Obama likely to net mixed reviews

Obama is expected to give voice to serious issues and to open a new chapter between what he calls the "Muslim world" and the United States in his first speech in the Middle East, to be delivered at a university in the Egyptian capital.

While most experts in international relations, professors, businessmen and Democrats assume the president will give messages that might hint at ways to solve problems in the Middle East, conservative writers believe no matter how positive his speech is, the solutions will be imperialistic ones that do not favor the region.

Obama previously emphasized that the United States is not, and will never be, at war with the Islamic world during his visit to Turkey. It seems that no matter how many times he says that he hopes for progress in his country’s contacts with the Middle East, the trust lost in the United States will not be easily regained Ğ especially not only by Obama’s goodwill.

Prof. Mehmet Hayri Kırbaşoğlu from Ankara University’s theology department told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review that it is hard for Obama to change an existing system by himself, simply with his pledges of good faith, as the policies of United States are imperialistic by nature.

Although there have been no such reports, Kırbaşoğlu claimed Obama asked Turkey to send 15,000 soldiers to Afghanistan during his visit to Ankara, a request that would contradict his policies, which have been presented as moderate.

The United States is unable to change its imperialistic ambitions, Kırbaşoğlu said. He believes some problems in the Middle East are being kept alive by America. "While the Obama cabinet has five senior executives from the Bush administration and gives unconditional support to Israel, how can they still talk about peace in Middle East?" Kırbaşoğlu asked. "They support peace if they get a benefit from that, which broke the trust toward America."

For veteran international-relations expert Mensur Akgün, the U.S. president’s visit is a concrete step. "He will touch upon three topics," Akgün said. "The first one is the security that covers the Palestine problem. He has to say something concrete on the peace plan to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, or ’road map.’ The second topic of his speech will be the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq." The third important topic Obama will mention in Cairo is democracy, Akgün added.

Hatred toward America grows

Çiğdem Kağıtçıbaşı, a psychology professor at Koç University, said the visit is a step in the right direction, especially when one considers how different Obama’s worldview is from that of George W. Bush. Although she admitted that hatred between the United States and the Middle East is at its peak, and that the global mistrust toward the United States is undeniable, Kağıtçıbaşı also believes Obama’s visit to the region is a big step. "The United States’ support of Israel has played a big role in raising hatred among Muslims," she said. "But his visit may pulverize the fears, hatreds and bad intentions."

According to Kağıtçıbaşı, Obama’s visit might be seen as "America taking a step at last" toward improve its tarnished image. Akif Emre, a columnist for the Islamist-leaning daily Yeni Şafak, said it is possible to see hints about Obama’s upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia and Egypt by looking at his trip to Turkey. But Emre is one of the people who believes that even though the Obama government brought a change in America’s political strategy, it is only limited to methods, including those that endorse policies open to the Islamic world, especially to the Middle East.

 "Obama’s words as are an example of the new policy," Emre said. "His use of the term ’Muslim world,’ instead of ’Islamic world,’ indicates that he recognizes this geography as a place where Muslims live, instead of recognizing it as a different civilization." Some experts say the media also plays a role in the way Obama is understood. Kağıtçıbaşı drew attention to the role of the local media in determining how the president will be welcomed in the region.