It seems clear that people in the Kingdom – young and old, male and female, Saudis and expatriates –are tired of the procrastination of the United States vis-à-vis Muslims and the Muslim World. Since President Barack Obama's path to the White House was paved with promises of better relations with the Muslim World – which were reiterated in his inaugural address as well –people expect him to deliver on those promises and make all those words come true. This is what the Saudi Gazette discovered after talking to a crosssection of local people. Below are the firsthand reactions of people who want Obama to clearly spell out his strategy for winning over the Muslim World when he speaks in Cairo on Thursday about his new approach.“Warnings to Israel are not working. The Israeli settlements, which are the cause of all the problems, should be stopped forthwith. The United States has to play a more effective role in peace settlement. “It should deliver the promise of a two-state solution to the Palestinian conflict. Words are okay, but promises should be seen to be realized on the ground. Since assuming the presidency, Obama has stated the wish to start a new era with the Arab and Muslim World, have better relations and show respect. To realize all this, he must show more concrete action, especially in relation to Palestine, Iraq, and the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan. “The Muslim World wants peace and it does not want continued confrontation. Sore areas should be taken into sympathetic consideration and solutions found without delay to stop possible erosion in relations with the Muslim World. Principled politics are the need of the hour.” – Samar Fatany, veteran radio journalist, columnist, and peace activist “For more than six decades, we have been told this will be done and that will be done. But no concrete result whatsoever has yet been achieved. There is a limit to waiting. The time for ‘maalish' is over. “Personally, I think, the Muslim World should not depend on any outside power to solve its problems, and the problems created for it by the Western World – such as Israel, to give just one example. People have been born and grown up in occupation and many have died under occupation, mostly in brutal and unjustified Israeli attacks, never ever experiencing freedom and independence. “We are strong, rich and resourceful, and can become much more so by uniting, bonding together, which should not be difficult under the umbrella and the teachings of Islam and its Prophet (peace be upon him). “It is said that all is fair in love and war. That is a Western concept. Islam has always preached and believed in fairness and justice. In any friendship, there can be no ‘ifs' and ‘buts.' America, while promising to extend a hand of friendship to the Muslim World, should at the same time give up the notion of the Muslim World having a clenched fist. If it proceeds with such a wrong premise, it makes its promise weak and opens its sincerity to doubt. – Ali Owdah Al-Shamrani, Chairman of the Al-Shamrani Group “If a nation wants to change its situation or gain its liberation, it must achieve these goals alone, without any help from any intruder, especially, if that intruder does not relate to the nation, its region and background by any means. “I do not expect anything from Obama, and I do not care about what he is going to say. All I care about and wish for is not having a worse situation in the Middle East during his presidency. It is well known that an American government is an American government, Republican or Democrat, only with minor differences. Obama made it clear when he supported “the right of Israel defending itself” without considering that Palestine is entirely for Palestinians, Israelis are occupiers! Occupation must be opposed with a struggle. And he also made it clear when he supported the two-state solution in Palestine forgetting the more than four million Palestinian refugees expelled from Palestine. “If Obama's aim is peace in the Middle East and not the oil, then this peace can only be achieved by the liberation of the entire land of Historical Palestine. “With due respect for his determination and my admiration for the experience that he is going through, he is not a hero for the Arab/Muslim nations.” – Hidayah Moneer Abbas, an interior design student at Dar Al-Hekma College. She is an activist for the Palestinian Cause and Islamic arts and architecture, and organizer of the ‘Memory of Stones' campaign “America must stop living in a make-believe world, or think that the Muslim World lives in such a world. No more. The Muslim World is as real, rich, and as human a world as any with a sense of the present and of its future destiny. It should not be taken for granted any longer.” – Mamdouh Hashim Marzouki, an activist “The Muslim World has had its ears filled with words and more words by successive US presidents so that promises no longer carry any weight these days. Since Obama has created the image and hope of bringing change for the better, there naturally is skepticism, which is for the US leader to dispel. He must deliver and make the promises come true. “The Muslim World has always been cooperative and will cooperate for a better and peaceful world. One can only hope that the speech will be a landmark address and prove to be as historic as the place where the event will take place. – Muhammad Tahqique, manager, Al-Shamrani Factory for Drawbar Trailers “When the whole Muslim World rejoiced at the victory of President Obama, it was obvious that the entire community anticipated a positive change in his administration, a change that we can believe in, especially in US foreign policy. “The President's speech in Cairo marks the beginning of a change! The world now knows that Islam is not confined to one region or one continent; it is global. Muslims are integrating well in many Western countries and unlike the past, society is able to embrace Islamic culture and values more readily. “Obama is going to extend the hand of friendship to the Islamic World. Change cannot be one-sided. Constructive changes can take place only with the concerted efforts of both the Islamic World and the West. President Obama would also expect our people to understand the problems within our society and raise our voices against them. It is a new