Obama's Interview On Arab Television (TRANSCRIPT & video via CBS News)

CBS News ^ | Jan. 27, 2009 | Hisham Melhem and Barack Hussein Obama

[FocusNexus]

The following is a transcript of President Obama's interview with Al Arabiya News Channel by Hisham Melhem.

AL ARABIYA: And in the last - since 9/11 and because of Iraq, that alienation is wider between the Americans and - and in generations past, the United States was held high. It was the only Western power with no colonial legacy.

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Right.

...

PRESIDENT OBAMA: ...Now, my job is to communicate the fact that the United States has a stake in the well-being of the Muslim world, that the language we use has to be a language of respect. I have Muslim members of my family. I have lived in Muslim countries.

OBAMA:... And you're going to see me following through with dealing with a drawdown of troops in Iraq, so that Iraqis can start taking more responsibility. And finally, I think you've already seen a commitment in terms of closing Guantanamo, and making clear that even as we are decisive in going after terrorist organizations that would kill innocent civilians, that we're going to do so on our terms, and we're going to do so respecting the rule of law that I think makes America great.

AL ARABIYA: Will the United States ever live with a nuclear Iran? And if not, how far are you going in the direction of preventing it?

But I do think that it is important for us to be willing to talk to Iran, to express very clearly where our differences are, but where there are potential avenues for progress. And we will, over the next several months, be laying out our general framework and approach. And as I said during my inauguration speech, if countries like Iran are willing to unclench their fist, they will find an extended hand from us.

[FocusNexus]

Notice that when Al Arabiya basically blames the US for 9-11 and Iraq, Obama's response is agreement.

ALso -- Yes, I've seen the transcript posted on FR, but since it was done as part of blogs, with commentary, it didn't make it in the news section, and I think it's helpful to be there for people to be easy to find and read.

I think it's helpful to just read it, as is, from "reliable source", if we can exaggerate and call the MSM such source.

[Frantzie]

Translation:

“I have the masses of fools enthralled plus the media and the Project Dhiminitude will commence.”

We are already paying a dhiminitude tax by having to buy Saudi oil when we have FOUR times ythe Saudis oil reserves in the Lower 48 States.

[albie]

...”I have Muslim members of my family. I have lived in Muslim countries”.

...this is the part the SHOULD bother Americans the most. But nothing bothers most “Amerikans” about this fool, so never mind. (If B. Hussein is no longer a Muslim, shouldn’t he change the Hussein to Jim or something?)

[roses of sharon]

A Hussein in the White House.

[Gator113]

Obama has given our enemies “hope”, they look forward to the “change” he brings, as he is truly -— “the one they have been waiting for”.

[squidly]

So I read through that whole thing, and O said absolutely nothing of substance other than the saying we'd draw down in Iraq and close Gitmo. The rest is fluff. Reminds me of the way Clinton told people all around the world pretty much what they wanted to hear, and how they loved him for it.

As for the 2 non-fluff parts, I don't think O will really do what he says. But that's another subject.

[anglian]

“All too often the United States starts by dictating...” “Say what? Historically speaking, it seems the US has been incredibly open and positive for a country that is the world’s sole super power confronting medieval misogynistic theocracies like Saudi Arabia. If Obama had an ounce of honesty, he would have told the Islamic world that their myriad problems had everything to do with them and not a thing to do with the USA and Israel.” - Roger L Simon

[Names Ash Housewares]

This guy is going to make Carter look good.

[RipSawyer]

“This guy is going to make Carter look good.”
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I was never a fan or Bill Clinton and I confess to speaking ill of him in conversations and on this forum but I expect that before Obama is through I will be thinking of Clinton as, “Saint William of Arkansas” and Carter as the, “Intellectual Giant” from Plains.

[FarRightFanatic]

““This guy is going to make Carter look good.”
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I was never a fan or Bill Clinton and I confess to speaking ill of him in conversations and on this forum but I expect that before Obama is through I will be thinking of Clinton as, “Saint William of Arkansas” and Carter as the, “Intellectual Giant” from Plains.”

I am already thinking of them in that way. It’s only taken a WEEK.