أفندينا

For You !! ... [ The slogan of the National Democratic Party Conference 2009 ]

2009-11-04T17:15:00.000+02:00

Only for ME

His Majesty the King of Egypt .... The detonator of the development revolution in Egypt !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Picture from HERE

Technorati Tags: Egypt, NDP, Mubarak, Politics, Gamal Mubarak, News, National, ,Ahmed Ezz, Mideast, Middle East, The photo of the week, NDP Conference

The National Democratic Party Conference 2009 ... على هامش مؤتمر الحزب الوطني

2009-11-04T12:28:00.003+02:00

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(يُخَادِعُونَ اللَّهَ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَمَا يَخْدَعُونَ إِلا أَنْفُسَهُمْ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ)[البقرة:9].

صدق الله العظيم

Technorati Tags: Citizen Journalism, Egypt, NDP, Mubarak, Politics, Gamal Mubarak, News, National, ,Ahmed Ezz, Mideast, Middle East, The photo of the week, NDP Conference

Survey .. The Egyptian's Most Influential People in 2009

2009-09-23T14:28:00.002+02:00

بدأ الترشيح لأهم عشرة شخصيات مصرية ذات تأثير لعام 2009

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Late Night Stories حكاوى آخر الليل: أكثر مائة شخصية مؤثرة عالمياً .. مفاجأة

http://shokeir.blogspot.com/2009/09/blog-post_22.html

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☞ Technorati Tags: Survey, Egyptian's Most Influential People, shokeir, Politics, democracy, Egypt

Happy Eid

2009-09-20T01:23:00.007+02:00

Happy Eid to all Muslims around the World

Technorati Tags: Eid, Egypt, Islam, International, Religion

Ramadan, the month of mercy and forgiveness ... رمضان كريم

2009-08-20T22:05:00.003+03:00

According to The Egyptian Dar Al-Ifta Ramadan is going to start on Saturday the 22nd of August 2009 in Egypt .

Technorati Tags: Ramadan, Egypt, Islam, Religion, News, Breaking News, Muslims, Egyptian Life, society,

Foreign Policy : Will Egypt’s Next Strongman Also Be a Mubarak?

2009-08-19T19:54:00.001+03:00

Egypt's Next Strongman

Meet the two men most likely to succeed Egypt’s aging president: His son, Gamal Mubarak, and his spy chief, Omar Suleiman. But does either one really represent desperately needed change?

BY ISSANDR AMRANI | AUGUST 17, 2009

Gamal Mubarak (left) and Omar Suleiman, the would-be heirs to the Egyptian presidency.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak arrived in Washington today, bringing with him a large retinue of advisors, ministers, and assorted hangers-on. But only two of them really count, at least for those trying to figure out who will succeed one of the Middle East's longest-serving leaders.

The first is Mubarak's son Gamal, who is accompanying his father even though he has no formal position in the Egyptian government. (He is the assistant secretary-general of the ruling National Democratic Party, or NDP.) A more justified member of the entourage is Omar Suleiman, the head of Egypt's General Intelligence Service (GIS), known as the Mukhabarat.

Each has been touted for most of the past decade as a potential heir to the 81-year-old Mubarak, who has never appointed a vice president or publicly stated his preference for a successor. Most speculation in Egypt focuses on Gamal. His rise to political prominence earlier this decade spurred opposition figures to form the "Kefaya" movement, which rallies against both Mubaraks. But many well-informed Egyptians think the next president will come from the military -- and that the powerful Suleiman is the most likely candidate.

This is not a fringe sentiment. The prolonged fin de régime mood has unnerved many Egyptians, who worry that a Syrian-style inheritance-of-power scenario would usher in an era of instability. Many consider the prospect of such father-to-son nepotism humiliating for a country that has long claimed the mantle of Arab leadership. In this political environment -- in which democratic alternatives are locked out, but the population wants change -- Suleiman appears the only viable alternative to Gamal Mubarak. But who is this once-mysterious power player? And would he really mean a new era for Egypt?

Like the elder Mubarak, Suleiman rose to national prominence through the armed forces. The arc of his career followed the arc of Egypt's political history. He attended the Soviet Union's Frunze Military Academy in the 1960s -- as Mubarak did a few years earlier -- and became an infantryman. He then took part in the 1967 and 1973 Arab-Israeli wars, likely as a staff officer. When Cairo switched its strategic alliance from Moscow to Washington, he received training at the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare School and Center at Fort Bragg, N.C., in the 1980s. Suleiman continues to have privileged contacts with U.S. intelligence and military officials, with whom he has now been dealing for at least a quarter-century.

As the head of the Mukhabarat, Suleiman's political and military portfolio is vast. The GIS combines the intelligence-gathering elements of the CIA, the counterterrorism role of the FBI, the protection duties of the Secret Service, and the high-level diplomacy of the State Department. It also includes some functions unique to authoritarian regimes, such as monitoring Egypt's security apparatus for signs of internal coups. It is an elite institution, with a long reach inside government as well as abroad. It also crosses over the civilian and military worlds: Suleiman is one of a rare group of Egyptian officials who hold both a military rank (lieutenant general) and a civilian office (he is a cabinet minister, though he rarely attends meetings).

Traditionally, the identity of the head of the GIS is kept secret. But after 2001, when Suleiman began to take over key dossiers from the Foreign Ministry, his name and photograph began appearing in Al-Ahram, the staid government-owned daily. He even appeared on the top half of the front page, a space usually reserved for Mubarak. Since then, his high-profile assignments have garnered high-profile coverage. He has intervened in civil wars in Sudan, patched up the tiff between Saudi King Abdullah and Libyan leader Muammar el-Qaddafi over the latter's alleged attempt to assassinate the former, and put pressure on Syria to stop meddling in Lebanon and to dissociate itself from Iran.

Most importantly, Suleiman has mediated in the Israel-Palestine conflict, Egypt's most pressing national security priority. Since the June 2007 Hamas takeover of Gaza, Cairo has acted as an interlocutor and mediator between Hamas and Fatah. Although its attempts to reconcile the two groups have led to few clear victories -- in part, perhaps, because Egypt is clearly hostile to the Islamists -- its foreign policy has won the approval of the United States and the European Union.

☞ Technorati Tags: Hosni Mubarak, Middle East, Barack Obama, President Obama, Mubarak, Politics, Egypt, Gamal Mubarak, Egyptian presidency, Omar Suleiman, Egypt's General Intelligence Service, United States, Journalism, Press, Foreign Policy

Egypt the gift of the Nile... مصر هبة النيل

2009-08-06T23:51:00.003+03:00

Reuters Pictures

Egyptian children drink and wash in water from a hand pump in Qalyoubia village north of Cairo July 28, 2009.

Reuters Pictures

An Egyptian boy drinks water from a pump in Abu Passat village in Al Fayyum, about 50 miles (80 km) southwest of Cairo, August 3, 2009. Abu Passat residents and other 36 villages in Al Fayyum have been suffering from a shortage of water for almost five months.

مصر هبة النيل مقوله أصبحت من الماضي البعيد ، الآن مصر أصبحت هبة الفقر والجوع والفساد والحزب الوطني ومبارك الأب والأبن. ء

أنا منذ خمسينَ عاما

أحاولُ رسمَ بلادٍ

تُسمّى - مجازا - بلادَ العربْ

رسمتُ بلون الشرايينِ حينا

وحينا رسمت بلون الغضبْ.