chapter, a new beginning; he is likely to bolster support from Islamic nations. More importantly his speech will be focused on the young, educated people of the future. We want peace, harmony and integration. We want our values to be accepted and not to feel isolated. – S. A. Abdul Malik, an Indian community leader “To be honest, I'm not as good with politics as with art. I do have my opinions based on current affairs, but I don't have much faith in American foreign politics.” – Lulwah Humoud, artist “President Obama's visit to the Kingdom is very significant. Saudi Arabia plays a very important role in the region and the talks between King Abdullah and President Obama are expected to result in a good outcome for regional peace and security. Obama's visit to the Kingdom will also bolster US-Saudi Arabia bilateral relations and develop trade and investments between the two countries.” – Abdulrahman Al-Jeraisy, President, Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CSCCI) “We expect President Obama to pay due attention to the Middle East peace process by turning his words into action. We also expect President Obama to adopt the Arab Peace Initiative, proposed by King Abdullah, which was later endorsed in other international conferences as a viable solution for the decades-old Arab-Israeli conflict. However, we have so far not seen Obama's words being turned into deeds. We expect Obama's visit to the Kingdom to make headway in the peace process and bring a just solution for the Palestinian cause.” – Dr. Ibrahim Al-Quaiyed, Saudi businessman and member of the Riyadh Municipal Council “We have a lot of expectations from President Obama, whom we consider a man of vision and who has a different attitude than his predecessors. He seems to have an understanding of world affairs including the long-standing problem of peace in the Middle East. The visit of President Obama to the Kingdom brings new hope and I am sure the outcome of his talks with King Abdullah will bring a breakthrough in efforts for regional peace and security. “We want to see our children live in peace whether in Palestine, Iraq, Lebanon or elsewhere in the Arab World. We also want the Middle East to be a nuclear-free zone.” – Mousaied Al-Shieshakly, a leading Saudi businessman “President Obama's visit to the Kingdom is very crucial in the sense that during the meeting with King Abdullah he will receive first-hand information on the Middle East issue and other problems in the region. I hope Obama will announce some major plans when he speaks in Cairo. Moreover, the information that he gathers from his trip to the Middle East will help him put up a strong case before the US Congress to resolve some of the long-pending issues in the region. – Muhammad Al-Ahmed, Professor of Journalism, Department of Mass Communication, King Saud University in Riyadh “We hope President Obama's visit to the Middle East will not be merely another PR exercise. We want to see some action on a number of issues that are in the interests of everyone whether in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq or whether concerning the Iranian nuclear issue. It pains me to see the current plight of Pakistan, where millions of people have been displaced in the name of the war on terror. The US has been known to have ulterior motives and it acts only when it suits its interest. We hope President Obama succeeds in bringing an end to the common view that American foreign policy is based on double standards. – Amjad Hussain, a Pakistani architect “The Palestinian issue will be the central point of discussion between Obama and King Abdullah. Obama faces two critical issues in resolving the Palestine issue. The first is US-Islamic relations, which are slipping, and second, the US effort to put the Middle East peace process back on track. I feel that after meeting King Abdullah, Obama will implement the Arab (Riyadh) peace effort as an American initiative to the peace process. In dealing with Israel, Obama faces three crucial problems: one is the belligerent Netanyahu government, the strong Zionist lobby, and the division among Palestinians (between Hamas and Fattah). On the issue of oil, Obama will be visiting Saudi Arabia with a new message. During his campaign, he mentioned reducing the dependence of US on Middle East oil; that is now on the back burner of Obama policy. Obama is now coming with a new message of stabilizing the oil market. He will try to ensure the continuance of the US oil supply from the region, which is good for the stability of the oil market. The Saudi experience in fighting terrorism and containing its spread has been a great success, and Obama will have the opportunity to discuss with King Abdullah the Saudi experience of rehabilitating and bringing back to the fold the Saudis who were detained in Guantanamo. The lessons on Iraq and Afghanistan will also be touched upon. The visit of Obama to the Kingdom is significant for both countries. The standing of the Kingdom in the Islamic world, and in the international arena in general, and the opinion of King Abdullah are important to any US peace effort. No peace in the region will succeed without the backing of Riyadh. And Obama's visit to the Kingdom, being the heart of the Islamic World, will give him the gateway to the Middle East and legitimacy to future American initiatives. - Dr. Shafi Al-Dhamer, Chairman of the Department of General Studies and Assistant Professor of Political Sciences, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), and Vice President of Saudi Political Science Association (SPSA). “There are many issues up for discussion during the meeting between King Abdullah and President Obama. The most important are the Palestinian issue and the Palestinian/Arab-Israel conflict. The resolution of these two issues will bring stability to the whole Middle East. The solution to these problems is the best weapon for fighting terrorism because the terrorist groups are using these issues as valid reasons for mounting their activities of terror and as a platform and means to recruit new followers. The economic development of the region will follow. The wealth of the region will then be focused on serving and helping the people in the region, particularly the Palestinians, on important development sectors such as