Before the Storm: Obama’s ‘Masterful’ Gesture Toward Muslims – Financial Times Deutschland

There seems to be no end to the plaudits for Obama from the German press.

This editorial from the Financial Times Deutschland says of Obama’s interview with Arab broadcaster Al-Arabya, “Obama had a real chance to set a harmonious and cooperative tone for relations with the Arab world. And he made masterful use of that chance. …

But the editorial cautions:

“The tool kit he has at his disposal is no more well equipped than that of his predecessor. Obama is using the same tools – but he’s using them skillfully, as least so far. The moment has yet to come when things get serious. Only then will it be shown that this interview was a meaningful sign.”

EDITORIAL

Translated By Brenda Annerl

January 28, 2009

Germany – Financial Times Deutschland – Original Article (German)

With kind words alone, the new U.S. President may not be able to tangibly dissolve the Arab World’s problems. But building bridges to Muslims certainly can’t hurt.

Like so much of what concerns Barack Obama, this gesture had great symbolic power: He granted his first interview as U.S. president to Arab news station Al-Arabiya, offering the Muslim world a “new partnership based on mutual respect [watch below].

Neither the words nor the channel that the President chose to broadcast them were in themselves revolutionary. They were even said, also on Al-Arabiya, by Obama’s predecessor George W. Bush – without noticeably improving relations with the Arab world. But the interview this time took place in an entirely different context: By the time Iraq-warrior Bush turned toward Muslims, there was hardly anything left to the relationship to save. The reason for Bush’s appeal was to apologize for the tortures at Abu Ghraib. No matter what he said, Bush simply couldn’t fill the role of a conciliator.

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