n Obama to speak on political changes in the region US President Barack Obama is expected to make a speech sometime in the next two weeks, outlining a new American approach to the Middle East. We all remember his previous “Middle East” speech made in Cairo a few years ago in which he presented himself as the first US president to admit his country's missteps in the region that had rightfully attracted the ire of its people. There was no real disappointment with that speech, only in the aftermath in which he failed to follow through. Yes, he put some pressure on Israel, but that dissipated in the criticism that came from the American right. Obama was caught flat-footed by the political turmoil that brought the end to long-entrenched governments in Tunisia and Egypt and seemed to be caught entirely without a plan when the seeds of civil war began to sprout in Libya. Vis-a-vis Egypt, the White House's stance changed from day to day, first supporting Mubarak, then backing off, then calling for him to leave office. As for Libya, the US waffled until, finally, international voices supporting a no-fly zone over the country forced the White House to throw its weight behind the proposal. Still, today, the US approach to Libya is muddled as it claims to be part of a NATO coalition seeking to protect innocent lives while calling for the ouster of Muammar Gaddafi. Obama's first speech on the Middle East focused on Islam. It came at a time that many Americans were mistakenly equating Islam with the events of 9/11. The death of Osama Bin Laden may well prove to be a watershed event in that case, as a splintered Al-Qaeda, though still a threat, will continue to be less and less equated with Islam in the mind of the West. Sources are saying that Obama's upcoming speech will focus on the political terrain of the changing Middle East, especially in light of the elimination of Bin Laden. That is exactly where he should focus as there may, indeed, be a new unity coming to our region. __
