace and like every religion in the world say “there is going to be dooms day”. If you look into the matter closely of course there is going to be an End and the reason will be that we fought our selves to death…. Look at the current economic crisis why can’t we see that this was caused by the recent wars … the price of oil went up for a few months and bought the whole world to its knees.
I know it sound stupid and unrealistic and many will think that this is not at all the solution… that is PEACE (which is a paradox : ) )…. So we either fight till the time this world stands still with no life or we come together let go of the differences and live in peace.

R.A.-Do you care to enlighten the West on how the Quran defines peace? When a Westerner uses that word I think it means something different than how someone who regards the Quran uses it. Does it not mean submitting one's self to Allah?

SF:

I would recommend you read the Quran or any good book that covers the life of Prophet Muhammed (PBUH). He did marry 9 year old Aisha. But can you comprehend a marriage between a man and woman as anything other than sex?!

I will not debate with you weather it was a good thing or not as regional culture and practices in certain parts of the world and at certain times may appear absurd at other times or places.

I will say this much that, if you invest the time to research, Aisha was one of the most exemplary woman in the history of mankind (and history of Islam) as a pious, intelligent, respected and independent woman during her time.

if you want more information in this topic I can point you to some good reference material as well.

Robert Smith April 7th, 2009 1:18 pm ET

The same can be said for America: when will Christian moderates take a firm stand against Christian extremists?
-----------------------------
A fine point. Personally, I think we started doing that last November.

Andy M, I totally agree with you.

The thirld world and the muslim countries were raped by the colonists, then came US and its support for Israel... Now Obama is trying to get the US, which now more so looks like a "Israeli colony", to be an independant nation that can choose who it wants to be friends with.

So that must be the reason the neocons are unhappy?

I am a Muslim. I strongly condemn Al Qaeda for killing people of any other faith/background in the name of Islam. They have no right to call themselves believers of God let alone spill blood in His name. This is not just my belief but also of my community. It is repeated often by our spiritual and political leaders. Why do people say that the moderates do no speak out? We speak but nobody listens, nobody writes about it and frankly I dont think they believe us.
I also believe people should be judged by their actions. I hope Obama can prove himself rather than just talk. Isn't is America that taught us that "talk is cheap".

Leave God out and his protection and watch what happens to this nation. This nation was founded on Christianity rather you like it or not. We have many practicing religions in the country because we allowed it, but it was still founded on Christianity-read your history books or better yet look at a penny and read what it says. Obama is doing all he can to take God out of this country-open your eyes.

To DKP, who wants us to "get Obama out of there" are you aware that unlike some of the very countries you detest, we are living in a DEMOCRACY? Are you aware that President Obama was democratically elected to the position by a majority of the citizens of this country? What exactly would "getting him out of there" achieve that is SO very much better than the communist regimes you point to? Perhaps you should read YOUR history books. Try looking up a little document called the constitution.

The only weapon the US has to stabilize the middle east and pacify fundamentalism is HBO. Start broadcasting HBO throughout the region and the world would be a safer place...if you get my drift~~

I really think people need to stop and think about what they are saying, especially when they choose to place judgement on something they do not understand. Quite frankly, we as Americans have no right to accuse Muslims in the mistreatment of women when we obviously have are own problems with the way women are treated in this country. Islam is not the problem when it comes to the treatment of women, because it is in all societies. Everyday women are beaten and killed by their husbands or boyfriends in this country. What about that? Now since we are a predominantly Christian nation, what if a Muslim were to come to you and say Christians treat women badly based on what they hear in the news? We need to get over these sterotypes and putting people in categories. It is absolutely ridiculous.

Yes Larry lol it's liberal "hatrid" that permeates through this board. Actually, the right wingers are doling out 95% of the bigoted, hateful comments on this thread. If you had any reading comprehension skills, this would not have escaped you.

Seriously though, the faithful 28%ers are out in full force. If only they realized just how similar they are to the extremists that they hate so much. Just replace "This is uh Cuhhristian nayshun!" with "Islamic" and you can see how closely they resemble one another. Both breathtaking in the sheer stupidity and ignorance.

The main conflict I see is not Islam v. Christianity. Rather it is the ultra conservative religious zealots v. rational, secular moderates who just want to live their life in peace without being beaten over the head with a Bible or Qu'ran.

Why is it that we want all the Islamic nations to be secular while the Repiblicans and right wingers think we need more God/Jesus in our politics?

Over the past eight years, the Republicans have shown they know as little about foreign policy as they do about the economy. So who cares what they say? They're down to 35 percent of the voting population for a reason.

@Jerry April 7th, 2009 3:41 pm ET

It is so wonderful…to be on better terms with people who beat women, treat ‘em like animals, chop off heads, blow up innocent people, commit rapes to shame women into wearing explosive belts and redemming their souls with suicide missions.
Is Obama a Muslim???
-------------------------
Hey Jerry, based on that comment I figured you might be one of his kids, rather then Jerry himself. Do us a favor, Go to the "US News' section under cnn, or fox, or pbs. Everything you just mentioned, happens daily right here in america, right here in what some of these morons are trying to call a christian country (I'm christian, but this is NOT a christian country...claiming it is, is close to treason).

So tell me, where you going to move to where none of that happens?

To Ahalim:
“SED and the extrmists like him are the ones unhappy about US Muslim relation. These western-Qaeda want war and they are the very reason there is war around the world. Why Jews must always want killings and wars. The holy books are filled with there violence.
i think this is the moment to move forward for a world peace.”

Why is that when Muslim wants to blame somebody for ANY troubles it is always Jews that are guilty?
Let’s see about Jews that like killing and killing:
6 million Jews killed just 65 years ago. That is called Holocaust, if you know. But of course, you don’t believe that it had ever took place, don’t you? By the way, don’t forget that the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem Haj Amin el-Husseini was Adolf Hitler’s best friend and ally.
How about all Arabs (no exception) attacking Jews in 1948 right after UN voted to establish two states: Israel and Palestine? Discriminatory killing of innocent people in Israel is going for 60 years now.

How about very peaceful Muslims that celebrated 9/11, dancing on the streets of Chicago suburbs (I saw it)?
How about ongoing terrorism that is going throughout the world for coupe of decades, all by Muslims? Very peaceful people! Give me a break with your peacefulness, will you?

You want to move to peaceful world, respect ALL PEOPLE, not just the ones you like!

BRIAN – please spare me, Ive been fighting off "look over here", "look over there" arguements all afternoon. People who happen to be Christian commit violent acts, it is incidental. However, Muslims commit violent acts BECAUSE they are muslim. The Bible does not command us to do violence on others as the Quran does.

sohel...

"If you remove the jews vote then it will be 98% Yes and 2% No"

I thought about proving the stupidity of this statement with facts, but you would not understand logic.

This type of racism against jews no matter where they live (and other groups –such as Americans), , is the exact reason many Americans don't trust Muslim nations. Many muslims don't seem to operate under the same worldview as Americans.

R.A. – thank you for the offer. Before I will read any books that you may reccomend, answer these –

do you personally think it is a-ok for a man to marry a nine year older girl?

Do you think it is fine for a 75 year old woman to received x(you add the number of lashings) for visiting a non-related adult male, unless she has breast fed him?

Do you think it is alright for a 16 year old girl to be set on fire for meeting with a boy?

