Reaction to President Obama’s Cairo Speech

compiled by Sheila Musaji

This new article collection will be regularly updated.

PRIOR TO THE SPEECH

Before President Obama gave this speech an “Open Letter to President Obama about Democracy Promotion in the Middle East and the Muslim World” was prepared by the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy.  The letter was published on The American Muslim site on March 13, 2009 at http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/open_letter_to_president_obama_about_democracy_promotion_in_the_middle_east/ 
By the time the letter was sent to President Obama, it had more than 1,550 signatories - human rights activists, experts and politicians urging Obama to make the case for democracy and human rights during his speech, to be delivered from Cairo on June 4.  Muhammed Qasim, an Islamonline (IOL) Correspondent wrote an article about this letter at http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1242759179797&pagename=Zone-English-News/NWELayout as did Mohamed Elshinnawi on the Voice of America site http://www.voanews.com/english/AmericanLife/2009-05-29-voa41.cfm

10 terms not to use with Muslims, Chris Seiple http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0328/p09s01-coop.html
A Major Obama Speech From The Islamic World?,  Brian Montopoli http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/12/04/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry4648297.shtml
“Changing Course: A New Direction for U.S. Relations with the Muslim World,” seeks engagement through diplomacy http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/24/washington/24muslim.html?ref=us - full text of report http://www.usmuslimengagement.org/storage/usme/documents/Changing_Course_-_A_New_Direction_for_US_Relations_with_the_Muslim_World.pdf
Choosing Words Carefully: Language to Help Fight Islamic Terrorism http://www.army.mil/professionalwriting/volumes/volume4/july_2006/7_06_4.html
The Fierce Urgency of Peace, Roger Cohen http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/26/opinion/26cohen.html?_r=3
In the Middle East, Actions Speak Louder Than Words, Faisal Ghori http://www.huffingtonpost.com/faisal-ghori/in-the-middle-east-action_b_210576.html
Obama & the Muslim World: Changing Course, Sara Khorshid http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1237705662002&pagename=Zone-English-Muslim_Affairs%2FMAELayout
Obama’s opportunity in Cairo, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/panelists/feisal_abdul_rauf/2009/06/obamas_opportunity_in_cairo.html
Obama’s Cairo speech advisors http://www.americantaskforce.org/in_media/mm/atfp/2009/06/04/1244088000
What should obama say in Cairo?, Dr. Ghassan Michel Rubeiz http://www.arabisto.com/article/Blogs/Dr_Ghassan_Michel_Rubeiz/What_should_obama_say_in_Cairo/38716

FULL TEXT OF PRESIDENT OBAMA’S CAIRO SPEECH: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/04/obama-speech-in-cairo-vid_n_211215.html

REACTION TO THE SPEECH:

