President tackles sensitive issues in speech to Muslim world

(Cairo ) Admitting that his much hyped speech in Cairo would not solve problems between the West and the Muslim world overnight, President Barack Obama tackled some sensitive issues, Thursday, and called on both sides to "finally confront" them.
Mr. Obama hoped to use his speech at Cairo University - a campaign promise to address the Muslim world - to bridge the divide between the United States and Muslims around the world. "So long as our relationship is defined by our differences, " Mr. Obama said, "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."
He called on both Muslims and Americans alike to do away with stereo-types about one another. "I consider it part of my responsibility as President of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear," he explained. "And just as Muslims do not fit a crude stereotype, America is not the crude stereotype of a self-interested empire," he continued, "The United States has been one of the greatest sources of progress that the world has ever known."
The President also referred to September 11th - and event he called "an enormous trauma to country," -- and said, "the fear and anger that it provoked was understandable, but in some cases, it led us to act contrary to our ideals."
He had stern words for the Israelis and Palestinians. He called the bond between the US and Israel as "unbreakable", but defended the Palestinian cause as well. "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
He also brought up democracy, religious freedom, and women's rights - issues that are often met with skepticism in the Middle East. Admitting that the idea of democracy is often criticized, Mr. Obama was adamant that, "no system of government can or should be imposed upon one nation by any other."
Along those same lines, Mr. Obama told the audience that no one country should determine which countries can attain nuclear weapons or not. But he noted that the situation with Iran has "reached a decisive point," and that it's in the global interest to stop Iran from developing such weapons.
Mr. Obama made his case by highlighting his personal connection with Islam. "I am a Christian," he explained, " but my father came from a Kenyan family that includes generations of Muslims."
And he made reference to his own name, noting that, "Much has been made of the fact that an African-American with the name Barack Hussein Obama could be elected President."
The President aimed to convince his audience that his experience is not that unique to the United States because, "freedom in America is indivisible from the freedom to practice one's religion."
Following the speech, President Obama planned to visit the pyramids and sphinx in Cairo before departing for Europe Thursday afternoon.