وحين انتهى الرسمُ، ساءلتُ نفسي:

إذا أعلنوا ذاتَ يومٍ وفاةَ العربْ...

ففي أيِ مقبرةٍ يُدْفَنونْ؟

ومَن سوف يبكي عليهم؟

وليس لديهم بناتٌ...

وليس لديهم بَنونْ...

وليس هنالك حُزْنٌ،

وليس هنالك مَن يحْزُنونْ!! .ء

☞ Technorati Tags: Nile, Thirst, Egypt, Thirst revolution, Mubarak, Water, Egypt the gift of the Nile

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على هامش إنقلاب 23 يوليو العسكري ... جاري البحث عن وطن كان يسمى ... مصر

2009-08-01T22:54:00.000+03:00

Getty Images

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L), President Shimon Peres(C) and the Egyptian ambassador Yasser Rida cut a cake with the Egyptian national flag printed on it, at Rida's residence during the Egyptian national day celebrations, July 23, 2009 in Hertzila, Israel.

Reuters Pictures

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L), President Shimon Peres (C) and Egyptian ambassador to Israel Yasser Reda (R) toast during a reception marking Egyptian National Day at the ambassador's residence in Herzliya, near Tel Aviv July 23, 2009.

قد أستطيع أن أعيش رغماً عني في ظل أتفاقية العار المسماه كامب دايفيد ، بل من الممكن أن أواصل الحياة مع وجود سفارة للعدو الصهيوني على أرض مصر ، ولكن ما لا أستطيع أن أستوعبه هو حالة الحب المتبادل بين النظام المصري وبين قادة أسرائيل لا سيما وأنهم كلهم أيديهم ملطخة بدماء الشهداء في مصر وفلسطين ، هل هان على نظامنا القابع على أنفاسنا رغماً عن الأغلبية الساحقة من شعب المحروسة كل دماء الشهداء التي أراقها العدو الصهيوني منذ حرب 1948 و56 و67 و73 وفي دير ياسين وقانا وجنوب لبنان وغيرهم الكثير ، ثم كيف واتت الجرأة النظام الحاكم لأن يقوم بدعوة قادة إسرائيل للإحتفال بثورة 23 يوليو تلك الثورة التي قادت الحرب ضد إسرائيل والتي رفعت في وحهها عقب النكسة لاءاتها الثلاث الشهيرة " لاتفاوض ، لا أعتراف ، لا صلح " ... هل يريد النظام المصري إرسال رسالة للعالم أن تلك الثورة قد ماتت ودفنت للأبد ... لا أعلم لماذا منذ شاهدت تلك الصور ونتياهو وبيريز والسفير المصري يمسكون بالسكين يقطعون بها علم مصر المرسوم على تورتة الأحتفال المشؤم أحس أن تلك البلد فعلاً أنتهت للأبد وأنه لم يصبح لي مكان فيها ، ولا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله

مازلت أقول

إن الأشجار.. وإن ذبلت
في زمن الخوف
سيعود ربيع يوقظـها بين الأطلال

إن الأنهار وإن جبنـت في زمن الزيف
سيجـيء زمان يحييها رغم الأغلال

مازلت أقول

لو ماتت كل الأشياء
سيجيء زمان يشعرنا.. أنـا أحياء

من قصيدة سيجيء زمان الأحياء سنة1986

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سؤال اليوم
ما هي الجريمة الوحيدة التي يعاقب القانون على الشروع فيها بالإعدام بينما لا يعاقب عليها إذا تمت كاملة ؟

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Technorati Tags: Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, Shimon Peres, Egyptian ambassador, ambassador's residence, Egyptian national day, July 23 -1952, Hertzila, Israel, Egypt, Mubarak, Hosni Mubarak, Middle East, Mideast, The Egyptian regime, politics, poetry, Farouk Juweidah

Again and again : Shake hands with the devil

2009-07-08T06:10:00.001+03:00

AP Photo

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, right, shakes hands with Israeli President Shimon Peres before their talks at the Presidential palace in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, July 7, 2009. Israeli president Shimon Peres says relations between Israel and Egypt have gotten stronger, and he praised Egypt's attempts to fight terror and smuggling.

طالما أن شاليط بخير ، فإن مصر بخير
ولا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله

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لا...لا...لا أملك إلا أن أتكلم
يا أهلَ مدينتنا
يا أهل مدينتنا
هذا قولي
انفجروا أو موتوا
رعبٌ أكبرُ من هذا سوف يجيء
لن ينجيَكم أن تعتصموا منهُ بأعالي جبل الصمت...أو ببطون الغابات
لن ينجيَكم أن تختبئوا في حجراتكمو
أو تحت وسائدِكم...أو في بالوعات الحمَّامات
لن ينجيَكم أن تلتصقوا بالجدران
إلى أن يصبح كل منكم ظلا مشبوحا عانقَ ظلا
لن ينجيَكم أن ترتدُّوا أطفالا
لن ينجيَكم أن تقصر هاماتكمو حتى تلتصقوا بالأرض
أو أن تنكمشوا حتى يدخل أحدكمو في سَمِّ الإبرة
لن ينجيَكم أن تضعوا أقتعة القِرَدة
لن ينجيَكم أن تندمجوا أو تندغموا
حتى تتكون من أجسادكمُ المرتعدة
كومةُ قاذورات
فانفجروا أو موتوا
انفجروا أو موتوا
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شاعر الألم ...صلاح عــبد الصبور
ليلى والمجنون

☞ Technorati Tags: Hosni Mubarak, Egyptian President, Shimon Peres, Israeli President, Egypt, Mubarak, Politics, Democracy, the Arab world, the Middle East, Mideast, The devil, Gilad Shalit, Palestin, Hamas

Marwa el-Sherbini and Egyptian grief

2009-07-08T04:16:00.002+03:00

AP Photo

Some thousands of Egyptians surround the coffin of 32-year old pregnant Egyptian pharmacist woman Marwa el-Sherbini, Monday July 6, 2009, during her funeral in Alexandria , Egypt.

Marwa was stabbed 18 times in courtroom in the German city of Dresden" eastern Germany " because she was wearing the veil and she was a Muslim by a German man known as "Axel W.," last week, Marwa was testify against the man in court after he allegedly called her an Islamist and a terrorist in 2008. German prosecutors say a 28-year-old man who fatally stabbed Marwa was driven by a deep hate of foreigners.

Marwa EL-Sherbani was pregnant in her second child when she was stabbed in the court along with her Egyptian husband whose is currently in a coma and infront of her little boy.

"May Allah bless her soul and all our martyrs in Egypt"

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Technorati Tags: Egypt, Germany, Europe, Marwa El-Sherbani, Murder, Muslim, Islam, Veil, Women, Media, Mideast, Middle East, people, Alexandria, Cairo , News, Egyptians, photos, national, society, religion, Islam, crime, racism, hate, Islamophobia,

Egyptian Woman Stabbed In Germany, head scarf

Sympathy with the brothers in humanity

2009-07-04T05:55:00.002+03:00

A boy near the town of Moyale drinks from a muddy puddle.