A Critique of President Obama’s Speech in Cairo, Mirza A. Beg http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/a_critique_of_president_obamas_speech_in_cairo/0017369
A Paradigm to Jump-Start U.S.-Muslim Relations, John Esposito http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-l-esposito/a-paradigm-to-jump-start_b_211978.html
A turn of good faith deserves another in kind, Shaykh Jihad Brown http://www.seekersdigest.org/?p=472
A great sell but are Muslims buying?, Max Boot http://www.commentarymagazine.com/blogs/index.php/boot/68462
A Response to President Obama’s Speech in Cairo, Hussein Rashid http://www.religiondispatches.org/blog/politics/1528/updated%3A_a_response_to_president_obama%E2%80%99s_speech_in_cairo
Analyzing Obama’s Speech to the Muslim World, CSID http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/analyzing_obamas_speech_to_the_muslim_world/0017392
Andre Aciman, the New York Times and Arab Jewish Discourse, David Shasha http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/andre_aciman_the_new_york_times_and_arab_jewish_discourse/0017389
Action must follow Obama’s words, Tariq Ramadan http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2009/jun/03/obama-speech-muslims
Amen Mr. President, Arsalan Iftikhar http://www.edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/06/04/iftikhar.obama.cairo/index.html
American Islam, Aziz Poonawala http://blog.beliefnet.com/cityofbrass/2009/06/american-islam.html
American Muslim Leaders Participate in Conference Call to Discuss Reaction to Pres. Obama’s Speech, Esam Omeish http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/american_muslim_leaders_participate_in_conference_call_to_discuss_reaction_/0017377
America’s Violent Extremism, Paul Craig Roberts http://www.countercurrents.org/roberts060609.htm
An Acceptable Unilateral Action, Marc Gopin http://www.marcgopin.com/?p=2111
Audio Khutbah on Obama’s Speech, Maher Hathout http://www.islamonline.net/English/Islamic_Audio/Khutba/2009/06/Jumma_01/01.shtml
Barack Obama in Cairo: the speech no other president could make, Jonathan Freedland http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jun/04/barack-obama-speech-islam-west
Be All That You Can Be, Lance Simmens http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lance-simmens/be-all-that-you-can-be_b_212079.html
Between the lines: President Obama’s Middle East Speech: What It Means To Muslims, Anthony Asadullah Samad http://eurweb.com/story/eur53914.cfm
Bin Laden’s Obama criticism a sign he is worried, Sebastian Abbot http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g295lp-miilKjtRfW6ZDw0lEFYYgD98JERCG0
The Brightest Ray of Light, Dr. Robert D. Crane http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_brightest_ray_of_light/0017381
CAIR Calls President’s Cairo Speech ‘Comprehensive, Balanced and Forthright’ http://www.cair.com/ArticleDetails.aspx?ArticleID=25953&&name=n&&currPage=1
Cairo and the New Faith Frame, Diana Butler Bass http://blog.beliefnet.com/progressiverevival/2009/06/cairo-and-the-new-faith-frame.html
Cairo Speech: Fair, Balanced And Not Backing Down, M.J. Rosenberg http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/06/04/cairo_speech_fair_balanced_and_not_backing_down/?ref=fpblg
Can Obama Work His Magic on Arabs?, Ramzy Baroud http://yubanet.com/opinions/Ramzy-Baroud-Can-Obama-Work-His-Magic-on-Arabs.php
Changing the Discourse: First Step toward Changing the Policy?, Phyllis Bennis http://www.fpif.org/fpiftxt/6169
Choosing Cairo was a mistake, Reza Aslan http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-06-02/memo-to-obama-leave-egypt/p/
The Double Blessing: Obama, the Bible, and Outreach to Muslims, Charlotte Gordon http://www.religiondispatches.org/archive/politics/1526/the_double_blessing%3A_obama%2C_the_bible%2C_and_outreach_to_muslims
The Dawn Begins with a Single Ray of Light to Illuminate the Darkness: Palestinian Hamas Hails Obama’s Cairo Address as “Historic”, Dr. Robert D. Crane http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_dawn_begins_with_a_single_ray_of_light_to_illuminate_the_darkness/0017371
Extremists of All Faiths See Obama’s Vision as a Threat, Asra Nomani http://www.patheos.com/Explore/Additional-Resources/Asra-Nomani.html
Fair, Balanced And Not Backing Down,  M.J. Rosenberg http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/06/04/cairo_speech_fair_balanced_and_not_backing_down/
