Posted by Tina
A very clever journalist in Naples kick-started my research on the similarities between President George W. Bush’s words regarding the Middle East and President Barack H. Obama’s words from his Cairo speech. The article is pretty remarkable, but to set the stage lets look at a few words from the press regarding President Obama’s remarks in Cairo and a sampling of the remarks often made about Bush:
Echoing a Cold War-era speech by President Kennedy, Obama noted that “the interests we share as human beings are far more powerful than the forces that drive us apart.” – NPR (The significance of the Kennedy reference will become apparent as we go along)
In a brilliant speech, Obama extended the American dream to include the world’s Muslims and put Iran on the defensive… – The Atlantic
President Barack Obama delivered a message of hope and called for mutual respect as he addressed the Islamic world Thursday in a speech in Cairo… CBS4 (South Florida)
The Nation – “It’s a mistake to see President Obama’s June 4 speech in Cairo merely as a repudiation of George W. Bush’s wrecking-ball approach to the Middle East.”
Bush’s trip was part goodwill tour, something seen as long overdue in the Arab world, and on that level it was partially successful.resorting to the sort of process-driven incremental diplomacy that previous administrations had pursued and that this administration had disdained.”
The consensus among my colleagues in the press corp was pretty uniform: the speech was mediocre to terrible. Some faulted the speechwriting, others the delivery, others the substance. – Washington Times
Inauspicious Visit – President Bush’s tour of the Middle East is timed to highlight his failures. – Washington Post
Given these admittedly cherry picked responses from the press is it any wonder people don’t realize how similar our two most recent presidents’ words have been on the Middle East? Let’s look at the examples found by Brent Batten writing for Naples News:
“Brent Batten: What’s old is new again, Obama remarks mirror Bush’s,” by Brent Batten – Naples News
** Take away the willingness to negotiate with Iran without preconditions and the president’s newly rediscovered Muslim roots, and the “new beginning” in U.S.-Islamic relations outlined by Barack Obama in his Cairo speech Thursday has an awfully familiar ring to it. **
Some quotes:
“More recently, tension has been fed by colonialism that denied rights and opportunities to many Muslims, and a Cold War in which Muslim-majority countries were too often treated as proxies without regard to their own aspirations.” _ President Obama in Cairo.
“For too long, many nations, including my own, tolerated, even excused oppression in the Middle East in the name of stability. The oppression became common, but stability never arrived. We must take a different approach.” _ George W. Bush Sept. 21, 2004.
“But I do have an unyielding belief that all people yearn for certain things: the ability to speak your mind and have a say in how you are governed; confidence in the rule of law and the equal administration of justice; government that is transparent and doesn’t steal from the people; the freedom to live as you choose. Those are not just American ideas, they are human rights, and that is why we will support them everywhere.” _ President Obama in Cairo.
“In their need for hope, in their desire for peace, in their right to freedom, the peoples of the Middle East are exactly like you and me. Their birthright of freedom has been denied for too long. And we will do all in our power to help them find the blessings of liberty.” _ George W. Bush, June, 29, 2004.
“Moreover, freedom in America is indivisible from the freedom to practice one’s religion. That is why there is a mosque in every state of our union, and over 1,200 mosques within our borders.” _ President Obama in Cairo.
“We believe here in the United States of America, you can worship, you can not worship in our country, and you’re equally American. You can be a Christian, Jew or Muslim, and you’re equally American.” _ George W. Bush, Jan. 23, 2006.
“And I believe that America holds within her the truth that regardless of race, religion, or station in life, all of us share common aspirations _ to live in peace and security; to get an education and to work with dignity; to love our families, our communities, and our God. These things we share. This is the hope of all humanity.” _ President Obama in Cairo.
“Human cultures can be vastly different. Yet the human heart desires the same good things, everywhere on Earth. In our desire to be safe from brutal and bullying oppression, human beings are the same. In our desire to care for our children and give them a better life, we are the same.” _ George W. Bush, Feb. 26, 2003.
“In Ankara, I made clear that America is not _ and never will be _ at war with Islam. We will, however, relentlessly confront violent extremists who pose a grave threat to our security.” _ President Obama in Cairo.
“Ours is not a campaign against the Muslim faith. Ours is a campaign against evil.” _ George W. Bush, Sept. 27, 2001.
For those who are still with me I also ran across this incredible PBS interview from 2003:
November 7, 2003
* President Bush Thursday called for democratic reforms in the Middle East. During a speech in Washington, the president said Western governments should not back undemocratic regimes in the region. Margaret Warner discusses his remarks with two Arab scholars. *** MARGARET WARNER: Yesterday, President Bush said some Arab governments were beginning to see the need for change. He cited some early democratic steps in Morocco, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, Yemen, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. And President Bush said bringing democracy to Iraq would play an essential role in transforming the region. *** MARGARET WARNER: Now, two Arab perspectives on President Bush’s call for democratic reform in the Middle East. Murhaf Jouejati, a scholar at the Middle East Institute and adjunct professor of international relations in the Middle East at George Washington University. Born and raised in Syria, he’s now a U.S. citizen. And Edmund Ghareeb, an adjunct professor in the School of International Service at American University, and author of several books on Iraq and on the Middle East. Born in Lebanon, he’s a U.S. citizen. *** Welcome to you both. Murhaf Jouejati, what did you make of President Bush’s call on Arab governments to make democratic reforms? *** MURHAF JOUEJATI: I think it was a very good call. I think it was a very good message. It was a very good speech, although I have a few problems here and there with it. But on the whole, it was a great message, and I am happy that this was an opportunity to send the message to the Arab political elite that it needs to change and it needs to change now. *** MARGARET WARNER: Important message to the Arab political elite? *** EDMUND GHAREEB: Absolutely, it’s an important message to the Arab political elite and important message when it comes to the idea of democracy. I think it is an important speech we heard. The reference that he made to the mistakes that were made by the West, the support for authoritarian governments in the past was very important. And also something else he said, that Islam is not incompatible with democracy. I thought that was also a very important statement to make. **
Wait…GWB admitted to mistakes made by the West? I thought Obama’s message was unique…oh so sparkling, refreshing, and new! As it turns out….NOT! And if NPR is also right about JFK then I think we can agree both presidents have been served by those who came before them. It would be helpful if the current president and the fawning press displayed more grace about those who preceded him. Certainly Americans would be better served by honest respectful reporting for the former president.
Is there any chance we could see the press tone down the Obam-awe any time soon?