Muslim Mission

" I've come here to Cairo to seek a new beginning. Between the United States and Muslims around the world. One based on mutual interest and mutual respect. And one based upon the truth about America and Islam are not exclusive. And need not be in competition. Instead they overlap. And share common principles."

" That was the president in that speech earlier at Cairo university extending a hand of friendship to the Muslim world. Making a case for stronger ties during his visit saying Americans and Muslims should not be defined by what divides them but rather by their common humanity. The president quoted the Bible the Koran and the golden rule in a wide ranging speech this morning he also said both sides must change. If they want to move closer together. Let's talk about with Christian rose the senior editor at the foreign at foreign policy magazine he was chief speechwriter to former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice. James Zogby is president of the influential Arab American institute welcome to both of you. Christian you first time you've had to write these heavyweights speeches and when you're sitting down. To tried to deliver an address it tries to bridge the gap between the Muslim world and America where you start."

" You know I think you start with the man himself in this case I think he had very clear ideas. Where he wanted to go and from what I understand he did a lot of -- writing evidence self. You know but I think with a speech like this it's very difficult because as he suggested you have multiple audiences. And I've seen this in my own experience working on on speeches like this. You have an audience back in America that's listening very intently and you have an audience in this case in the Muslim world that's also listening very intently. And do is you best do you know as best you can to. To sort of make everyone happy to reach both audiences. You know sometimes you need to just focus on. Who the primary audiences and I think that in this case it it it was the Muslim world and as you suggested what he wanted to do was. Begin again you know to start a new beginning as he suggested and I think there was the recognition that there was a lot of -- that needed clearing and you know as much as. Some of us in the other administration may. Take umbrage with that I think that it was right and I think that he needed to go out there and essentially set the the parameters for where he wants to take foreign policy and that part of the world for the next several years."

" James if you agree that the Muslim world was his primary audience one of the criticisms it's already coming out about this -- is that there wasn't a whole lot of mention of human rights democracy that can -- Well I think he did mention it actually the speech was and I agree with Christian I think it was a very effective speech. Directed at the Muslim world in particular. Focused on the Arab world the Arab setting -- of the speech. But I I I think he did it was it was a -- speech more like a state of the union speech. There was at least six major topics covered one of which was was democracy and human rights. I actually spoke with people across the region this morning and found. It interest thing that everybody got something out of it there were a democracy and reform advocates who. Like that part of it in some folks thought that the Palestinian Israeli part was great and others thought that focused on partnerships as we move forward. In economics and in infrastructure and capacity building was great so. It was a speech. That was as I said it wasn't as focused as the race speech in Philadelphia it was more like -- state of the union. Without an array of issues that I think reached many different audiences and in the Middle East and I think it was effective in that way I'm concerned that the part. That was directed here in America was not heard well enough from some of the commentary that I'm hearing we still have some listening to do. Well he covered an awful lot of topics as you said in million hours of this speech one of them being. Nuclear proliferation I want to play you this segment of that and and ask both of you who is directing these comments that. --"

" Most single nation should pick and choose which nation holds nuclear weapons. And that's why -- strongly reaffirmed America's commitment to seek a world in which -- nations -- nuclear weapons. Christian but the idea of a world without nuclear weapons sounds great might be a little pie in the sky but who's he talking -- there. Again I think like you said it's it's a wonderful idea but I think the specific. The specific audience for this is Iran I think -- you know it was very clear when he was speaking about nuclear proliferation -- was referring to. I think this gets it you know part of the broader question. That's going to come out of this speech is that you know what now. You know -- he gave a wonderful speech full of wonderful sentiments and and it was a beautifully written address them. -- I I don't find a whole lot to disagree with but when you look at sort of a follow on what comes after this. You know Iran is still building nuclear weapons Hezbollah is very likely will win an election in Lebanon. You know where do we go from there. -- democracy activists are still being repressed in the very country he spoken. What is he going to do now I I thought it was a wonderful and effective speech. But there's still a lot of questions that need to be asked and answered."

" the world believes that Iran is working toward nuclear weapons. James. Can you move in a speech can you talk the Iranians out of -- is he seeking to put pressure on Iran through other states."

" Why I think he was speaking in Egypt to an Arab world whose support he will need to build the coalition necessary. To create a nuclear free Middle East and Egypt -- noticed that line got a very significant applause. Egypt as a country that's called for a nuclear free Middle East and that includes Israel and this administration has addressed. The fact that Israel is outside of that consensus that there should be a nuclear free Middle East. He was directing it it Iran he was also directing it at the Arab side saying I need your help to make this work. And I believe that no one should have nuclear weapons I'm taking steps with the Soviets implied in this. To reduce our stockpiles and to move toward a nuclear free world. But the focus right now is that we don't want anyone in the Middle East especially Iran. To have the nuclear weapons that they apparently -- although we don't know for sure. But we do want a nuclear free region and I think that's that that's a message that comes through very. Very. I think well in Egypt Egypt wants to hear that because they are very concerned about Iran's nuclear program. James Zogby Christian -- a lot to dig into -- want our speech thanks for helping us get -- there."