Yesterday President Obama delivered a rousing speech in Cairo, saying things like “The United States is not and never will be at war with Islam” and that he will do everything he can to defend America against extremists (Mountain Dew drinkers, he’s looking at you), but what was most striking was how apathetic the Cairo crowd was to Obama. Don’t they know who he is?
At least when Bush visited Egypt, they were nice enough to offer him shoes, but all Obama got was stony silence. C’mon Egypt, this just isn’t the leader of the free world, this is The One. He shoots rainbows from his fingertips and cries tears that can cure cancer.
From Politico:
According to Juan Cole, a professor of modern Middle Eastern and South Asian history at the University of Michigan, Egypt was always going to be “the toughest room for the president to work” on his current foreign trip. Cole believes that the Egyptian public is “sullen” and distrustful of Obama and American intentions in the Mideast.
That showed. Speaking from a stage that looked like an American movie theater from a bygone era, complete with red velvet drapes and gold tassels, Obama hit all the right notes, but only some of them got the response he wanted.
When Obama quoted the Koran — “As the Holy Koran tells us, ‘Be conscious of God and speak always the truth’ ” — or praised Islam — “Throughout history, Islam has demonstrated through words and deeds the possibilities of religious tolerance and racial equality” — he got applause.
But other lines, such as when Obama vowed to protect the American people from violent attack, were met with stony silence.
“In Ankara, I made clear that America is not – and never will be – at war with Islam,” Obama said. “We will, however, relentlessly confront violent extremists who pose a grave threat to our security. (Silence from the crowd.) Because we reject the same thing that people of all faiths reject: the killing of innocent men, women, and children. (More silence.) And it is my first duty as president to protect the American people.” More silence.
Really, Egypt?
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