The Financial Times reports that Saudis were glued to their television sets when Obama gave his speech in Cairo yesterday.
But even Saudi Islamists expressed their satisfaction after Mr Obama spoke on Thursday.
“It is a beautiful speech in general,” said Mohsen al-Awaji, an activist. “He talked about peace in Islam and we are saying yes, Islam is a religion of peace towards those who are peaceful with us but a religion of war for those who are fighting us.”
This was a great opportunity to open a new chapter in US-Muslim relations, he added. “I hope everyone, especially radical Muslims, will use this opportunity to mend fences with the US.”
And that was one of the core objectives of the speech. Words must be followed by actions, but Obama offered a new beginning to all who are willing to attempt it. Making jihad against the United States is not the way to respond to such an overture. If even one radical is dissuaded from taking up arms against the United States then Obama’s speech was worthwhile.
