Don’t Be Fooled By Obama’s Egypt Speech - by William Kern
Now that President Obama has announced that Egypt will be the site of his much-awaited speech to the Muslim world, Egyptians have begun to react.
For Amal Al Ummah, the newspaper of the Muslim Brotherhood, lawmaker Mostapha Mohammad writes in part: “Bush Administration practices reveal the true essence this government, which has been motivated by the pursuit of its own interests and not the principles and values it pretends to defend. … Operating on the same principles as the Bush Administration and pursing the interests of America rather than the victory of any principles or values - or love for Arab and Muslim peoples - President Obama and his administration are working to beautify America’s image in the Arabic and Muslim worlds. President Obama will visit Egypt - the heart of Arabism and the Islamic world - and direct an address to Muslims. But the real target is America, its people, its interests and its image, even if his speech is packaged with the outlines of principles and values. For Obama’s beautiful words will bring no real benefit to the people he addresses.”