Lets start with @MAH

Your comments are way off. The US supports Israel because they are very well aware that it's the only democracy in the middle east. Israel treats it's Arab citizens far better than any Arab country and respects their rights and freedoms. What's disgusting is that Islamic extremists need to find a scapegoat and unfortunately throughout history, Jews have always gotten the very short end of the stick. If Muslims are unhappy about their economic situation they should promote education, human rights, innovation and change. Instead they celebrate when their sons and daughters choose to strap on explosive vests to murder women and children riding buses and walking down the street.
I want to be very clear that Israel is on the front line of a very dangerous situation – Muslim domination. It's clearly spelled out and they are following it. Israel, that little piece of land they are all so hot for is only an excuse. If Israel didn't exist there would have been many more 9/11's by now.
Israel has done more with that little piece of unlivable dirt than any of the previous inhabitants or countries in that region. May I remind you that when Israel moved out of Gaza, the first thing they did was blow up all the greenhouses and infrastructure that was left behind. Clearly a mark of a peace loving people! They sit on a pile of dirt because they like it that way. They scream for UN support because they don't want to make their lives better and work like everyone else has to. I want to know how a bunch of holocaust survivors were able to make the desert bloom with crops and with thriving agriculture, tech industries and Palestinians only sit and complain and then steal the donations which are sent to them. If they want to be taken seriously they can start by not voting for Hamas in the next election. They are a bunch of suckers and being used by the rest of the Muslim extremists as a scapegoat so that Israel can be destroyed. It's a pity.
As for moderate Muslims.... where are they? There aren't any because non have come forward. Underneath it all, they all believe in the same thing, if you're not one of them you should be killed or converted and I for one will not be converted.
Everyone should keep their eyes open because, the more we bow down and apologize for offending them or not arranging our societies to their liking, the more weak we become. And who cares about what they think of us anyway?
The really sad thing is that the middle east use to be a vibrant, multi-faith region for thousands of years. They were prosperous and creative and most of all tollerant. When they decided to "cleanse" (lets be clear they either killed everyone else or drove them out by force) all non-muslims they set the wheels in motion for a big backward roll towards the dark ages. No society/religion ever progresses from being isolated from the rest of the world and we'll all be victims of their massive steamroller of intolerance. Being nice and fluffy as all liberals seem to want to be, even though they will be first in line to wear burkas and get their heads chopped off, is not the answer. Force is the only thing they know – it's knowledge or the sword folks. This is all they know.
England has already gone down the toilet. Do you want to be next?

AH – I really think people need to stop and think about what they are saying, especially when they choose to place judgement on something they do not understand. (I understand ISLAM very well)

"Quite frankly, we as Americans have no right to accuse Muslims in the mistreatment of women when we obviously have are own problems with the way women are treated in this country." "Islam is not the problem when it comes to the treatment of women, because it is in all societies. Everyday women are beaten and killed by their husbands or boyfriends in this country. What about that?" (I'll tell you about that. Islam is the problem. As an American it is my right to point out inconvenient truths, and I am not sorry that you take exception to it. Furthermore it is my duty to point the truth about Islam. Oppression of women within the muslim faith is institutionalized. Lastly, here we have laws against even laying a finger on a woman, in muslim countries, beating are the least of these women's worries, as they can and do get killed, for a variety of things, all the while getting the thumbs up from Imams, mullahs, etc.)

Now since we are a predominantly Christian nation, what if a Muslim were to come to you and say Christians treat women badly based on what they hear in the news? We need to get over these sterotypes and putting people in categories. It is absolutely ridiculous. (you are right it is absolutely ridiculous that you are comparing treatment of women in this country to treatment of women by muslims including in this country, ie, recent beheading, fathermurdering his own two daughters in an "honor killing")

Samuel, Im waiting....

To Mar: How about very peaceful Muslims that celebrated 9/11, dancing on the streets of Chicago suburbs (I saw it)?
How about ongoing terrorism that is going throughout the world for coupe of decades, all by Muslims? Very peaceful people! Give me a break with your peacefulness, will you?

Mar you must have a very very short memmory!!!!

Remember when you supported Sadam and gave him the the chemical wepons!

Remember when you created the Bin Laden group and supported him against USSR in Afganistan!

Remember when USSR attacked Afganistan no one came to help for the first three years of war!!!

Iraq attacked Iran under the US umbrella!!!

so many of that kinda news and the Jewish Media support to everything that is against Islam!!!

you seeded the hatred tree!!! no lets come the fresh air, and you give the world a break!!! enough of hipcratic Israeli support!!!!

let the American mind run the America! It is time for change!

To SF

Interesting how you believe that your sense of morality is the right sense. All of the examples you mention are not in line with my moral and ethical believes. But neither is rampant greed, promiscuity, shamelss flaunting of extra marital sex on prime time TV, ignorance and intolerance of others of different believes, gluttony, degradation of marriage as a primary family structure, beating of your female life partner, rape, murder, child molestation, bigotry etc. Guess which society is chuck full of those things?

To all of the negative nancys. Have you ever really been exposed to a muslim family. Strange as it may be to you at a family gathering it was the men who cleaned up and offered guests food and drink. Our view is so narrow and that is if you try. If your information comes from rhetoric, whether about muslims or other cultures or about the political process, you are a non person. You have no opinion. You simply blindly follow an ideology that you deem constant but is constantly changing. The Republican party is not what is used to be. The days of the US sabor rattling has to come to an end if we want to have any future in this global economy. Take a ride ona plane to Shanghai and ask the passnegers why they are going there. They are going there to oversee manufacturing for US companies. jobs that will never come back here. Times are changing and you are stuck in the post WWII era. Read sometime, and not your political parties web sites.

Who is the President trying to impress by going to Turkey and talking to moderate Muslims. Moderate Muslims are not the problem. Turkey is not a threat to the USA. When we have so called leaders of a religion, telling people to kill Jews and Christians, these are the people we need to be concerned about. Why not make a speech about these issues? Oh it makes Obama feel good to say the things that people in other countries want to hear, that America is at fault, that we need to listen etc. Give me a break! Is he so naive to think that these radical murderers will listen to reason? He is so naive that it boarders on stupidity because appeasement will not solve the problem.

SF – I have a question for you. How do you understand Islam? Did you study it? Are you a convert from Islam? Did you Google it? Have you worshipped in a mosque? Have you been to a Muslim country? Also, no matter how you slice it, whether it is because of religion, or as you say "incidental" when murder is by a Christian, these things are all wrong at the end of the day. I just find it interesting that you are so head strong to blame Islam for these things. The other day I was driving and listening to the radio and I happened to come across a Christian radio station. They were harping on how we need to pray as a nation and defeat the enemy abroad. That to me sounds like a group of people using Christianity to condone threatening actions abroad. You do not seem to want to acknowledge the truths in this country and are instead blaming a religion.

Bush's simplistic world is totally black & white – us against terrorists. Problem is he never fully defined the latter. Obama is smart to talk to the Arabs like a responsible citizenry, rather than as third-world subjects like his predecessor did. Neocons followed up as they were only delighted to incite conflict against the Arab world as their hunger to relive the '50's and the fall of Communism meant they had no one to inflict injury upon except for the Dems. Message to the old order – "Not all the Indians killed Custer."

SF- I've been reading quite a bit of your snippets, because based on the level of detail they go into, that's the best definition for them...snippets.

Pasting the word "Wreak terror to those you pass' with out pasting the words prior ("do not"), is a rather blatant attempt at misinforming the masses. You do have some good points in your many maniacal rants, but they are sandwiched between so many misnomers and blatant deception that they are lost in your message.

You can not argue away, and/or give 'reason' for the inqusitions, the crusades, and all other atrocities committed by christians in our long history and then condemn another religion for having a history that mirrors our own. You argue from a point of stubborn, blind ignorance. You refuse to condemn those wrongs in the past from our own religion but hypocritically want to blame the rest of the religions for theirs.

The point is simple, EVERY religion on earth has been the executioner at some point and time. It's a fact. And the reason: because every religion has absolute freaks in their midst that use their religion as a lame excuse to play out their demonic thoughts.

You can't just say 'Christians committed mass genocide because'...and expect to make it ok, no matter what you write after the word 'genocide'...it's NEVER ok, it's wrong, it's satanic and any who try to justify it should burn in hell!