Drought is one of many problems that continually afflicts the northern African country of Ethiopia. Lack of water not only kills crops, meaning starvation, but also causes violent conflicts over scarce vital resources. Inadequate sanitation has made water-borne diseases the No. 1 cause of infant deaths in the country -- where 300,000 children under age 5 die every year.

في كل وقت تشعر به بالشبع بعد وجبة دسمة وكوب من الشاي الساخن بالنعناع ، بل في كل وقت تصحو فيه من نومك ليلاً في يوم صيفي ساخن كتلك الأيام وتتوجه للثلاجة وتخرج زجاجة من المياة الباردة تروي بها عطشك ، بل في كل وقت تشعر فيه بالأمان وأنت بداخل بيتك تحوطك أربعة جدران .... تذكر دائماً أن تشكر الله على نعمه التي لا تعد ولا تحصى وأن هناك ... في مكان ما من ذلك العالم - ربما أقرب إليك مما تعتقد - أشخاص كل ما يتمنونه من الحياة هو شربة ماء .... [ من فضلك شاهد الأغنية التالية ] ء

And when you climb
into your bed tonight
And when you lock
and bolt the door
Just think of those
out in the cold and dark
'cause there's not enough love to go round

And sympathy
is what we need my friend
And sympathy
is what we need
And sympathy
is what we need my friend
'cause there's not enough love to go round
no there's not enough love to go round
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Now half the world
hates the other half
And half the world
has all the food
And half the world
lies down and quietly starves
'cause there's not enough love to go round

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Because we will never forget the children of Gaza

2009-07-02T01:46:00.003+03:00

A Palestinian boy drinks water from a barrel near a house destroyed during Israel's latest offensive in Gaza, in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, July 1, 2009. Thousands of Gazans who lost their homes in Israel's offensive are building houses using mud bricks as Israel refuses to allow raw materials into blockaded strip. Israel and neighboring Egypt have kept Gaza under blockade since the militant Hamas seized power in Gaza in June 2007.

[AP Photo]

رغم كل ما يحيط بنا في المحروسة من مشاكل لا تنتهي ، ورغم الشعور بشيء ما يدبر في الخفاء لنا من السادة أعضاء مجلس إدارة الجمهورية ومن السيد العضو المنتدب وحوارييه ... ورغم كل شيء فإننا لن ننسى أطفال غزة

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Technorati Tags: Egypt, Arab, Follow Up, Media, National, Politics, Regional, Israel, Palestine, Middle East, Gaza, Palestine, War, News, Politics, photos

Except Prophet Muhammed " Peace be upon him "

2009-07-01T03:55:00.000+03:00

اصحى يا عامل مصر يا مجدع .. وافهم دورك ف الوردية .. مهما بتتعب مهما بتصنع .. تعبك رايح للحرامية

2009-06-26T18:44:00.000+03:00

Tanta Flax and Oil Company striker, at a public meeting in support of the free unions, Cairo’s Press Syndicate…[ Photo by Hossam el-Hamalawy ]
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Links :

Breaking News : Pop Icon Michael Jackson has passed away

2009-06-26T02:49:00.003+03:00

"Ladies and gentlemen, Michael Jackson has just died,"

Michael Jackson, often referred to as "The King of Pop", died at the age of 50 on Thursday afternoon after suffering a cardiac arrest, the Los Angeles Times reported while citing law enforcement and city sources. CBS News also confirmed the news.

The cause of death was not immediately known. Both OK! Magazine and TMZ.com also confirmed his death.

I still remember his 1982 album "Thriller" which included the blockbuster hits "Beat It," "Billie Jean" and "Thriller"

Farewell Michael

Update # 1 :

Technorati Tags: Michael Jackson, Farewell Michael, King of Pop, Thriller, Michael Jackson has passed away , Music, America, world, international, society, Media
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Russian President Dmitry Medvedev during his visit to Egypt

2009-06-25T03:27:00.004+03:00

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (2L) and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak (R) participate in an official welcoming ceremony in Cairo on June 23, 2009. Medvedev began a visit to Egypt to sign a strategic cooperation pact with Cairo as Moscow seeks to boost its diplomatic clout in the Middle East. .... Getty Images

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, right, and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev seen at a joint news conference in Cairo, Egypt, on Tuesday, June 23, 2009. .... AP Photo

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev tours the historical site of Giza pyramids near Cairo, Egypt, Wednesday, June 24, 2009. ..... AP Photo

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev stands in front of the ancient Sphinx while touring the historical site of Giza pyramids near Cairo, Egypt, Wednesday, June 24, 2009..... AP Photo

في الماضي القريب كان إذا قرر السكرتير العام للحزب الشيوعي للإتحاد السوفيتي زيارة القاهرة كانت الصحف والمجلات ووسائل الإعلام ستظل تتحدث عن تلك الزيارة لأيام وليالي طويلة ، ولكن الآن تمر الزيارة التي قام بها الرئيس الروسي دميتري ميدفيديف للقاهرة مرور الكرام وكأنه رئيس لدولة من جزر الموز وليس رئيساً لمن كانت تعتبر دولة عظمى وأحد قطبي العالم وزعيمة حلف وارسو ، ولكنها الأيام وسبحان المعز المذل. ء

Map of Warsaw Pact countries

Member states: Soviet Union, Poland, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania.
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الخريطة للدول التي كانت أعضاء بحلف وارسو

Scandal of the Egyptian football team ..... فضيحة المنتخب المصري في جنوب أفريقيا

2009-06-22T02:10:00.005+03:00

لو صح ما قيل عما فعله لاعبي المنتخب المصري في جنوب أفريقيا من قيام خمسة لاعبين عقب مباراة إيطاليا باصطحاب عاهرات إلى غرفهم بالفندق ، فأعتقد أن أقل ما يجب هو أن يقدم حسن شحاته والجهاز الفني المعاون له جميعاً استقالتهم وتسريح هؤلاء اللاعبين أيا كانت شخصياتهم ويكفيهم الفضيحة التي لن ننساها لهم

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☞ Technorati Tags: Fifa Confederations Cup, Hassan Shehata, Egypt, Johannesburg, South Africa,
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Egyptian coach Hassan Shehata... المعلم حسن شحاته

2009-06-19T16:42:00.002+03:00

Egyptian coach Hassan Shehata smiles near the bench before the Fifa Confederations Cup football match Egypt vs Italy on June 18, 2009 at the Ellis Park stadium in Johannesburg..... Getty Images

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☞ Links :

"We just want to know where our votes went."

2009-06-17T04:01:00.001+03:00

"Trust us! We had counted the votes a few days before the election."

[ Source image ]

Photo of the day : "like animals."

2009-06-16T23:54:00.037+03:00

Getty Images

Ismail Haniya, prime minister of the Islamist Hamas movement, stands behind former US President Jimmy Carter (seated-C) as he poses with Palesitnian children in Gaza City on June 16, 2009. Carter denounced the deprivations facing Palestinians in Gaza as unique in history, asserting that they are being treated "like animals."

