Nice Words ... But Arabs Are Looking For Action

President Obama's speech to the "Muslim World", which in reality was directed towards the Arab World, evidently received a pretty good reception among Arab Muslims. They certainly welcomed his words and seemed optimistic that a better relationship with the United States could be achieved. However, almost universally, Arabs expressed caution stressing that before the friendly, cooperative relationship the United States seeks could be established the US actions must match its words.

With Obama stressing the withdrawal of troops from Iraq, the closing of the Guantanamo facility, and the prohibition on the use of torture in his speech, one could be excused for thinking that the United States is demonstrating plenty of action in support of the president's words. But that is not the action the Arabs seek. The action that they're looking for is something that the US cannot deliver.

During his speech President Obama was greeted with rousing cheers when addressing demands to Israel but a deafening silence followed any mention of demands on the Arabs. For decades the Arabs have believed that the United States possesses the ability to impose a solution on the squabbling parties in the Middle East. In their view, the US has chosen to use this ability only to force concessions from the Arabs and it has never been used against the Israelis.

And so, the Arabs most definitely enjoyed hearing President Obama's demands that Israel immediately stop expanding settlements in occupied territories and accept the "two state" Palestinian solution. But in order for them to offer up friendship and cooperation to the United States, they want to see the US impose those conditions on Israel. That's the action they want. Of course, that's not going to happen.