@SF

you know Islam right? then you must know that Islam gave females all the rights that they enjoy in the current western world ??? before western society burned witches ... we Muslims protected them ... please read the history of Islam if you may ... women were slaves and sold ... Islam stopped all that ... the right to mans wealth after divorce (Islam), who will get the child (Islam) ...the acts you see now committed by Muslims against women is not ISLAM and if a Muslim male mistreats a female (and I am not denying that they don’t ) will be judged (the concept of heaven and hell) so once you say that ISLAM is the problem that means you don't know Islam at all ... The honor killing and all that is wrong .. The mullahs are wrong if they allow it (few mullahs are no better then 18 century priests). So please read ISLAM first, then read all these report and think over it ... and you will find that Islam is not wrong, few Muslims are!!! We Muslims (large majority) protect our women, we respect them, we take care of their rights (which are far more then any other religion). Infact I have no doubt in saying that Islam paved the way for women rights.

Moderate Democrat – and you can't say that because Christians did this, that and the other at some point in time and because every religion has the executioner, etc, that this justifies what muslims are doing thoughout the world. It is besides the point and doesn't deal with the issue which is a potential shift in US foreign towards countries like Iran. It is the typical response that I have been getting.

Also, I don't have to justify or make excues for what Christians did last week let alone what they did 800 years ago.

For the most part I agree with you however. Where have I attempted to misinform?

AH – "I have a question for you. How do you understand Islam? Did you study it? Are you a convert from Islam? Did you Google it? Have you worshipped in a mosque? Have you been to a Muslim country?"

Those are serveral questions. I studied philosophy which includes religion of course. I read the Quran to verify information that I read elsewhere including google. I watch speeches, or sermons given by muslim leaders on the INTERNET on video. As for the worshipping in a mosque and going to a muslim country, you must be kidding right? I don't have to hit myself in the head with a hammer to know it hurts.

Now How do you understand Islam? Did you study it? Are you a convert from Islam? Did you Google it? Have you worshipped in a mosque? Have you been to a Muslim country?

hey guys,

Please try to understand that "TuRkey is not a muslim country". 'People' are muslim, not the country (parliamenter democracy since 1923) (secularism, secularist country). you may reach some info on wikipedia easily. and please stop calling us "modarate muslim or reasonable muslim"
Acting as a "bulwark" against communism for some decades and supporting US politics globally since 2.Cairo Conference (1943) we 're pissed off to be named as reasonable muslim

And please check out that TR&US relations vary at a very wide range in terms of politics-science-military-academic-business etc etc.
as an example: and right now %70 of US Army supplies for Iraq are carried through TR air bases, so just show some respect and make out your ideas after reading&learning a bit, which is all we have to do..

To hate people because of their identity is called RACİSM. Remember your grandfathers lost their life on Omaha beach when they were fighting aganist "RACİSM"

Reading many articles on this page, i see ''some people" are not only
ignorant about the rest of the world but also about your own US history.

And finally i want to give an advice to the genius who wrote this
"Should the U.S. trust Muslim allies as much as other allies?" to learn about "Korean War" and what did TR army made there to save a US army corps...

2 questions: What is US doing now is a "fight againist islam??"
i would really like to know what is the percentage of US people who think that they are fighting against islam or aganist any religion ??!

Why does US cooperates more with a conservative party (terrible muslims) than a secular democratic social democratic party in Turkey?? (considering and comparing the situation in the past and today)

by the way you may help a lot to muslim women by avoiding invading their countries "illegaily" if you care about them...

Violence aganist women is not a "muslim problem"...

To Ahalim:

You bring up the deeds of governments, not ordinary people. I brought the actions of governments and ordinary folks as well. I do not recall Christians or Jews (and I have been exposed to both folks) teaching their kids to hate others because they are different. But this is exactly what little kids learn from Hamas and others.
Have you seen people in the USA dancing on the streets when we attacked Iraq? I haven’t. I saw people protesting this barbaric act on streets that has been shown on TV.

You only response is about Jewish media, how typical for people like you! Just as I said “Why is that when Muslim wants to blame somebody for ANY troubles it is always Jews that are guilty?”

Do you what to comment on Grand Mufti of Jerusalem befriended with Hitler? Apparently you do not. I’m not surprised.

Wow I cannot believe the ignorance of some of the commenters on here. To say the president is a lapdog of Muslims, birds of a feather, or that we are at war with Islam is a shining example of what is wrong with OUR country. You represent the reflection of extremists in the Islamic world within our culture. It is your blind blanketing hatred that puts all Americans in danger of future extremist attacks. We, the moderates in both societies, will defeat you, because your ignorance will not be tolerated. That is a promise that I, a proud moderate American, make to the world. Our president is doing more to prevent terrorism in one trip then our previous president did in 8 long years in office, and some of you extremists have the nerve to mock him!?!?

Russ St. Louis -

"But neither is rampant greed, promiscuity, shamelss flaunting of extra marital sex on prime time TV (THIS IS COVERED BY THE BILL OF RIGHTS), ignorance and intolerance of others of different believes, gluttony, degradation of marriage as a primary family structure, beating of your female life partner, rape, murder, child molestation, bigotry etc."

Guess which society is chuck full of those things? Answer: Islamic Society, except for the sex on tv thing – change the channel. I bet you are suprised. Go to Waziristan and tell me what you find. Your comparision of our culture to islam is ludacris (yes I mean the hip-hop star) = Stupid.

And the story of the muslim men bringing drinks was nice too. My dog brings me beer, does that make him special? Maybe they were "moderate" lol, which only means they haven't commited their first mass murder yet. You take care bud, carry a knife at least

SF – I have been to a mosque (definitely not a hammer on the head), I have fasted during Ramadan, I have studied and watched speeches as you have for my dissertation, I have never been to a country where the majority is Muslim though I will plan to, I have many Muslim friends who are all lovely and loving people. My point is, I find no fault with Islam nor the majority of people who follow it. I am not going to judge a whole group of people based on the actions of a few.

yusuf you sound like a radical were you at now? I'll bet you'll be a part of the war God has talked about after his 1000 year reign!

SF,

I appreciate your response, sincerely.

But I think the responses you are getting are in return for what many see as a blind and racist hate for a people based solely on religion, and then you start to lecture how muslims and islam are in the wrong, for hating people of different religions. It's rather ironic and hypocritical. I simply find you to be no different then the radical muslims, who hate solely based on religion.

I can't agree to hate a whole civilization based on a few radical freaks that reside there. If I did, I would have to hate my own country. No thanks to that kind of logic. If it's not ok to murder in the name of religion, then it's not ok to 'hate' in the name of religion. I just feel you try to justify your hate of muslims. There is no justification, atleast not according to my christian teachings.

I am one of the few europeans that is NOT infatuated by the current POTUS.

Even this sucking up to the muslims has a purpose.
The only motive the US can ever have is OIL

Because Obama and the democrats do not want to consider drilling in potentially rewarding US OIL reserves, just because they are in vulnerable coastal area's, disregarding the fact that during the decades the areas have been closed off new technology has opened cleaner was of extracting that oil.

Where can he get the oil he need on top of the alaskan and texan oil? most of it from the middle east. what religion is prevailing over there? Islam. Of course the POTUS is sucking up to the muslims. If they had been buddhists, he would be sucking up to buddhists.

One cannot deny that during the dark ages the islamic world did not stand in the way of new inventions. But one also cannot deny the fact that after the renaissance in europe hardly any relevant invention came to see the light of day from those parts. after that it has mostly been the western world.