☞ Links :

Memory from the past

President of Egypt Anwar Sadat and Jimmy Carter meet at the beginning of the Camp David Summit - 06-09-1978... [ Source ]

☞ Technorati Tags: Hamas movement, Jimmy Carter, Politics, Israel, News, Palestine, Gaza, Peace, Human rights, Mideast, Gaza City, Gaza Strip, Zionism, Israel's crimes
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Iran's Presidential Election

2009-06-13T02:05:00.008+03:00

(AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

(OLIVIER LABAN-MATTEI/AFP/Getty Images)

(REUTERS/Damir Sagolj)

Who will win ?

للأسف لا نملك إلا أن نجلس ونشاهد هذا الاختراع العجيب القادم من المستقبل والذي قام بغزو العالم والمسمى بالانتحابات الحرة الديمقراطية ... ولا عزاء لشعب المحروسة

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☞ Update : Iran Streets After Elections [ In pictures ]

☞ More pictures : [ Here ]
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An Iranian student holds a sign aloft during a demonstration outside the United Nations headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Monday, June 15, 2009. The demonstrators were protesting against the election results from Iran. AP Photo

An Iranian university exchange student protests election results outside Iran's embassy to Italy in........... Reuters Pictures

☞ Technorati Tags: Iran's Presidential Election, Islamic Revolution, Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Mir Hossein Mousavi, Tehran, Politics, News, follow up

WHO declares H1N1( Swine Flu ) global pandemic

2009-06-12T23:07:00.001+03:00

The World Health Organization declared its first influenza pandemic in 40 years after an emergency meeting of scientific experts Thursday on a swine flu outbreak which has hit 74 countries.

أعلنت منظمة الصحة العالمية أول وباء للأنفلوانزا منذ أربعين عاماً على أثر إجتماع لخبراء علميين يوم الخميس ( أمس ) على خلفية إنتشار أنفلوانزا الخنازير بأربعة وسبعين دولة

سترك يا رب

☞ Technorati Tags: WHO, swine flu, H1N1, health, follow up, Egypt, America, Follow Up, health

Muammar Gaddafi in his first visit to Italy

2009-06-11T04:59:00.002+03:00

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi (2nd L) and Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (L) leave Ciampino Airport in Rome June 10, 2009. Gaddafi is making his first visit to Libya's former colonial ruler Italy.............Reuters Pictures

Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi walks past the honor guard with Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, left, after landing at Rome's Ciampino airport, Wednesday, June 10, 2009. Gadhafi is on a three-day official visit to Italy. ........... AP Photo

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الزعيم الأممي خليفة المسلمين ملك ملوك أفريقيا في زيارته الأولى - وأعتقد الأخيرة أو هكذا أتمنى - للعاصمة الإيطالية ... ولا تعليق

جاء أوباما..خطب أوباما.. رحل أوباما .. وعليكم ... السلاما

2009-06-06T05:03:00.005+03:00

مقال إبراهيم عيسى بجريدة الدستور المصرية يعتبر من وجهة نظري من أفضل التحليلات لخطاب الرئيس أوباما الذي يعتبره الكثيرون المهدي المنتظر بينما أظن أنه أقرب للمسيح الدجال مع كل الاعتذار للنجم الفنان شريف منير وكل من على شاكلته

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أسمرنا أجمل من أسمرهم

لماذا لم يلق الجمهور الدباديب على أوباما

عن الصياعه الأوباماوية

كان بعض التصفيق من الجمهور تحية لبعض فقرات خطاب أوباما أمس مخجلاً ومؤسفًا وأشبه بالفرح الطفولي الساذج، الذي يبديه صبي عند الأهرامات حين يخاطبه خواجه بكلمة عربية!

عندما قال أوباما: «السلام عليكم» باللغة العربية، وعندما أشار إلي أكثر من آية قرآنية دوت حالة من التصفيق المعبرة عن الشعور الفطري بالنقص (كأنما زدنا بما قاله الرجل وكأنه اعترف بنا وبلغتنا وبديننا!!) وعندما ارتفعت بقوة دوائر التصفيق تهليلاً بإشارة أوباما إلي قيم الإسلام في المساواة، والأزهر في التعليم، ونائب الكونجرس المسلم عندما أقسم علي المصحف تدرك فورًا إلي أي حد يبدو مجتمعنا متصاغرًا وضئيلاً كأنه في حاجة إلي شهادة سير وسلوك من السيد الأمريكي لحضارتنا وديننا، وهو نفس الفرح الطفولي والتصفيق المهلل عندما تحدث أوباما عن الديمقراطية وحق الشعوب الإسلامية في الحرية السياسية وكأن بعض الحضور وجد في كلام الرجل سندًا ودعمًا وتعليمات مبطنة لنظام الحكم المصري، الحقيقة أن صيحات السعادة وتهليلات البهجة والتصفيق المفرط والهتاف باسم أوباما أثناء خروجه من المنصة كلها تشبه تمامًا منهج منتظر الزيدي الذي رمي بوش بالحذاء، فكلا التصرفين رد فعل ينم عن عواطف جياشة بالفرح أو الغضب وعن مبالغة متطرفة في الحب والكراهية وتعبير بدائي غريزي تافه عن الموقف والذات العربية أمام الرئيس الأمريكي!

المدهش في هذا الخطاب الذي ألقاه أوباما قرابة الساعة من ظهيرة أمس - الخميس - أن فيه ما يدهش فعلاً، بل يدهش جدًا، فالرئيس باراك أوباما دافع عن حروب الرئيس جورج بوش بقوة لا أظن أن بوش سيفوتها، ولعله سيتصل شاكرًا موقف أوباما وهو يخاطب العالم الإسلامي الذي يكره بوش نفسه ويعتبره بمنتهي الطيابة رمزًا لكل شر أمريكي، فأوباما لم يجد أي مشكلة في تبرير الحرب الأمريكية علي أفغانستان، واعتبر أنها حرب شرعية دفاعًا عن أمريكا، حيث تتخذ القاعدة أفغانستان - طالبان مقرًا لها، وأفرط أوباما في تذكير جمهور العالم الإسلامي الذي يخاطبه بأحداث 11سبتمبر وكأننا المذنبون فعلاً، وكأن حرب بوش -أوباما علي أفغانستان مشروعة، بينما هي حرب انتقامية قتل فيها الأمريكان ضحايا أبرياء ومدنيين أكثر من الذين أسقطهم الإرهاب في برجي نيويورك! كي تحمي أمريكا نفسها من تنظيم إرهابي قامت بحرب استباقية-انتقامية دمرت فيه بلدا (الغريب أنها لم تدمر التنظيم ولم تقتل قادته أيضا) وأزهقت أرواح آلاف الأفغان الأبرياء وأدخلت بلدًا في حرب أهلية وساهمت بزيادة جنونية في زراعة وتجارة الأفيون في العالم، هذه هي الحرب ضد دولة إسلامية، الذي جاء أوباما ليبررها للعالم الإسلامي!

