“As President, What Should Obama Say to the Middle East?” (Part 2)

In this period of transition, as we all look toward the Middle East policy of the new Obama administration, POMED has asked a variety of respected voices from the community of Middle East policy experts, democracy promotion practitioners, pollsters, academics, and human rights advocates to answer the following question in 300 words or less:

At the outset of the new American administration, what should President Obama say to the people of the Middle East?

Last Thursday, we began posting responses to this question. Today, we continue with two additional responses, from Michele Dunne, Senior Associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and Dalia Mogahed, Senior Analyst and Executive Director of the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies.

Michele Dunne:

“Four goals will inform my administration’s policy toward this region: peace, justice, prosperity, and democracy. These principles are linked: there can only be peace with just resolution of longstanding conflicts and there can only be prosperity with accountable and transparent government. The American people extend their hand in friendship to the peoples of the Middle East, and the United States government stands ready to cooperate with all peaceloving governments in the region that work for the welfare of their people.”

Dalia Mogahed:

“To our brothers and sisters of all faiths in the Middle East, the cradle of civilizations, the birthplace of religions, one of history’s greatest sources of science, philosophy and poetry: We must harness our common humanity and shared values to overcome the challenges we all face. We have all suffered the consequences of a misguided war and the horrors of violent extremism. We have all suffered a global economic crisis, soaring food and fuel prices, and a warming planet.

Like you, the American people want change—a new way to engage the world built on the values we share: fairness, compassion and mutual respect. Our security and your security are inseparable. The violent extremism which threatens us also threatens you and is a flagrant violation of every faith. The problems we all face have no national boundaries, and do not distinguish based on color or creed. Our shared challenges cannot be solved by any one of us alone. Our children’s future therefore depends on our ability to cooperate. This spirit of partnership must guide us in our shared desire to see peace in this pivotal region of the world.

I am committed to making this a top priority of my presidency from the beginning, but America cannot work for peace without regional partners. We must build a robust and lasting peace together, understanding that peace is not simply the absence of war. Peace is a people’s shared commitment to a better future built on the solid foundation of a just resolution of conflict. America is committed to the security and independence of Iraqis, Israelis and Palestinians and will work with regional partners to make lasting peace a reality. The mere fact that I am standing here today is testimony to the possibility of people coming together, even those whose conflicts spanned centuries.”