Another point that has been made, is the fact that muslims in western countries are peaceful. I beg to differ.
One great western freedom they do not seem to grasp. The freedom of speech. nowadays no columnist would even think twice to mock Christianity. They will however think twice to even make a critical comment on Islam, keeping the murder of Theo van Gogh in the Netherlands in mind. Not to forget the riots all over the world after a Danish newspaper published a set of cartoons. just recently they try to limit the freedom of speech in the Netherlands by taking a member of the Dutch Parliament, Geert Wilders, to court for his remarks on Islam.
The US has no history with muslim guestworkers. We in Europe do, after the influx of many moroccans and turks during the last 355 years. Similar to the influx of latino into the US. only difference. latinos are catholic, and european guest workers are muslim. Mostly uneducated and provincial. Those people brought their kind of islam to europe. The less enlightened version. Many of them are able to interpret en follow their interpretation of islam in a way they would not have been able to do in Turkey of Morocco enjoying the freedom of speech and religion of the WEST. At the same time they want to impose restrictions of the way we ought to speak about them and their interpretation of Islam? HELL NO.

btw just as 2000 years ago everyone heralded Jesus as their saviour on Palm Sunday and less than a week later He was crucified.
Right everyone may think Obama is our version of the messiah, he will just as easily be dropped if he does not deliver the goods. Words don't mean anything.

TO SF

Waziristan LOL LOL brother SF i live here come here i'll send you a ticket then tell me what you think if you are really interested i'll send you a ticket to come to pakistan .... your small world surprises me the troubles we have here have nothing to do with islam .... seriously if you willing to come tell me i'll show you around i'll show you what muslims are

[...] Commentary: Muslim world "likes" Obama's words President Obama was in Turkey today. It was the last leg of his five-nation European tour and his first trip to a [...] [...]

SALMAN – what does your book tell you the punishment for apostasy is? As for your offer to go to Pakistan, I appreciate it but, I must pass. Im sure a lot of your muslim buddys will like to go though. And please do tell, what are the real problems in waziristan.

AH – the reason I am concerned about islam is because of its teachings, the ones you know well. You will probably find when you go that you are not muslim enough. I suspect that you will find that such countries are too islamic for you. Read the question to Salman, what is the answer?

MODERATE DEMOCRAT – but of course that is exactly the counter arguement, that is how you silence criticism of the inconvenient truth – when one is critical of a culture, religion etc, call him a bigot. MD I hate Nazis, does that make me a bigot?

MODERATE DEMOCRAT – I don't hate muslims, I don't hate anyone. Pointing out the truth is ironic nor hypocritical – lets call an ace an ace. Look I don't question your moral fiber so don't question mine and lets discuss the issues. You and I will think what we want. Bottom line, it doesn't matter that you think a few bad muslims spoil batch, they hate you and I equally as much. And I didn't pull any of my beliefs from thin air. Let me know where you beleive Ive misled and I will back it with sources, and not just any sources, I'll use the words of Muhammed and his contemperaries and repected muslim leaders of this day

Wow. Every time I read these threads I am thunderstruck by the ignorance, hatred and lies that people fervently offer up, convinced that they alone know how it really is, when they really know very little.

Lots of people on all sides are guilty of this, and I despair to think that responsible, informed political discourse in this country is all too rare. It's never really been the norm, but at least we used to admire those who insisted on it. Nowadays, we seem to worry that if we're not hysterically partisan or constantly show how tough and uncompromising we are, no one will listen to us.

Well, here's a thinking person, who loves peace but is not naive enough to think it'll just happen if we all trust each other; who respects the military and a strong defense but believes we should avoid using it except as a truly last resort; who is a Christian but respects the beliefs of others; and who believes that all religions have their crimes to answer for. And here is some of what I have observed:

* The Bush administration woefully squandered the outpouring of international support after 9/11 by using that tragedy as an excuse to become the bully of the world, thinking that would intimidate our shadowy 'enemies.' All it seems to have done is make the extremists hate us more, and the moderates much less likely to support us. When you go beyond the deserving targets like the Taliban/al Qaeda axis in Afghanistan, and trump up bogus excuses to settle old scores by invading a sovereign country with no plan beyond the part where you flatten their military resistance, you will lose the support of reasonable folks worldwide - the same folks, mind you, who figured you had the right to go after terrorists, who offered their help in doing so, and were miffed at your arrogance when you insisted on going it alone, especially when you overreached and attacked a country that had NO demonstrable connection to 9/11 but was a convenient target that you just didn't like. And now you're fuming that they don't respect you? And now you're dumping on the guy who's trying to undo all that damage? When you throw a rhetorical temper tantrum and call him an appeaser, even though there is no logical reason for this charge, you simply appear petulant, and worse, stubborn in your ignorance.

* True, moderate Muslims bear the responsibility to oppose extremism within their nations, their cultures, and their religion. But just because you haven't seen it on Fox News doesn't mean they're not doing it already. It's not enough yet, of course, but saying that all Muslims condone terrorism is bigoted ignorance, plain and simple. By the way, one of the reasons it's so hard to find Arab moderates these days is that the most powerful one is gone. His name? Wait for it..... Saddam Hussein. That's right, the guy we unfairly tarred with the terrorist brush, the one we were sure was the second coming of Hitler, the guy our nitwit president had a personal beef with, the guy we just HAD to take out because he was just too evil to let alone... was, despite it all, a key part of what passed for stability in the middle east for forty years before we launched our self-righteous "pre-emptive" invasion. Sure, he was a dictator and a thoroughly bad guy, but we've supported lots of those in the past because we were smart enough to value the stability they sometimes represented. Don't believe me? Here's a list to consider: Batista, Pinochet, Somoza, Marcos, The Shah, and Saddam himself, to name just a few (and I haven't even started on Asia and Africa). We really did support all of these folks at one time, even though they were terrible to their own people, even though not one of them supported democracy, but because they represented stability and/or a buffer against the spread of communism. It was always a calculated risk, something we did while we held our noses and wished out loud about democracy in their countries - and sometimes we changed our minds before this support blew up in our faces, sometimes not. And often enough, we really did need to do this to preserve the peace and stability that we seemed to value over the freedom of those subject to these rulers. Most of the time, we were smart enough to know when to hold these odious allies close and when to discard them. It's a pity the Bushies had none of the foresight to consider what would happen without Saddam. Those who dismiss the Obamas of the world as naive for insisting on constructive engagement are often the same folks who must answer for the colossally naive assumption that a post-Saddam Iraq would just swoon for democracy, even though it had NEVER existed there before. Idiots. Worse, there was no such thing as 'al-Qaeda in Iraq' under Saddam. He hated those bastards for the extremists they are. He had a secular government that was threatened by them, and he didn't even consider they might be useful tools against the US. He just wanted no part of them, and made sure they didn't operate in his locked-down country. But now he's gone. Now look at the mess there. Oops. Now, I truly hope democracy will oneday prevail there - and it still might - but at what cost? Five thousand of our own soldiers gone, tens of thousands of Iraqis (probably hundreds of thousands) dead, anti-Americanism rampant in the Arab world, a pissed-off Europe, untold billions of your tax money squandered, religious extremists and terrorists all over the place.... even our coldest and most unblinkingly grim cost assessments would not have justified this misadventure had we stopped to consider it all.

Of course, it's too late to reconsider invading Iraq, so what do we do now? Seems to me we ought to do much like Obama is doing - try to undo the damage, acknowledge mistakes, reach out with understanding, and move on with hope tempered by realism and caution. Talking tough and acting unilaterally didn't get us anywhere - in fact, it made things worse - so ease up on the president, all you blowhards on the right.. He just might be right, and incredible as it may seem, you just might be wrong. Don't act like it hasn't happened before.

SF – I read your question to Salman. I am sure we could all go read verses either online or in a book in order to make a point. I do not have any text with me to go by, but i do belive the punishment is death. Whether that is actually written in the Qu'ran or simply a ruling, I do not know. But be sure to tell me where it is written and I will look for myself. That is not to say that there are not other religions who have made other similar statements in their books. But you sure seem to want to argue your case against Islam even though you can easily make the same cases elsewhere. However I do not feel the need to bash people's religions as you do. Where will that get us SF?