ثم كان أوباما قاطعًا في أنه سيحارب الإرهاب والإرهابيين الإسلاميين بلا هوادة (وقد أفاض علينا بخلاصة علمه وفضله أن الاسلام ليس دينًا يشجع الإرهاب وقد صفقنا جدا عندما سمعنا ذلك!) لكن الحقيقة أن هذا هو نفسه كلام جورج بوش باللفظة والحرف والنقطة والفصلة حين كان يفصل بين الإسلام والإرهاب، ثم يؤكد أنه سيحارب الإرهاب والإرهابيين للأبد، عظيم.. إذن فلا اختلاف بينهما إلا أننا نحب أوباما ونكره بوش (وواضح إن ده مش شيء شويه!!)، لكن أحدًا منهما لم يحدد تعريف الإرهاب، فالمشكلة ليست في أن نرفض ونحارب الإرهاب، لكن المشكلة أن نتفق ما الإرهاب؟ فالبيت الأبيض يحتفظ بالحق المطلق في تعريف الإرهاب، مما يجعل ما نؤمن بأنه مقاومة ضد محتل إرهابًا من وجهة نظر السيد أوباما وسلفه الصالح (..) ولم يبذل أوباما جهدا في أن ينصحنا نصيحة لله (أليس الدين النصيحة!!) إن المقاومة لن تجدي ولن تنفع أبدًا في تحرير أرض أو الحصول علي حق، ونسي الرجل كيف حرر الأمريكان أنفسهم من احتلال بريطانيا!! وكيف حاربوا جيش الإمبراطورية، بل لم يقل لنا الرئيس الرابع والأربعون كيف وصل الرئيس الأول جورج واشنطن للحكم؟ أليس بعد ثورة مقاومة وبعد حرب أهلية طاحنة؟

أما دفاع أوباما عن حرب العراق فقد كان غريبًا في وضوحه، ولم يلجأ حتي لأي التباس حتي يحتار أو يحتال البعض في فهمه، بل قال إن العراق الآن أفضل بالتأكيد من أيام الديكتاتور صدام حسين، ولعل أحدًا لا يشارك هذا الحكم النهائي الذي أصدره باراك أوباما سوي جورج بوش نفسه!

ومن الباب ذاته، جاءت وعوده حول العراق مشابهة حد التطابق تقريبًا مع بوش، وهو نفس ما تدركه في كلامه عن الدولة الفلسطينية الموعودة فلا تنس أن أول رئيس أمريكي وعد بها علانية، بل حدد لها وقتا هو الرئيس بوش وبشَّرنا بإعلانها في 2008ويشاء العليم السميع أن يأتي أوباما بذات الوعد ولكن عام 2012، وكلا الوعدين مرتبط بنهاية ولاية حكم كل منهما، لكن المحصلة أن أوباما كان صريحا وشفافا جدًا في تأكيده معاناة الشعب اليهودي ورفضه التام لإنكار المحرقة (وكأننا نحن المسلمين مسئولون عنها وكأننا من أحرقناهم؟ فلماذا لا يخاطب أوروبا والغرب الذي ارتكب جريمة المحرقة بينما كان اليهود وقتها مواطنين كاملي الأهلية والمواطنة في شوارع وحواري العالم العربي!!) ولكن أوباما لم يوزع تعاطفه بالعدل بين الشعبين اليهودي والفلسطيني ونسي أن يتحدث عن احتلال فلسطين، بل وصف احتلالها بأنه تأسيس لدولة إسرائيل، عموما كل ما قاله أوباما عن الصراع العربي الفلسطيني مكرر وسقيم ومحض كلام يؤدي إلي كلام ومنه إلي كلام آخر!

لقد حاول أوباما أن يرضي جميع الأطراف، ويقول حديثًا في كل الاتجاهات، بحيث إن أي شخص يريد أي شيء سيجده في الخطاب، ولو وضعت يدك علي صدر الخطاب ينور وعلي رجله ينور وعلي بطنه ينور، كان طموح كتبة هذا الخطاب ليس هو الوضوح بقدر ما هو الغموض الواضح، وإن اللي عايز أي حاجة يلاقيها ويتشعبط في جملة أو كلمة سيجد مبغاه، والذي يخرج بأن أوباما يؤيد حكومات مستبدة سيجد تماما مايؤكد ذلك والذي يريد أن يتوهم أن أوباما طالب هذه الحكومات بالديمقراطية سيجد ذلك بمنتهي البساطة، والذي يريد أن يقول إنه متعاطف مع الشعب الفلسطيني محق، والذي يقول إنه مؤيد متطرف لإسرائيل محق، خطاب باراك أوباما جراب حاوي السيرك للكثيرين، لكن الذي بدا مهرج السيرك فعلا هو هذا المجتمع المسكين الذي يمكن أن تضحك عليه وقتما شئت بما شئت إلي ما شاء الله!! ء

مصدر الصورة من هنا

العنوان مقتبس من هنا

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Obama Speech In Cairo: Full Text

2009-06-04T14:33:00.008+03:00

U.S. President Barack Obama speaks at Cairo University in Cairo, Thursday, June 4, 2009. In his speech, President Obama called for a "new beginning between the United States and Muslims", AP Photo

Barack Obama's speech in the Grand Hall of Cairo University in Cairo (Full Text)

النص الكامل لخطاب أوباما بجامعة القاهرة 4/6/2009
اللغة العربية اضغط ... هنا
Update : Obama’s speech has been translated into Arabic, Chinese, Persian, Indonesian , Turkish , French, Hindi, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Urdu and Hebrew.

I am honored to be in the timeless city of Cairo, and to be hosted by two remarkable institutions. For over a thousand years, Al-Azhar has stood as a beacon of Islamic learning, and for over a century, Cairo University has been a source of Egypt's advancement. Together, you represent the harmony between tradition and progress. I am grateful for your hospitality, and the hospitality of the people of Egypt. I am also proud to carry with me the goodwill of the American people, and a greeting of peace from Muslim communities in my country: assalaamu alaykum.

We meet at a time of tension between the United States and Muslims around the world - tension rooted in historical forces that go beyond any current policy debate. The relationship between Islam and the West includes centuries of co-existence and cooperation, but also conflict and religious wars. 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. Moreover, the sweeping change brought by modernity and globalization led many Muslims to view the West as hostile to the traditions of Islam.

Violent extremists have exploited these tensions in a small but potent minority of Muslims. The attacks of September 11th, 2001 and the continued efforts of these extremists to engage in violence against civilians has led some in my country to view Islam as inevitably hostile not only to America and Western countries, but also to human rights. This has bred more fear and mistrust.

So long as our relationship is defined by our differences, we will empower those who sow hatred rather than peace, and who promote conflict rather than the cooperation that can help all of our people achieve justice and prosperity. This cycle of suspicion and discord must end.

I have come here to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world; one based upon mutual interest and mutual respect; and one based upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive, and need not be in competition. Instead, they overlap, and share common principles - principles of justice and progress; tolerance and the dignity of all human beings.

I do so recognizing that change cannot happen overnight. No single speech can eradicate years of mistrust, nor can I answer in the time that I have all the complex questions that brought us to this point. But I am convinced that in order to move forward, we must say openly the things we hold in our hearts, and that too often are said only behind closed doors. There must be a sustained effort to listen to each other; to learn from each other; to respect one another; and to seek common ground. As the Holy Koran tells us, "Be conscious of God and speak always the truth." That is what I will try to do - to speak the truth as best I can, humbled by the task before us, and firm in my belief that the interests we share as human beings are far more powerful than the forces that drive us apart.

