Policy speech in Muslim capital: 36 days late
President Obama's speech in Cairo, Egypt today comes 36 days after his promise of a major address in a Muslim forum during the first 100 days of his term. (White House photo)
During the 2008 campaign, and during the transition, President Obama promised to lead diplomatic outreach to the Muslim world by making a major policy address in a Muslim capital during the first 100 days in office.
Today he made that speech — 36 days past his own deadline.
On page 5 of a “counter terrorism fact sheet” issued by the Obama ’08 campaign titled “Barack Obama: The War We Need to Win” you find this bullet point:
Speak Directly to Muslim Audience. Obama will personally lead diplomacy efforts, beginning with a speech at a major Islamic forum in the first 100 days of his administration. He will make clear that we are not at war with Islam, that we will stand with those who are willing to stand up for their future, and that we need their effort to defeat the prophets of hate and violence.
Now, the president did speak in Ankara, Turkey in April, but the White House said that was not the speech that the candidate promised to make. From the New York Times:
White House officials say they still plan for Mr. Obama to make a major speech to the Muslim world from an Islamic capital in the early months of his presidency, and they were quick to say that Monday’s Ankara speech was not that. There will be another, they say, in which Mr. Obama will try to define, at length, his views on America and Islam.
The Times also had previously reported that Cairo was going to be the setting. At least he made the speech.
Sources:
Obama ’08 Counter terrorism fact sheet
Barack Obama: The War We Need to Win, page 5
The New York Times, April 6, 2009
America Seeks Bonds to Islam, Obama Insists
The New York Times, Dec. 4, 2008