Whirling President

Obama did very well. He managed to turn a good number of Muslim minds in Turkey as he did with some fairly grumpy heads of state in the EU. Quite the "Whirling President," I'd say.

TO SH:

It is death as far as i know it ... i can’t quote it from Quran because as far as my knowledge goes it is not there ... it is part of other religious books that we have (as you may have seen it online), and I would also like to point out that we have the same sentence for murder as well, we cut off hands for thieves, rapist get stoned to death... And the reason is that for us this life is not important, there is life after death and i guess you know about our concept of heaven as hell ... and all these punishments in this world can/will make the life after words better ... this life is temporary ... life after is forever ... you have to under stand this entire concept and see what Islam says .... Islam wants a stable society ... where there is justice for all... things like zakat where you have to give you money away to poor people doesn’t get mentioned much because it is good ... things like respecting your parents is not talked about ... things like protecting the innocent is hardly a consideration... i am sure you have read millions of things against Islam and for you the concept of death plenty is different ... Islam has this because for us this life is the means to go to the next one, and non muslims don’t have to fear about it and I know couple of muslims how left the faith they are living  also remember no one leaves Islam and becomes Christian they become atheist. I would go though the Quran and ask scholars about, it any way I hope you got the answer that you were looking for … and that is DEATH is the plenty for apostasy,
... As far as my offer to come to Pakistan goes  I’ll be more then happy to entertain you, of course I under stand you point of view as well … any way I hope you got the answer that you were looking for … and that is DEATH is the plenty for apostasy,

By no means this concept says kill all non-muslims .... infact if you see the history of Islam it always integrated people didn;t divide them ... please read the history once muslims were in spain ... see how they developed the entire area ... muslims have done alot for this world ... the only sad thing is that today we are blamed for all the wrong doing ... people with little understanding of the faith ... stand up and make big remarks ... why ... well like i said in my my earlier comment ... WE LOVE YOU FIGHT ... war is in us .... we will always have and had, some thing to fight about. You know even if you look at a Pyramid from top it is a square and that is what we do just one point of view

I think all presidents of U.S thinks or act the same. They do what Israel wants. They can not do something else. But there is some differences among their accents and dialogs. just in their spokes!

It's amusing that CNN and others allow Obama to continually trash Bush for "damaged relations" and the GWOT, yet never point out soundbites where Bush stressed a number of times that we are not at war with Muslims. Right after 9/11, he said "Islam is a beautiful religion", and helped avert a bloodbath of Muslim citizens.

As a retired military member, I am appalled at Obama's apologetic pandering to the Euros, accusing his own country of being racist, arrogant, divisive, etc.. If anyone is arrogant and a megalomaniac, it's Barack Hussein Obama.

Change your station to ONN, as that's the only content I see when I turn on the Obama News Network.

Dutch Samuel:

1- the influx of many moroccans and turks during the last "355" years ???!!

Europe invited foreign work force after 2nd WW.

2- Many of them are able to interpret en follow their interpretation of islam in a way they would not have been able to do in Turkey of Morocco enjoying the freedom of speech and religion of the WEST. ???!!

Freedom of speech ??? during my visit to Nederlands i was not even able to say i am a Turk due to Dutch peoples racism. You enjoy yourselves at beatfiul turkish riviera on your holidays but also insult the turks working for your economy and living in your country because of their identity.. this is NOT fair man..

Dude you're giving WRONG information... WHY???

Dan Nelson: Man i am not going to be part of any war under any condition.

[...] of lies and spin.  (Just Kidding)  It's funny to see their counter part from Al-Arabiya Mr. Hisham Melhem making things up like Gone are the combustible words that President Bush used to use like Islamo [...]

Ouch. Their is so much disinformation here. Were are some challenging question. Why even run a bit like this? It's just pure disinformation. I mean he attacks Bush for things he didn't do and praises Obama for things Bush orginially did. He paints America as "ignorant", says that 9-11 and what followed is the reason for Muslim enmity? He barely falls short of blaming 9-11 on our own ignorance. Like we should seek to understand the criminal coming to kill us, our wife, and our children.

This is the definition of liars and lunatics:
http://thefreedomthinker.com/2009/04/08/liars-and-lunatics/

action better than words , my opinion on that speech but i appreciate this approach
and I'm surprised to see some racist comment about Islam even quoting some verses without studying the text carefully and Asbabun Nuzul (why the verses is brought down), when he say " i understand Islam" well,i just see some narrow minded who just re-read and act like he knows everything and when other people try to show him the right way, he just turn back and learn from misguided source.
For that kind of people, i just want to say, May God open your narrow mind
Just want to say to terrorist who claims Muslims, are you reading Quran by HEART?, are you follow Sunnah? if you say yes did you forget God hate killing your self (an-nissa:29)?
seriously propaganda won't work out with me, Islam is Good not every Muslim does

There is a huge difference between having a good relationship with one party and trusting them. Don't mix everything and get confused.

SF

First of all, sorry for not spending my life in the internet, I had important things to do than to stare in the internet, or hating people.

Second, I have the Quran as well. I don't know which kind of Quran you got, either its pretend or just pages from websites.

Finally, that JIHAD WATCH you always go to is nothing but making you paranoid. If Muslims are truly are against this country, why are Islamic nations helping to fight the Taliban and Al Qaeda in the first place? Where is Osama Bin Laden's Jihad when the Majority of Muslims aren't participating?

Hell, why are you even here, if you want to combat this threat go join the army, by going to Afganistan you'll meet Muslim Americans who is taking the bullets and sacrificing so that people like you can mock them in the internet. You don't care about them, obviously you rather stay alive and put them down in the internet.

Oh

"However, Muslims commit violent acts BECAUSE they are muslim. The Bible does not command us to do violence on others as the Quran does."

So Christains never commited a crime, they are innocent? First of all, there is no such thing as innocence, only degrees of guilt. Christains have commited the a number crimes, Even hitler mention he was doing gods work in exterminating jews? What about the Davidians who took hostages in TX? The Massacre in Bosina, Soviet Unions abuse in Eastern Asia? the so call "bad guys" were Christains.

Who spend your life so much in fear and paranoia that you'll indirectly enjoying watching and believing in half credit sources, as if Osama Bin Laden, Al Qaeda, and other terrorists are your idols. They are not, quit the nonesence and do something else. My suggestion is read William Faulkner's nobel prize speech and do something besides telling us how to hate muslims (don't give us BS that you don't hate muslims because I know in fact that you're doing it indirectly).

When I hear the loudspeakers at Mecca, broadcasting for those pilgrims doing the Hajj, deliver a message of peace, understanding, respect for all other religions and steadfastly condemn terrorist actions of groups like al Qaeda, Hamas and Hizbollah, then and only then will I believe that the Muslim world is ready to undertake a relationship based on mutual respect.

For right, now, I think the Muslim world sees in Barack Obama and his words a dupe who will be easily manipulated on the world scene.

One of the reasons they hated Bush so much is because he was not so easily manipulated.

Sorry yusuf I have misjudged you but does not sharia law infringe on peoples human rights?

To tell you the truth I don’t believe that any Muslim nation can work together for peace. It’s like what God had said about Ishmael and sons, they lived together with hostility towards their brothers. You see in most every Islamic country that they all have problems coming together for a consensus of how they should go forward in this 21st century. Most Muslims are split in their religious beliefs and many will fight and kill for the sake of Islam and their superiority over the rest of the world!

I glad that you sit around on the interent all day, thank you for informing me. I am a civil rights attorney, I served in the Coast Guard, my father served in the CIA. How long did you serve in the military, patriot? Do tell...