Part of this conviction is rooted in my own experience. I am a Christian, but my father came from a Kenyan family that includes generations of Muslims. As a boy, I spent several years in Indonesia and heard the call of the azaan at the break of dawn and the fall of dusk. As a young man, I worked in Chicago communities where many found dignity and peace in their Muslim faith.

As a student of history, I also know civilization's debt to Islam. It was Islam - at places like Al-Azhar University - that carried the light of learning through so many centuries, paving the way for Europe's Renaissance and Enlightenment. It was innovation in Muslim communities that developed the order of algebra; our magnetic compass and tools of navigation; our mastery of pens and printing; our understanding of how disease spreads and how it can be healed. Islamic culture has given us majestic arches and soaring spires; timeless poetry and cherished music; elegant calligraphy and places of peaceful contemplation. And throughout history, Islam has demonstrated through words and deeds the possibilities of religious tolerance and racial equality.

I know, too, that Islam has always been a part of America's story. The first nation to recognize my country was Morocco. In signing the Treaty of Tripoli in 1796, our second President John Adams wrote, "The United States has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Muslims." And since our founding, American Muslims have enriched the United States. They have fought in our wars, served in government, stood for civil rights, started businesses, taught at our Universities, excelled in our sports arenas, won Nobel Prizes, built our tallest building, and lit the Olympic Torch. And when the first Muslim-American was recently elected to Congress, he took the oath to defend our Constitution using the same Holy Koran that one of our Founding Fathers - Thomas Jefferson - kept in his personal library.

So I have known Islam on three continents before coming to the region where it was first revealed. That experience guides my conviction that partnership between America and Islam must be based on what Islam is, not what it isn't. And I consider it part of my responsibility as President of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear.

But that same principle must apply to Muslim perceptions of America. Just as Muslims do not fit a crude stereotype, America is not the crude stereotype of a self-interested empire. The United States has been one of the greatest sources of progress that the world has ever known. We were born out of revolution against an empire. We were founded upon the ideal that all are created equal, and we have shed blood and struggled for centuries to give meaning to those words - within our borders, and around the world. We are shaped by every culture, drawn from every end of the Earth, and dedicated to a simple concept: E pluribus unum: "Out of many, one."

Much has been made of the fact that an African-American with the name Barack Hussein Obama could be elected President. But my personal story is not so unique. The dream of opportunity for all people has not come true for everyone in America, but its promise exists for all who come to our shores - that includes nearly seven million American Muslims in our country today who enjoy incomes and education that are higher than average.

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. That is why the U.S. government has gone to court to protect the right of women and girls to wear the hijab, and to punish those who would deny it.

So let there be no doubt: Islam is a part of America. 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.

Of course, recognizing our common humanity is only the beginning of our task. Words alone cannot meet the needs of our people. These needs will be met only if we act boldly in the years ahead; and if we understand that the challenges we face are shared, and our failure to meet them will hurt us all.

For we have learned from recent experience that when a financial system weakens in one country, prosperity is hurt everywhere. When a new flu infects one human being, all are at risk. When one nation pursues a nuclear weapon, the risk of nuclear attack rises for all nations. When violent extremists operate in one stretch of mountains, people are endangered across an ocean. And when innocents in Bosnia and Darfur are slaughtered, that is a stain on our collective conscience. That is what it means to share this world in the 21st century. That is the responsibility we have to one another as human beings.

This is a difficult responsibility to embrace. For human history has often been a record of nations and tribes subjugating one another to serve their own interests. Yet in this new age, such attitudes are self-defeating. Given our interdependence, any world order that elevates one nation or group of people over another will inevitably fail. So whatever we think of the past, we must not be prisoners of it. Our problems must be dealt with through partnership; progress must be shared.

That does not mean we should ignore sources of tension. Indeed, it suggests the opposite: we must face these tensions squarely. And so in that spirit, let me speak as clearly and plainly as I can about some specific issues that I believe we must finally confront together.

The first issue that we have to confront is violent extremism in all of its forms.

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. Because we reject the same thing that people of all faiths reject: the killing of innocent men, women, and children. And it is my first duty as President to protect the American people.

The situation in Afghanistan demonstrates America's goals, and our need to work together. Over seven years ago, the United States pursued al Qaeda and the Taliban with broad international support. We did not go by choice, we went because of necessity. I am aware that some question or justify the events of 9/11. But let us be clear: al Qaeda killed nearly 3,000 people on that day. The victims were innocent men, women and children from America and many other nations who had done nothing to harm anybody. And yet Al Qaeda chose to ruthlessly murder these people, claimed credit for the attack, and even now states their determination to kill on a massive scale. They have affiliates in many countries and are trying to expand their reach. These are not opinions to be debated; these are facts to be dealt with.

Make no mistake: we do not want to keep our troops in Afghanistan. We seek no military bases there. It is agonizing for America to lose our young men and women. It is costly and politically difficult to continue this conflict. We would gladly bring every single one of our troops home if we could be confident that there were not violent extremists in Afghanistan and Pakistan determined to kill as many Americans as they possibly can. But that is not yet the case.

That's why we're partnering with a coalition of forty-six countries. And despite the costs involved, America's commitment will not weaken. Indeed, none of us should tolerate these extremists. They have killed in many countries. They have killed people of different faiths - more than any other, they have killed Muslims. Their actions are irreconcilable with the rights of human beings, the progress of nations, and with Islam. The Holy Koran teaches that whoever kills an innocent, it is as if he has killed all mankind; and whoever saves a person, it is as if he has saved all mankind. The enduring faith of over a billion people is so much bigger than the narrow hatred of a few. Islam is not part of the problem in combating violent extremism - it is an important part of promoting peace.

We also know that military power alone is not going to solve the problems in Afghanistan and Pakistan. That is why we plan to invest $1.5 billion each year over the next five years to partner with Pakistanis to build schools and hospitals, roads and businesses, and hundreds of millions to help those who have been displaced. And that is why we are providing more than $2.8 billion to help Afghans develop their economy and deliver services that people depend upon.

Let me also address the issue of Iraq. Unlike Afghanistan, Iraq was a war of choice that provoked strong differences in my country and around the world. Although I believe that the Iraqi people are ultimately better off without the tyranny of Saddam Hussein, I also believe that events in Iraq have reminded America of the need to use diplomacy and build international consensus to resolve our problems whenever possible. Indeed, we can recall the words of Thomas Jefferson, who said: "I hope that our wisdom will grow with our power, and teach us that the less we use our power the greater it will be."

Today, America has a dual responsibility: to help Iraq forge a better future - and to leave Iraq to Iraqis. I have made it clear to the Iraqi people that we pursue no bases, and no claim on their territory or resources. Iraq's sovereignty is its own. That is why I ordered the removal of our combat brigades by next August. That is why we will honor our agreement with Iraq's democratically-elected government to remove combat troops from Iraqi cities by July, and to remove all our troops from Iraq by 2012. We will help Iraq train its Security Forces and develop its economy. But we will support a secure and united Iraq as a partner, and never as a patron.

And finally, just as America can never tolerate violence by extremists, we must never alter our principles. 9/11 was an enormous trauma to our country. The fear and anger that it provoked was understandable, but in some cases, it led us to act contrary to our ideals. We are taking concrete actions to change course. I have unequivocally prohibited the use of torture by the United States, and I have ordered the prison at Guantanamo Bay closed by early next year.

