While citing his Muslim heritage, but calling himself a ‘Christian’, President Barack Hussein Obama reached out to the world of Islam today by serving up credentials of credibility saying that his father came from a Kenyan family that includes generations of Muslims and that, “as a boy I spent several years in Indonesia and heard the call of the azaan at the break of dawn and the fall of dusk.”

Obama went on to say, “As a young man, I worked in Chicago communities where many found dignity and peace in their Muslim faith. . . As a student of history, I also know civilization’s debt to Islam.”

He bonded with his target audience, Muslims and the religion of Islam, while throwing former President Bush, the military and the US intelligence community under the bus.

His comments and strong references to his own background re-enforced what some critics fear in Obama, while cries from the Middle East audience yelled out, “We love you.”

It is interesting to note that during Obama’s entire presidential campaign and since he has become President, he has only made reference to the bible three times and to date has referenced the Koran an equal number of times.

Obama has a history of apologizing for US actions while on foreign soil and his speech in Cairo was no different.

He made a not so veiled reference to the Bush Administration  when he said: “And finally, just as America can never tolerate violence by extremists, we must never alter our principles.  9/11 was an enormous trauma to our country.  The fear and anger that it provoked was understandable, but in some cases, it led us to act contrary to our ideals.  We are taking concrete actions to change course.  I have unequivocally prohibited the use of torture by the United States, and I have ordered the prison at Guantanamo Bay closed by early next year.”

Thus providing unsolicited ammunition and possibly inciting terror cells around the world.

Another not so veiled Bush bashing came when he said, “I believe that the Iraqi people are ultimately better off without the tyranny of Sadam Hussein, I also believe that events in Iraq have reminded America of the need to use diplomacy and build international consensus to resolve our problems whenever possible. Indeed, we can recall the words of  Thomas Jefferson, who said: ‘I hope that our wisdom will grow with our power, and teach us that the less we use our power the greater it will be.’ “

The president outlined troop withdrawal in Iraq stating that combat brigades will be withdrawn by next August, that combat troops will be withdrawn from Iraqi cities by July and all troops will be withdrawn from Iraq by 2012.

Obama served up some pandering remarks to Iran while exposing his own naivete’ when addressing responsibilities of nations on nuclear weapons.

Obama said, “For many years, Iran has defined itself in part by its opposition to my country, and there is indeed a tumultuous history between us.  In the middle of the Cold War, the United States played a role in the overthrow of a democratically-elected Iranian government.  Since the Islamic Revolution, Iran has played a role in acts of hostage-taking and violence against US troops and civilians.  This history is well known.  Rather than remain trapped in the past, I have made it clear to Iran’s leaders and people that my country is prepared to move forward.  The question, now, is not what Iran is against, but rather what future it wants to build.”

He went on to say, “But it is clear to all concerned that when it comes to nuclear weapons, we have reached a decisive point.  This is not simply about America’s interests.  It is about preventing a nuclear arms race in the Middle East that could lead this region and the world down a hugely dangerous path.”

Obama’s most unrealistic and naive remark came when he said, “I understand those who protest that some countries have weapons that others do not.  No single nation should pick and choose which nations hold nuclear weapons.  That is why I strongly reaffirmed America’s commitment to seek a world in which no nations hold nuclear weapons.  And any nation – including Iran – should have the right to access peaceful nuclear power if it complies with its responsibilities under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.”

“A world in which no nations hold nuclear weapons” ?  It must have been a long flight to Cairo.

It appeared that Obama has distanced himself somewhat from what he called during the speech, “America’s strong bond with Israel.”  He however, while in the Middle East did not visit Israel, although he called the bond ‘unbreakable.”   Referencing the long term conflict between Israel and Palestine he said, “But if we see this conflict only from one side or the other, then we will be blind to the truth:  the only resolution is for the aspirations of both sides to be met through two states, where Israelis and Palestinians each live in peace and security.”

It was particularly strange that Obama recognized Hamas in the speech, a terrorist organization, designated as such by the United States.

He said, “The Palestinian Authority must develop its capacity to govern, with institutions that serve the needs of its people.  Hamas does have support among some Palestinians, but they also have responsibilities.  To play a role in fulfilling Palestinian aspirations, and to unify the Palestinian people, Hamas must put an end to violence, recognize past agreements, and recognize Israel’s right to exist.”

“At the same time,” Obama went on to say, “Israelis must acknowledge that just as Israel’s right to exist cannot be denied, neither can Palestine’s.  The United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements.  This construction violates previous agreements and undermines efforts to achieve peace.  It is time for these settlements to stop.”

During the one hour speech, Obama failed to once mention the ‘war on terror’ or the word ‘terrorists’; furthermore he seemed to distance himself from promoting democracy when he said, “no system or government should be imposed on another.”

It was a Muslim pandering Bush-bashing speech, apologizing for US actions of the past, while Obama characterized himself as an agent of change naively believing he is going to modify the behavior of terrorists spawned in the tinderbox of the Middle East.