See the difference between christians that do "evil things" as you say and muslims that do the same is that when muslims do such things, acording to them, they are doing god's will, on the other hand, when christians do such things they are not doing god's will – it's all n the bible

Now how could I have thought that I can reason with someone who worships a guy that slept with nine year olds Oh course I can't. Yours is the only reigion where the more "holy" you ae the more criminal and vile you become. Try doing the things muhammed did in any modern day civilized society and you will find that you are a criminal.

See, your personal shots at me are cute but do nothing to refute anything Ive said. Now lets assume that the bible directs christians to kill others as you suggest, which of course it does not, and lets further assume that all other religions do the same – yet now back in reality, muslims are the only ones that act on such things.

So you dont take it so personal. Lets imagine a hypothetical "religion" where the prophet slept with nine year olds, where he commanded that his followers kill jews, where the religion's deserters are to be killed, where they consider their kind and their religion superior to all others. How would you feel about the followers?

That is no hypothetical you realise that dont you? That is islam.

And look what is happening in Europe. Muslims dont want to assimilate, they dont respect the laws of their host countries, they only respect Sharia and hope to make it the law of the continent at some point. And before you go into your "have you been to europe, what do you know" nonsense, be advised that i studied comparative constitutional law, and EU in europe.

You said in one of your postings that muslims gave women rights, and you and I know that that is completely laughable. So you mean to tell me that James Madision and Tom Jefferson, chirstians and athiests, and all the leaders in the west got their socia and moral sense from islam? That is quite jackalobian of you. Tell me who, when and where.

Look people are judged by their associations

Lastly, stating the truth about anything is not bashing. I urge you to go to real muslim leaders and discuss with them what islam is about, dont take it from me, what do I know. Then I want you to educate me

Dan Nelson,

Dude, you dont need to be sorry, we are brothers which are trying to understand each other by giving information.. Which sharia ?? A dictators principles (or many) can't be the sharia. Also not in every muslim populated country there is any kind of sharia (i.e. Turkish Republic)

About your 2nd article: please check the OIC (Organisation of the Islamic Conference)...

There is no such an aim of islam to simply "kill" people..If there is a sick guy who is asking to kill innoncent people then that person is simply called a terrorist -and as an example- which its punishment in turkish law (which had been dervied from the Latin at about 1923) is prison until the end of life.. besides If you look at the world you would see who is killing who?? for their economic and politic SAKE....

(As if you claim) If wars are relatied to only religion looking to history i see that Christianity didn't help you at 2 world wars which you have wasted each other.. I am not even talking about crusader attacks (was it for 13-14 times?)

Dude you're making heavy racism by talking about a religions followers as if they are subhuman.. There are perfectly developed countries in the world which have muslim majority population. Also during the history there have been multi religion-multi language empires which lasted for many centuries.. (i.e. Ottoman Empire).

The oldest document on "religious freedom" in the world history is the Ottoman Sultan Fatih Mehmet Khan's oath which brought religious freedom to Bosnian Franciscans issued on May 28 of 1463. In 1971, the United Nations published a translation of the document in all the official U.N. languages...

Dude, i am not somebody who is trying to understand the world and the people through an identity. I dont claim that we Muslims are cooler guys then Christians or vice versa. What i am saying is humanity have some problems (and always had) and these problems won't be solved by being on one-side and dislike the other side.

Don't be naïve , Obama is a sweet talker …I don't really trust him

I am a in the genocides and holocaust studies program,. One of my concepts in my study is the dehumanization of the victims. In this you do three things, dehumanization (call them anything but human, make them less then human) Blaming (making them a scapegoat for everything) and US/Them thinking. US/Them thinking is normal, however when combined with the other two it is deadly. US/Them thinking lets the US group (in this case- SF and the other that are writing hate) and the Them (the Muslims in this case) parts all the Them as being the same. If one is a bad apple, they all are. On the other hand when it is an US that is doing something wrong it is that person that is doing something wrong. This allows the US group to push the Them group to a distances an able to kill, even the children, with out guilt.

DEHUMANIZATION, BLAMING AND US/THEM THINKING HAPPENS BEFOR EVERY GENOCIDE- IT BECOMES THE NORM OF THINKING!

The Nazis believed and had most people believed that the Jews were out to harm them- that it is in their blood- that if you let them they will still your money rap your girls, kill your kids and other things.

Hmm… SF, you are doing the something
SF YOU ARE NO BETTER THEN A NAZI!
If you keep going- and if you had the power- you would be no better then HITLLER of the KKK

SF I hope you stop and think- do you really want the same type of thinking going on as the Nazis, or the Hutus that killed during Rwanda, Janjaweed or the KKK? I pray u stop

Zoe Smith –
I am opposed to Islam for the same reasons that I am opposed to Nazism, white supremacy, etc. How is islam any different to nazism? Ask yourself, who is doing all the killings and terrorist bombings? The nazis were wrong, period, the kkk and the like are wrong, period.

Are you so sure that islam is not out to hurt you? Your argument makes as much since as if I said in the thirties, "oh, oh god, dont say such things about hitler, dont bring about the us against them mentality, oh, the madness". Whether you like it or not, islam sees them against us.

Islam victims? Victims to what and whom? Right they are the victims of all the innocent people they blew up in 7/7, 9/11, madird, etc. Look at your three pronged pregenocide test above. Islam dehumanises nonmuslims, they blame us and they have the us/them mentality. But dont worry, I will protect you and your families from the threat of islam if it is ever necessary

SF – I have some more things to say later. For now I DO need to say that you need to present all the evidence to your jury before anyone can make a decision. That is to say, the marriage between Mohammed and the young girl was part of a peace deal and the marriage was not consummated until later. This is 7th century Arabia we are talking about.

AH – you are right. The old prophet married Aisha when she was six. For argument's sake, lets say it was for a peace deal. However, Aisha herself said the marriage was consummated when she was nine. This is the "ideal man." The biggest POS that I know wouldn't do that. Go and ask around at your mosque.

Now lets talk about 21st century saudia arabia. Did you read the resent story of the Saudi man who owed his "best friend" some money, but couldn't pay, so he gave him her 11 year old daughter to marry. Look it up the case is in the courts.

Did you hear the recent story of the old saudi lady that received a punishment of 70 lashes or so for meeting with a man who was like a son to her – he was bringing her bread. Well that didn't matter to the saudi immoral police not unless he was breast fed by her – look it up, this is required.

Did you read the recent story of the 16 year old muslim girl in india who was set on fire by 4 muslim men for meeting with a boy.

Did you read about the 16-year-old iranian girl, Atefeh Rajabi who in 2004 was executed in public by hanging for having premarital sex. Do you want me to tell you what happened to the dude.

Did you read the stories of the taliban closing down girl's schools in their new home, the swat, in Pakistan.

Sure, I know, I know, you will say well christians do or did such things, but I assure you that the fact that that is incidental. Muslims do this beleiving that this is all god's will

It may not matter to you, but it matters to me. Would you let an old man bang your nine year old daughter? I wouldn't.

SF: İslam world is not only composed from some crazy old fashioned Saudis.. You're taking very marginal events..

What about jobless people who kill their children and wife because they dont have enough money to make them live.. If you search a little bit you would see many cases in only US.. Don't try to show the marginal and CRIMINAL events as if they are "islamic traditions". If we talk about marginal things we would figure out many strange things in your society as well.

PS: is It the same "God's will" which motivatied Christians to attack eastern societies in the most barbarian way namely crusader attacks which were sponsored by your Popes ?? Don't tell me about God's WILL !! First clean your own house and then ask me to clean MINE !!!!!!!!

Yusuf – Im tired of these counter agrguments. They are non responsive, just "well, look at this and look at that" to divert attention from what we are discussing. Muhammed was a vile person even by 7th century standards, yet he is the ideal man to muslims, one who should be used as an example for living one's life.