So America will defend itself respectful of the sovereignty of nations and the rule of law. And we will do so in partnership with Muslim communities which are also threatened. The sooner the extremists are isolated and unwelcome in Muslim communities, the sooner we will all be safer.

The second major source of tension that we need to discuss is the situation between Israelis, Palestinians and the Arab world.

America's strong bonds with Israel are well known. This bond is unbreakable. It is based upon cultural and historical ties, and the recognition that the aspiration for a Jewish homeland is rooted in a tragic history that cannot be denied.

Around the world, the Jewish people were persecuted for centuries, and anti-Semitism in Europe culminated in an unprecedented Holocaust. Tomorrow, I will visit Buchenwald, which was part of a network of camps where Jews were enslaved, tortured, shot and gassed to death by the Third Reich. Six million Jews were killed - more than the entire Jewish population of Israel today. Denying that fact is baseless, ignorant, and hateful. Threatening Israel with destruction - or repeating vile stereotypes about Jews - is deeply wrong, and only serves to evoke in the minds of Israelis this most painful of memories while preventing the peace that the people of this region deserve.

On the other hand, it is also undeniable that the Palestinian people - Muslims and Christians - have suffered in pursuit of a homeland. For more than sixty years they have endured the pain of dislocation. Many wait in refugee camps in the West Bank, Gaza, and neighboring lands for a life of peace and security that they have never been able to lead. They endure the daily humiliations - large and small - that come with occupation. So let there be no doubt: the situation for the Palestinian people is intolerable. America will not turn our backs on the legitimate Palestinian aspiration for dignity, opportunity, and a state of their own.

For decades, there has been a stalemate: two peoples with legitimate aspirations, each with a painful history that makes compromise elusive. It is easy to point fingers - for Palestinians to point to the displacement brought by Israel's founding, and for Israelis to point to the constant hostility and attacks throughout its history from within its borders as well as beyond. But if we see this conflict only from one side or the other, then we will be blind to the truth: the only resolution is for the aspirations of both sides to be met through two states, where Israelis and Palestinians each live in peace and security.

That is in Israel's interest, Palestine's interest, America's interest, and the world's interest. That is why I intend to personally pursue this outcome with all the patience that the task requires. The obligations that the parties have agreed to under the Road Map are clear. For peace to come, it is time for them - and all of us - to live up to our responsibilities.

Palestinians must abandon violence. Resistance through violence and killing is wrong and does not succeed. For centuries, black people in America suffered the lash of the whip as slaves and the humiliation of segregation. But it was not violence that won full and equal rights. It was a peaceful and determined insistence upon the ideals at the center of America's founding. This same story can be told by people from South Africa to South Asia; from Eastern Europe to Indonesia. It's a story with a simple truth: that violence is a dead end. It is a sign of neither courage nor power to shoot rockets at sleeping children, or to blow up old women on a bus. That is not how moral authority is claimed; that is how it is surrendered.

Now is the time for Palestinians to focus on what they can build. The Palestinian Authority must develop its capacity to govern, with institutions that serve the needs of its people. Hamas does have support among some Palestinians, but they also have responsibilities. To play a role in fulfilling Palestinian aspirations, and to unify the Palestinian people, Hamas must put an end to violence, recognize past agreements, and recognize Israel's right to exist.

At the same time, Israelis must acknowledge that just as Israel's right to exist cannot be denied, neither can Palestine's. The United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements. This construction violates previous agreements and undermines efforts to achieve peace. It is time for these settlements to stop.

Israel must also live up to its obligations to ensure that Palestinians can live, and work, and develop their society. And just as it devastates Palestinian families, the continuing humanitarian crisis in Gaza does not serve Israel's security; neither does the continuing lack of opportunity in the West Bank. Progress in the daily lives of the Palestinian people must be part of a road to peace, and Israel must take concrete steps to enable such progress.

Finally, the Arab States must recognize that the Arab Peace Initiative was an important beginning, but not the end of their responsibilities. The Arab-Israeli conflict should no longer be used to distract the people of Arab nations from other problems. Instead, it must be a cause for action to help the Palestinian people develop the institutions that will sustain their state; to recognize Israel's legitimacy; and to choose progress over a self-defeating focus on the past.

America will align our policies with those who pursue peace, and say in public what we say in private to Israelis and Palestinians and Arabs. We cannot impose peace. But privately, many Muslims recognize that Israel will not go away. Likewise, many Israelis recognize the need for a Palestinian state. It is time for us to act on what everyone knows to be true.

Too many tears have flowed. Too much blood has been shed. All of us have a responsibility to work for the day when the mothers of Israelis and Palestinians can see their children grow up without fear; when the Holy Land of three great faiths is the place of peace that God intended it to be; when Jerusalem is a secure and lasting home for Jews and Christians and Muslims, and a place for all of the children of Abraham to mingle peacefully together as in the story of Isra, when Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed (peace be upon them) joined in prayer.

The third source of tension is our shared interest in the rights and responsibilities of nations on nuclear weapons.

This issue has been a source of tension between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran. For many years, Iran has defined itself in part by its opposition to my country, and there is indeed a tumultuous history between us. In the middle of the Cold War, the United States played a role in the overthrow of a democratically-elected Iranian government. Since the Islamic Revolution, Iran has played a role in acts of hostage-taking and violence against U.S. troops and civilians. This history is well known. Rather than remain trapped in the past, I have made it clear to Iran's leaders and people that my country is prepared to move forward. The question, now, is not what Iran is against, but rather what future it wants to build.

It will be hard to overcome decades of mistrust, but we will proceed with courage, rectitude and resolve. There will be many issues to discuss between our two countries, and we are willing to move forward without preconditions on the basis of mutual respect. But it is clear to all concerned that when it comes to nuclear weapons, we have reached a decisive point. This is not simply about America's interests. It is about preventing a nuclear arms race in the Middle East that could lead this region and the world down a hugely dangerous path.

I understand those who protest that some countries have weapons that others do not. No single nation should pick and choose which nations hold nuclear weapons. That is why I strongly reaffirmed America's commitment to seek a world in which no nations hold nuclear weapons. And any nation - including Iran - should have the right to access peaceful nuclear power if it complies with its responsibilities under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. That commitment is at the core of the Treaty, and it must be kept for all who fully abide by it. And I am hopeful that all countries in the region can share in this goal.

The fourth issue that I will address is democracy.

I know there has been controversy about the promotion of democracy in recent years, and much of this controversy is connected to the war in Iraq. So let me be clear: no system of government can or should be imposed upon one nation by any other.

That does not lessen my commitment, however, to governments that reflect the will of the people. Each nation gives life to this principle in its own way, grounded in the traditions of its own people. America does not presume to know what is best for everyone, just as we would not presume to pick the outcome of a peaceful election. 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.

There is no straight line to realize this promise. But this much is clear: governments that protect these rights are ultimately more stable, successful and secure. Suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away. America respects the right of all peaceful and law-abiding voices to be heard around the world, even if we disagree with them. And we will welcome all elected, peaceful governments - provided they govern with respect for all their people.

