Arab Leaders Prefer to ‘Listen to Obama’s Fables’: Le Quotidien d’Oran of Algeria

With President Obama slated to give his much-awaited ’speech to the Arab world’ in Cairo on June 4, it seems Arabs are afraid to hope for too much. There may be, compared to President Bush, wide Muslim support for Obama, but there is far less confidence – even now – that he will significantly alter American foreign policy, particularly in regard to Israel.

And beyond what President Obama may or may not do to change America’s course, according Algeria’s Le Quotidien d’Oran, Arabs are even more skeptical that their own leaders, perceived as corrupt and ineffectual, will stand up against the U.S. or Israel for fear that they would be pressured to ‘democratize.’

For Le Quotidien d’Oran, the prolific K. Selim writes in part:

“Even if one chooses to give credit to the smiling Obama, we shouldn’t expect changes to the policy of blind support for Israel. Our leaders will listen religiously to Obama during his trip to Egypt – not to verify that the U.S. has decided to make a serious commitment to Middle East issues, but to ensure that he will not enter into an untimely discourse on democracy.”

By K. Selim

Translated By Sandrine Ageorges

May 11, 2009

Algeria – Le Quotidien d’Oran – Home Page (French)

Arab officials “await” Barack Obama’s address to the Islamic world, to be delivered on June 4th during a visit to his Egyptian “ally.” They are sure to hear words of a soothing nature, such as: “The United States is not at war against Islam and only wants the best for the region’s people.” We will certainly hear him reiterate the two-state option [for Israel and Palestine] and even more strongly, Obama will encourage Arab and Muslim countries to normalize relations with Israel.

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