Look, the crusades, all of them took place hunderds of years ago, and even still they were some what justified to free the holy land from muslim grasp. Moreover it was a reaction to the spread of the forceable spread of islam through europe. And the crusades were for the most part funded by wealthy christians

Yes christans do kill and recently some dude killed his whole family right here in the usa, but that has nothing to do with being christian. Find it for me in the bible. Yet you will find justification and encouragment of such acts in the Quran. Also in this country, the US, there are laws against murder. We punish people like that. In muslim countries that is the law so don't describe those things as marginal events.

And don't twist the truth, it is not some old fashioned saudis, it is the law of the land. How about my iranian example? Where they old fashioned too? No, it was a sentence passed down from the judge who tried her case.

Look, lie to others all you want but don't lie to yourself

It is funny, u say that the Muslims (us them thinking) are out to hart me. Hummm.. the Nazis said the same thing as you have said- we are protecting you- the Jews will hart u.

The differences between what you are saying and this is that a small part of the people in the Arabs whom distort the religion of Islam want to do genocide to us; IE- Al Quida. They also don’t like anyone that is Islamic and don’t follow their view. They are no different from the Nazis, Khmer Rouge or any of the other like them. They, including Taliban, take advantage of bad times and use it to gain control, spread fear, and kill. It does not matter what religion, or ethnic group you are, just like genocide, every group- including religious groups, are guilty of this at sometime of another.

The differences between you and the Muslims,- or should I say the similarities between you, Al-Quida, Khemer Rouge and the Nazis, is that YOU LUMP ALL OF ONE GROUP( THE MUSLIMS INTO THE SAME GROUP-INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT THE SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE DOING THE BAD ACTS- THEN DO DEHUMANIZATION

Also, I was in EGYPT LIVING WITH EGYPTIONS LIKE AN EGYPTIONS ONLY 3 WEEKS BEFOR 9-11, I don’t recall anyone trying to hart me, despite the fact that my Irish skin stuck out. In fact they LOVED US. They also had a lot of TROOPS WITH GUNS AROUND- THEY WERE TERRIFIED OF THE SAME PEOPLE AS US.

Remember 9-11, how can I forget it. I live in a commuter town- that is MANY people in my town, and the towns next to me jump on a train, take one hour trip and end up in NYC to work. When I was in school that day, 50%-80% of my classmates where terrified, and rightly so, that their parents were killed. My county lost about 130 people on 9-11, and that is not taking in account of those that were injured, lost their jobs, or were going to suffer from PTSD due to what they saw (ie- their friends being thrown out of windows)

I am personally more terrified of the hate groups and drug gangs then the Al Qida- and keep in mind- what happens in NYC directly affects my home. They are more likely to strike the Al Qida.

http://www.pbs.org/itvs/caughtinthecrossfire/factsheet.html

Here are some quotes from PBS;
“Although most Arabs are Muslim, most Muslims are not Arab. Only about 12 percent of Muslims worldwide are Arabs.”

“n fact, there are more Muslims in Indonesia than in all Arab countries combined”

A quick search on CIA World Fact book would show you that every where in the world, but the Americas have at lest on country that is manly Islamic. Only a small number of them- and then a small number of people in them do evil.

Also, if you read what I wrote- I said that dehumanization comes BEFORE a genocide. Ones the genocide has happen, yea they are victims.

I can tell NO ONE will make you think that you are wrong. I wish you would think out side of the box and stop listing to Rush. After all, Rwanda happened because of what was being said on the radio. However, I am giving the others that might read this blog the other side of the story, one that does not hate a group but gives blame to the few people that hate. You are sadly a lost cause, and I pray their are few of you out there.

Ok SF here we go: I am only parting this up hear not because I don’t respect the Bible- but because you are being disrespectful. The other side of the story must be told. The Holly Koran might have passages that if taken out of contact can be used for evil, however, if you study that times and keep in mind that Arabic has many words that we don’t have and if you read it in Arabic and understand what you are reading one will know that it is only under dire times that you are allowed to kill (they are killing you or attacking you)

Ezek: 9:5 And the LORD said “ Go though the city and smite: let not our eye spare, neither have your pity SLAY UTTERLY OLD AND YOUNG BOTH MAIDS AND LITTLE CHILDREN AND WOMAN

Num 31:1 And the Lord said unto Moses “Avenge the children of the Mid an ites They warred against the Mid I an ites,” as the Lord commanded Moses and they slay all the males And they Took all women as captives and their little ones, and took the spoil of all their cattle and all their flocks and all there goods. And they burnt all their cities wherein they dwelt and kill their goodly castles with fire

Moses said “Have you saved all the women alive? NOW KILL EVERY MALE AMONG THE LITTLE ONES AND KILL EVERY woman that has know a man by lying with him, bu all the young girls who have not know a man by lying ith him KEEP ALIVE FOR YOURSELVES

JUDG 21:10 the congregation of Benjamin sent twelve thousand of their bravest men and commanded them “ Go and SMITE the inhabitants of Ja besh gil ead WITH THE EDGE OF THE SWORD ALSO THE WOMEN AND THE LITTLE ONES EVERY MALE AND EVERY WOMAN THAT HAS LAIN WITH A MALE YOU SHALL UTTERLY DESTROY

Deut 20:10 When you draw near to a city to fight against it, OFFER TERMS OF PEACE to it. And if its ANSWER TO YOU IS PEACE and it opens to you, then all the PEOPLE WHO ARE FOUND IN IT SHALL DO FOCED LABOUR FOR YOU AND SHALL SERVE YOU.

But if it makes no peace with you then you shall besiege it YOU SHALL PUT ALL ITS MALES TO THE SWORD but the women and the little ones the cattle and every thing else in the city all its spoil you shall take as booty for yourselves and you shall enjoy the spoil of your enemies.

SF – I am by no means condoning child marriage. It is not for society today and I personally think it is wrong. In 7th century Arabia this was a typical practice among Arabs, Jews and Christians. So do not single out this practice as being condoned by only Islam. As far as her age, yeah she was extremely too young in my 21st century western mind. Oh, and Christians see Mary as being the "ideal woman" due to her virtuousness. Depending on the source, shhe could have been anywhere between 12 and 16 as far as when she gave birth. I do not hear you complaining to God for having such a young girl give birth. What do you think if you met a young pregnant teenage girl today? You would think that she was too young. Well guess what, 2000 years ago it was not and would hope you would give the same open minded consideration for Islam. I don't hear you complaining about Christianity.

As far as these stories in the news you are referring to, yes I find them apalling. But you seem to be missing the point that many other people on this posting are trying to make. That is that you are judging a whole religion based on the horrific actions of a sub-group. Oh, and do not confuse honour killings with a religion, that is cultural, and it is in many cultures. Islam does not tell families to kill their children, period. People who are doing these things are doing for cultural reasons, not religious. Christins, Hindus, and Jews have all been guilty of it. Lets face it, th media feeds off of showing these things on tv or writing articles on it. There are 1 billion people in India and you choose to use one horrible story about a girl to illustrate your point. Well your point can not be made. Did you know about the Hindu boys and girls that are killed for the same reasons? These things happen in lots of places SF and not because of Islam.

Oh, and about Pakistan. Would you want your children going to school when there is a war going on outside your window? Did you know that even with the closing of schools in western Pakistan by the Taleban there are still many schools for girls open and still more being built in that region? Did you know there had been growing support for girls to go to school there and that for the first time girls are getting an education and becoming professionals? And this is with the support of local Mullah. Not all Mullah are the same you know. You see, I think you read these news items and then come to a conclusion without knowing other issues involved.