This last point is important because there are some who advocate for democracy only when they are out of power; once in power, they are ruthless in suppressing the rights of others. No matter where it takes hold, government of the people and by the people sets a single standard for all who hold power: you must maintain your power through consent, not coercion; you must respect the rights of minorities, and participate with a spirit of tolerance and compromise; you must place the interests of your people and the legitimate workings of the political process above your party. Without these ingredients, elections alone do not make true democracy.

The fifth issue that we must address together is religious freedom.

Islam has a proud tradition of tolerance. We see it in the history of Andalusia and Cordoba during the Inquisition. I saw it firsthand as a child in Indonesia, where devout Christians worshiped freely in an overwhelmingly Muslim country. That is the spirit we need today. People in every country should be free to choose and live their faith based upon the persuasion of the mind, heart, and soul. This tolerance is essential for religion to thrive, but it is being challenged in many different ways.

Among some Muslims, there is a disturbing tendency to measure one's own faith by the rejection of another's. The richness of religious diversity must be upheld - whether it is for Maronites in Lebanon or the Copts in Egypt. And fault lines must be closed among Muslims as well, as the divisions between Sunni and Shia have led to tragic violence, particularly in Iraq.

Freedom of religion is central to the ability of peoples to live together. We must always examine the ways in which we protect it. For instance, in the United States, rules on charitable giving have made it harder for Muslims to fulfill their religious obligation. That is why I am committed to working with American Muslims to ensure that they can fulfill zakat.

Likewise, it is important for Western countries to avoid impeding Muslim citizens from practicing religion as they see fit - for instance, by dictating what clothes a Muslim woman should wear. We cannot disguise hostility towards any religion behind the pretence of liberalism.

Indeed, faith should bring us together. That is why we are forging service projects in America that bring together Christians, Muslims, and Jews. That is why we welcome efforts like Saudi Arabian King Abdullah's Interfaith dialogue and Turkey's leadership in the Alliance of Civilizations. Around the world, we can turn dialogue into Interfaith service, so bridges between peoples lead to action - whether it is combating malaria in Africa, or providing relief after a natural disaster.

The sixth issue that I want to address is women's rights.

I know there is debate about this issue. I reject the view of some in the West that a woman who chooses to cover her hair is somehow less equal, but I do believe that a woman who is denied an education is denied equality. And it is no coincidence that countries where women are well-educated are far more likely to be prosperous.

Now let me be clear: issues of women's equality are by no means simply an issue for Islam. In Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia, we have seen Muslim-majority countries elect a woman to lead. Meanwhile, the struggle for women's equality continues in many aspects of American life, and in countries around the world.

Our daughters can contribute just as much to society as our sons, and our common prosperity will be advanced by allowing all humanity - men and women - to reach their full potential. I do not believe that women must make the same choices as men in order to be equal, and I respect those women who choose to live their lives in traditional roles. But it should be their choice. That is why the United States will partner with any Muslim-majority country to support expanded literacy for girls, and to help young women pursue employment through micro-financing that helps people live their dreams.

Finally, I want to discuss economic development and opportunity.

I know that for many, the face of globalization is contradictory. The Internet and television can bring knowledge and information, but also offensive sexuality and mindless violence. Trade can bring new wealth and opportunities, but also huge disruptions and changing communities. In all nations - including my own - this change can bring fear. Fear that because of modernity we will lose of control over our economic choices, our politics, and most importantly our identities - those things we most cherish about our communities, our families, our traditions, and our faith.

But I also know that human progress cannot be denied. There need not be contradiction between development and tradition. Countries like Japan and South Korea grew their economies while maintaining distinct cultures. The same is true for the astonishing progress within Muslim-majority countries from Kuala Lumpur to Dubai. In ancient times and in our times, Muslim communities have been at the forefront of innovation and education.

This is important because no development strategy can be based only upon what comes out of the ground, nor can it be sustained while young people are out of work. Many Gulf States have enjoyed great wealth as a consequence of oil, and some are beginning to focus it on broader development. But all of us must recognize that education and innovation will be the currency of the 21st century, and in too many Muslim communities there remains underinvestment in these areas. I am emphasizing such investments within my country. And while America in the past has focused on oil and gas in this part of the world, we now seek a broader engagement.

On education, we will expand exchange programs, and increase scholarships, like the one that brought my father to America, while encouraging more Americans to study in Muslim communities. And we will match promising Muslim students with internships in America; invest in on-line learning for teachers and children around the world; and create a new online network, so a teenager in Kansas can communicate instantly with a teenager in Cairo.

On economic development, we will create a new corps of business volunteers to partner with counterparts in Muslim-majority countries. And I will host a Summit on Entrepreneurship this year to identify how we can deepen ties between business leaders, foundations and social entrepreneurs in the United States and Muslim communities around the world.

On science and technology, we will launch a new fund to support technological development in Muslim-majority countries, and to help transfer ideas to the marketplace so they can create jobs. We will open centers of scientific excellence in Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, and appoint new Science Envoys to collaborate on programs that develop new sources of energy, create green jobs, digitize records, clean water, and grow new crops. And today I am announcing a new global effort with the Organization of the Islamic Conference to eradicate polio. And we will also expand partnerships with Muslim communities to promote child and maternal health.

All these things must be done in partnership. Americans are ready to join with citizens and governments; community organizations, religious leaders, and businesses in Muslim communities around the world to help our people pursue a better life.

The issues that I have described will not be easy to address. But we have a responsibility to join together on behalf of the world we seek - a world where extremists no longer threaten our people, and American troops have come home; a world where Israelis and Palestinians are each secure in a state of their own, and nuclear energy is used for peaceful purposes; a world where governments serve their citizens, and the rights of all God's children are respected. Those are mutual interests. That is the world we seek. But we can only achieve it together.

I know there are many - Muslim and non-Muslim - who question whether we can forge this new beginning. Some are eager to stoke the flames of division, and to stand in the way of progress. Some suggest that it isn't worth the effort - that we are fated to disagree, and civilizations are doomed to clash. Many more are simply skeptical that real change can occur. There is so much fear, so much mistrust. But if we choose to be bound by the past, we will never move forward. And I want to particularly say this to young people of every faith, in every country - you, more than anyone, have the ability to remake this world.

All of us share this world for but a brief moment in time. The question is whether we spend that time focused on what pushes us apart, or whether we commit ourselves to an effort - a sustained effort - to find common ground, to focus on the future we seek for our children, and to respect the dignity of all human beings.

It is easier to start wars than to end them. It is easier to blame others than to look inward; to see what is different about someone than to find the things we share. But we should choose the right path, not just the easy path. There is also one rule that lies at the heart of every religion - that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us. This truth transcends nations and peoples - a belief that isn't new; that isn't black or white or brown; that isn't Christian, or Muslim or Jew. It's a belief that pulsed in the cradle of civilization, and that still beats in the heart of billions. It's a faith in other people, and it's what brought me here today.

We have the power to make the world we seek, but only if we have the courage to make a new beginning, keeping in mind what has been written.

The Holy Koran tells us, "O mankind! We have created you male and a female; and we have made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another."

The Talmud tells us: "The whole of the Torah is for the purpose of promoting peace."

The Holy Bible tells us, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."

The people of the world can live together in peace. We know that is God's vision. Now, that must be our work here on Earth. Thank you. And may God's peace be upon you.

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