ஒபாமாவிடம் ஏற்பட்டுள்ள திடீர் மாற்றம்!

சமீபத்தில் துருக்கி நாட்டுக்கு பயணம் மேற்கொண்ட அமெரிக்க அதிபர் ஒபாமா முஸ்லிம்களிடம் நேசக்கரம் நீட்டியுள்ளார். புஷ்ஷை பின்பற்றியே இவரின் பயணமும் இருக்கும் என்ற கணிப்புகளை பொய்யாக்கும் விதமாக இவரின் தற்போதய பேச்சு அமைந்துள்ளது. துருக்கியில் உள்ள புராதன பள்ளிவாசலுக்கும் அதிபரோடு சென்றுள்ளார். இவரின் தந்தை முஸ்லிம் என்பதால் இஸ்லாமியம் என்பது இவருக்கு புதிதல்லவே.

இந்த மாற்றம் மேலும் தொடர்ந்து பல நல்ல காரியங்கள் ஒபாமாவால் உலகுக்கு ஆற்றப்பட வேண்டும். முன்னால் அதிபர் புஷ்ஷின் கிறுக்குத்தனமான நிர்வாகத்தால் சீரழிந்த அமெரிக்க இஸ்லாமிய உறவு பராக் ஒபாமாவால் சீர் திருத்தம் பெற வாழ்த்துவோமாக!

ISTANBUL: US President Barack Obama ended his trip to Turkey yesterday by calling for peace and dialogue with Islam and the creation of a Palestinian state living side by side with Israel. He later flew to Baghdad and told wildly cheering US troops it was time for Iraqis to take responsibility for their country.
In his first trip as president to the Muslim world, Obama sought to rebuild ties after anger at the invasion of Iraq, the war in Afghanistan and accusations his predecessor George W. Bush was biased in favor of Israel.
“I came to Turkey because I am deeply committed to rebuilding a relationship between the United States and the people of the Muslim world, one that is grounded in mutual interest and mutual respect,” Obama said.

“I believe we can have a dialogue that is open, honest, vibrant ... and I want you to know that I am personally committed to a new chapter of American engagement,” he said at a meeting with Turkish youngsters.

Obama’s visit, in which he said America “will never be at war with Islam,” marks a strong shift in US policy after his predecessor Bush upset Muslims with his backing for Israel, invasion of Iraq and branding of Iran as part of an “axis of evil.”
He pleased Muslims with his call to push aggressively for a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians, in a challenge to the new Israeli government of right-winger Benjamin Netanyahu.

“I believe that peace in the Middle East is possible. I think it will be based on two states side by side, a Palestinian state and a Jewish state,” Obama said.
“I think in order to achieve that, both sides are going to have to make compromises. I think we have a sense of what those compromises should be and will be. Now what we need is political will and courage on the part of leadership.”

He also called for a “balanced” approach toward Israel, saying the Jewish state was not behind all problems in the Middle East. “In the Muslim world, the notion that somehow everything is the fault of the Israelis lacks balance because there are two sides to every question,” Obama said.

The president sent a similar message to Israel, saying: “You have to see the perspective of the Palestinians.”

Obama rejected critics who said his speech in Prague on nuclear disarmament, his calls for Middle East peace and engagement with Iran were too idealistic. “My attitude is that all these things are hard. I am not naive. If it would be easy it would already be done,” he said.

“Moving the ship of state is a slow process. States are like big tankers. They are not like speedboats. You can’t just whip them around and go in a new direction. Instead, you slowly move it and eventually you end up in a very different place.”
Respecting Muslim sensitivity, he said he would like to wrap up the youth meeting before the call to prayer.

Visiting the 17th-century Sultanahmet Mosque, better known as Blue Mosque, in the ancient heart of Istanbul, Obama took off his shoes as tradition requires and was accompanied by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan amid tight security. Two Muslim preachers guided Obama inside the grandiose edifice. He combined his visit to the mosque with a tour of the sixth-century Hagia Sophia church.

Obama also met Muslim, Christian and Jewish scholars based in Istanbul.
On an unannounced visit to Iraq later, Obama said American forces had “performed brilliantly ... under enormous strain.”

“It is time for us to transition to the Iraqis,” he said as an estimated 600 troops cheered. “They need to take responsibility for their country.”

Obama also met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki, who said afterward that he had “assured the president that all the progress that has been made in the security area will continue.” Obama said he had “strongly encouraged” the Iraqi leader to take steps to unite political factions, including integrating Sunnis into the government and security forces.