education, health, industry, manufacturing, and research and development, among others, instead of spending the resources on the acquisition of weapons and military hardware. The meeting is going to be a good example of showcasing the positive role of world leaders, like King Abdullah and President Obama, in the search for lasting peace. Regarding oil, Saudi Arabia is continuing its major role in stabilizing oil prices. President Obama is expected to support the Saudis and will give assurance to King Abdullah of the American desire to continue the trade of oil. This gesture will be good in stabilizing oil prices. This is a turn-around from Obama's campaign speech in which he said the US would cut its imports of oil from the Middle East. If the US, the world's superpower, and Saudi Arabia, the recognized leader of the Muslim World, work together and coordinate in finding solutions to the problems of the Middle East, then peace will be at hand. I can see that after a meeting between the two world leaders that Saudi-US relations will again be heading in a strong direction. – Dr. Said J. Al-Qahtani, President, Central Mining Company Investment Ltd. (CMCI), a member of the Al Qahtani Group. “US President Obama's coming to Saudi Arabia is a normal visit. We should not harbor expectations that the problems of the region will be solved after the visit. It will take time before results are seen. We should not forget that Saudi-US relations are over 60 years old, and for any new US president, Saudi Arabia is always a stopover. Obama will meet King Abdullah to get advice and look for support. The Palestinian issue is very crucial. It has been a long and difficult issue. Where other US presidents failed, Obama will try to activate the Palestinian issue and is seeking Saudi Arabia's support. After all, the United States and Saudi Arabia have always cooperated on issues affecting the Middle East. But we should not be overly optimistic. For example, the involvement of the Jewish lobby is a very thorny element in the resolution of the Palestinian cause. Total seriousness is needed in finding a solution to the Palestinian issue. The fact is that in the long-run, the attainment of peace in the region will benefit the Israelis more than the Palestinians.” – Abdul Mohsen Al-Moushegah, Chairman of the Al-Moushegah Group of Companies. “Basically, I think that United States is realizing the importance of Saudi Arabia as a key and major player in the resolution of problems besetting the region. The proposed Arab Peace Plan has been adopted by the Kingdom and it was through the initiative of King Abdullah that other leaders in the region supported the Plan. Obama, by visiting the Kingdom and having a dialogue with King Abdullah, is saying now that enough is enough and that the peace process must move forward. Obama is now playing the role of a middle man, unlike the previous US president who was openly pro-Israeli. And so Obama's visit to the Kingdom is anchored in the middle of the divide in finding a resolution to Middle East problems, particularly the Palestinian cause. When Obama and Secretary of State Hilary Clinton said that Israel should stop building those new settlements, they really meant stop the settlements. And for this reason, Obama wants King Abdullah's support. And for this reason, Obama is now getting the heat from the Israelis who said they will continue building the settlements. Now, for the first time, Israel is very uncomfortable with the US administration.-Dr. Ahmed A. Audhali, a leading advocate and legal consultant and senior partner of the Dr. Audhali Law Firm. “King Abdullah and President Obama will talk international politics, as usual, but they need to discuss deeply Saudi-American relations which are very old in substance and objectives. The world has changed and these relations must be updated. The relationship must be strengthened, anchored in the same tradition of close cooperation, and citing the new strategies both nations must undertake in the face of global changes and international realignment. The Middle East and the Palestinian issues will dominate the bilateral talks. Obama knows that the resolution of these two correlated issues is beneficial to the Arab and Muslim World and to the entire Western World as well. It is my hope too that they will tackle the issue of Iraq and Iran. These two countries require the attention of the West and the Arab World. For Iraq – its return as a free and democratic nation; and for Iran – its return as a peaceful player in the Middle East. – Ismael S. Nazer (Dr. Juris), a leading attorney and legal advisor and well-known Islamist. “I welcome President Barack Obama on his visit to the heart of the Muslim World. We hope that President Obama will be more decisive, fair and understanding in his approach and learn from the mistakes of his predecessor that led America to the brink of disaster and left its economy in tatters, besides causing a decline in its international stature. In the field of charitable activities, we hope that justice will prevail as far as Islamic organizations are concerned. We want President Obama and his Administration to treat Islamic organizations in the same way as American organizations. We want justice to be delivered and hurdles removed. The previous US Administration set a bad example through its aggressive policies. We are facing restrictions on Islamic organizations in terms of limiting their scope in collecting donations and sending remittances. We expect President Obama to apply a just and balanced approach while dealing with charitable organizations. A distinction should be made between those committing irregularities and others that are transparent.” – Dr. Saleh S. Al-Wohaibi, Secretary General, World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY) “I expect President Obama's visit to Saudi Arabia to mark a new era in establishing peace and security in the region. We should welcome the initiatives taken by President Obama to restore confidence in the Muslim and Arab world. We hope the new US Administration will tackle Iran's nuclear program more with diplomacy than the use of force. We also expect that President Obama will exert pressure on Israel to end its aggressive policies, important to the restoration of peace in the region.” – Ghouse Arsalan, an Indian national.
