Arab World Gives Nobelist Obama Mixed Review
The Arab world greeted President Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize with praise for his efforts at reaching out to Muslims but also with frustration — and sometimes sharp criticism — that the president’s eloquence and charisma have not forced dramatic change on the ground.
Bloodshed continues in Iraq, Afghanistan drifts in violence and uncertainty, and talks to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have stalled. Obama inspired the region in his Cairo address to Muslims in June, regarded as a wise and conciliatory gesture to erase the combative years of the Bush administration and mend relations with the Arab world.
But as months passed, passionate words and good intentions were seldom enough. Success here is traditionally measured by the progress the White House makes toward the creation of a Palestinian state. And, for many Arabs, Obama has been stymied and outflanked by a stubborn Israeli government that shows little inclination for peace.
“From the Arab perspective, Obama seems to have caved in to Israeli pressure rather than the reverse — he couldn’t even get Israel to agree to a temporary settlement freeze,” said Paul Salem, head of the Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut. “That’s the moment we’re at right now. People feel let down. They like Obama, they want him to succeed, but in their view he caved at the very first step.”
Many believe Obama has been awarded for his vision, not his accomplishments, akin to a thoroughbred with great potential winning the roses before its time.
“I have to say that it came a bit too soon for him,” said Mohamed Abdel Salam, an Egyptian political analyst. “The man has the will to earn such an honor, but he didn’t have enough time to successfully reach significant developments that will positively change the face of the world for years to come. I say this in comparison to someone like Jimmy Carter, who won the award after decades of trying to promote peace, or Egyptian President Anwar El Sadat, who made the historic peace with Israel.”
The Obama administration has been credited with its handling of Iran, offering diplomacy and later threats of new sanctions if Tehran doesn’t comply with United Nations inspectors. Much of the Sunni Arab world, especially Egypt and Saudi Arabia, are anxious at the prospect of a nuclear armed Shiite Iran.
Not surprisingly, Iran was less that thrilled with Obama’s Nobel prize.
The story played at the end of the bulletin on Iranian TV. The commentator announced the news as footage of militant attacks in Iraq was aired: “Obama is being awarded while the death toll from terrorist operations in U.S.-occupied zones in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as Pakistan, has been on the sharp rise in the past nine months.”
The semiofficial Fars news agency ran a very short story, saying the award was “politically motivated.”
Jeffrey Fleishman
Los Angeles Times
Special correspondents Amro Hassan in Cairo, Meris Lutz in Beirut and Ramin Mostaghim in Tehran contributed to this report.