As far as your references to Zoe about terrorism and 911 , Madrid. Yeah those people were horribleywrong, and yes, they did it in the name of religion. 911 was a horrible day and those things should never happen. But you know what. Doing things in the name of ideology is just as dangerous, just ask the Iraqis and the tens of thousands of innocent people they lost. That is their 911 times 20 or more. Blame the terrorists, not Islam. Islam is not the reason, it is their screwed up minds. And I know what you are going to say. Something along the lines of "the Koran tells Muslims to kill non-muslims and to go to war, and all that." Well actually, I ask you to go Read the Qu'ran in its entirety. Do not read a book by someone who wrote about it. Do not just go to a specific page and find one line and tell us that this is what Islam tells you to do. Read the whole thing. Then you will see what Islam represents and that it is about peace and forgiveness, very similar to the Bible.

Try to be more positive SF. The more you push someone, they will want to push back. Try to see the good in people and not the bad.

Zoe – you are lost. You are so ridiculous to say that rywanda happened because what was said on the radio. And sadly there are plenty of you around to misinform the sheeple. And unfortunately there are few that think like me but the numbers are growing. But at least you are interesting. Maybe we can be friends on myspace or facebook.

PS Rush is an idiot

I had a christian acquaintance tell me that most of her kind do not have any problem with gay people. I pointed out that gay marriage bans have passed in every state where they were on the ballot, most by a very large majority. The majority of those voters were christian, so obviously, the majority of christians DO have a problem with gays. Since 9/11, I have heard many people say islam is a peaceful religion, and that muslims are good people who have gotten a bad reputation due to the actions of a small number of their own kind.

Yet, it's the muslim countries that criminalize homosexuality. It's the muslim countries that have the most reluctance to support a UN resolution against criminal laws against homosexuality. It's the muslim countries where the penalty for being gay (or sometimes, just being suspected of being gay) is the harshest - sometimes, even death.

Yeah, I don't have any warm feelings for the muslims.

These are also the same people who have the best chance, the greatest opportunity, to disrupt and eliminate these terrorist cells who plan to attack us, and who plan to attack other non-muslims. Yet, these attacks happen, they continue. Where are the majority peacenik muslims? Why, if they SO OUTNUMBER these violent animals, have they not been able to stop them?

Or is it the fact that they do not so outnumber them? Is it that they do not really disagree with them in such large numbers?

I don't know the answer, but it looks very much like the "majority of muslims are peaceful" idea is about as true as the "most christians do not hate gays" idea. I call BULL.

Religion can benefit humanity, but it also represents the death of independent thought. The major theocracies in the modern world are muslim. I don't want to live in a theocracy, and I am distrustful of any group of people who would like to see them flourish in the 21st century.

While I am sure there are many lovely, decent muslims out there, even some small number who are not disgusted by my homosexuality, or who would be very upset to know that anyone would want to kill me in the name of allah, I remain very distrustful of them, and I feel no sympathy for them when they are portrayed as primitive, backwater, violent beasts. I don't know why our president has to show such deference to them, and it worries me that he feels it is necessary.

I agree with you 100% on most of what you said. I am a christian and a republican. However on social issues I am moderate. Two of my very best friends are gay and having lived in Miami for the majority of my life, I have had exposure to all types of people of various nationalities and races.

Here is the thing, a marriage is a union between a man and a woman. Now I believe gay couples should be afforded the same inheritance, insurance benefit, hospital visitation rights and all other rights that straight married couples have. Having said that, we can't expand the definition of "marriage". I am all for civil unions though, does that work for you?

woow i see that things i have writeen are not displayed here anymore.... freedom of speech?? ugh?? ( anyway...

as i last message: Even though you want to show muhammed as a
""child porn"" star .. he is who he is....

i have written more than enough to explain myself... thanks for the discuss and see you guys :=))

No, SF. America is not a christian theocracy. Marriage is a legal union as well as a religious one, so if straights can legally marry, gays must be able to as well. I'm not interested in being able to say, "My boyfriend asked me to civilly unite with him!" Do you have a problem with an opposite sex atheist couple being allowed to legally marry? After all, they aren't members of your cult, are they? Religious-based denial of marriage rights is bigotry, and a good example of how stupid people become when they believe in their imaginary friends. If the christians want to own the word marriage, they need to propose that marriage become a religious ceremony only. All legally recognized unions, gay or straight, would have to be "civil unions." Marriage would only apply to ridiculous religious rituals, like the mormons' idea of "celestial marriage." See how stupid that sounds? Marriage is a legal concept in this non-theocracy, so don't patronize me and your two "very best friends" by saying we should not be allowed to sully the term "marriage." You're no better than the bullheaded muslims with that kind of thinking, man.

Dern – I didn't mean to offend you and I certainly am not patronizing you on one way or another as I don't know you from adam and could really give two cents what you may think. Can I marry my dog? Look this is way off topic

Marry your dog? Gay marriage has nothing to do with that, and it's insulting to make such a comparison. Though I suppose you would gladly marry and fornicate with your dog if your imaginary friend jehovah told you to, right? But I have definitely digressed.

The point I am making is that Obama is the president of our COUNTRY. Not our CHURCH. America is not a theocracy. We have a separation of church and state here, and government is not supposed to be subject to religion. I would prefer him to address the leaders of other nations in governing terms, not in religious ones. But the muslims are even worse than the christians in tying the two together.

And that's a huge problem when it comes to relating to them as soverign nations. You can have millions of people who all claim membership in the same religion, who all have the same holy book, and who all split up into little sub-cults because they can't all read the same book and agree that it says the same thing. These bibles and holy books are crummy instruction manuals, since it seems as though there is no clear, single way to interpret them, even among those poor zombies who so desperately want to.

That kind of ambiguity is useless when it comes to running a nation. We need clear laws and expectations that cover everyone, regardless of interpret-it-however-you-want scriptures, and not just for those who bow down on their knees a hundred times a day talking to an invisible being who they can't even prove exists in the first place. Or those who walk into their cult buildings and pretend to eat the flesh and drink the skin of their magic savior, and then say other people with other imaginary friends have strange rituals.

The spread of islam is the spread of theocracy, and I sincerely hope that our president will make it clear that we will never be part of that idiotic mindset.

It is equally as insulting for you to say that god doesn't exist and to descibe worship as you have. Though I do agree with all you said about Islam. The majority of our legislators are religious to some extent and so laws are proposed and passed based on their and our values which to some extent is baseb on religious beliefs. So my point that the separation of church and state is an illusion

I'm not concerned about insulting you, SF, as you and I have established a mutual lack of respect. As for religious legislators proposing laws to appease your imaginary friend, that is wrong. (Many of our founding fathers were deists, not christians. Look it up.) If something is logically right or wrong, that's all that matters. How it affects people and their freedom to pursue a happy life, without preventing others from doing the same. Fake deities do not enter into the picture. Do you refrain from committing murder solely because you think your god would frown upon it, or because you fear is ridiculously cruel and unecessary creation called Hell? Or do you refrain from it because you just know it is wrong to end someone else's life? Morals can exist without fear of eternal punishment from an invisible being, you know. Those of us without religion are not automatically without values. We use our brains. It's really quite simple.

And that's the way it must remain in the US. We are a free country. If religion runs contrary to logic (as in the case of gay marriage - all objections to it are rooted in homophobic religion), then logic must prevail in a free society. Otherwise, you are saying whichever religion's followers are in the majority are right in making laws based on whatever their imaginary friend tells them. Would you want to live in a country where all the women are made to wear the niqab, just because Allah or Mohammed or whomever supposedly wants it that way?

This is the danger of having muslims in power, and having them grow in numbers here in the US. They tend toward theocractic laws, and the christians are bad enough in that area already. I would like you and your kind to keep your superstitious nonsense where it belongs (in your cult houses) and leave the lawmaking to the secular, rational minds. It is my hope that our president feels the same way, so it is particularly troubling to see him bow before one of their filthy kings.

Well homosexuality is a birth defect or a mental disorder at least in you case it appears