From Cairo to the Bible Belt: What US Christianity Must Face for Peace in the Middle East, Anthea Butler http://www.religiondispatches.org/archive/politics/1530/from_cairo_to_the_bible_belt%3A_what_us_christianity_must_face_for_peace_in_the_middle_east
Forceful Words and Fateful Realities, Rob Nordland http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/07/weekinreview/07nordland.html?ref=world
God Blessed America, Gilad Atzmon http://palestinethinktank.com/2009/06/05/gilad-atzmon-god-blessed-america/
The Grim Picture of Obama’s Middle East, Noam Chomsky http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/06/04-16
Hamas Delivers Peace Letter to President Obama, Medea Benjamin http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/hamas_delivers_peace_letter_to_president_obama/0017364
Hold your applause, Chris Hedges http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20090608_hold_your_applause/
How Can the U.S. President Speak to Two Audiences at Once?, Shadi Hamid http://www.patheos.com/Explore/Additional-Resources/Speaking-to-Two-Audiences.html
How global citizens can “do unto others”, Susan Koscis http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/how_global_citizens_can_do_unto_others/0017384
The heart versus head over Obama, Mona Eltahawy http://www.monaeltahawy.com/blog/?p=137
How far will Obama’s words of respect carry US-Muslim relations?, Howard LaFranchi http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0604/p02s10-usfp.html
If the US Insists on M. E. Peace—Will There Be a Crisis over Values & Identity Within American Jewish Life?, Rabbi Arthur Waskow http://www.shalomctr.org/node/1507
Igniting hope, Muqtedar Khan http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C06%5C11%5Cstory_11-6-2009_pg3_2
The ‘Important’ Muslims, Rafia Zakaria http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C06%5C06%5Cstory_6-6-2009_pg3_2
In Obama’s speech, a new approach to Middle East: candor, Peter Grier http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0605/p02s01-usfp.html
Interview with Rep. Keith Ellison, Congress’s First Muslim, who explains the significance of Obama’s trip to Middle East, Cynthia Gordy http://www.essence.com/news_entertainment/news/articles/keith_ellison_on_obama_mideast_trip?xid=042909-huffpost-ellsion
Interview with Kate Seelye, and Professor Vali Nasr on the Muslim reaction http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/episodes/june-5-2009/muslim-reaction-to-obama%E2%80%99s-address/3212/
Interview with Hussein Ibish, Senior Fellow at the American Task Force on Palestine, Ambassador Akbar Ahmed, Chair of Islamic Studies at American University, Salam S. Al-Maryati, Director & Co-founder at the Muslim Public Affairs Council in Los Angeles, and Jacob Dayan, Consul General of Israel in Los Angeles http://www.scpr.org/programs/airtalk/2009/06/04/president-obama-the-muslim-world/
Is anyone speechless?, Iqbal Jassat http://usa.mediamonitors.net/content/view/full/63037
Islam and the West after George Bush, Anwar Ibrahim http://ckcounterpunch.wordpress.com/2009/06/05/islam-and-the-west-after-george-bush/
Islam’s Turn to Address Obama, Osman Siddique http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/guestvoices/2009/06/islams_turn_to_tell_obama_yes_we_can.html
Israel: No policy change after Obama speech http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090605/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_israel_obama
J Street statement http://www.jstreet.org/blog/?p=400
KARAMAH Says President Obama’s Cairo Speech “Moves the World into the 21st Century” http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/karamah_says_president_obamas_cairo_speech_moves_the_world_into_the_21st_ce/0017382
Lebanon’s elections could be Obama’s first post-speech victory, Ray Hanania http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/lebanons_elections_could_be_obamas_first_post_speech_victory/0017380
Let Women Wear the Hijab: The Emptiness of Obama’s Cairo Speech, Peter Daou http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-daou/let-women-wear-the-hijab_b_211226.html
Letter from America – Obama, Israel and Iran, Habib Siddiqui http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/letter_from_america_obama_israel_and_iran/0017355
The meaning of Obama’s speech in Cairo, Fawaz Gergez http://ispu.org/policy_briefs/articledetailpb-87.html
Meet the Muslims: Obama in Cairo Wajahat Ali http://goatmilk.wordpress.com/2009/06/05/2734/
Minefields in Obama’s Cairo Speech, Khalid Amayreh http://palestinethinktank.com/2009/06/11/khalid-amayreh-minefields-in-obamas-cairo-speech/
More Deeds, Please, and Fewer Words, Ali Ettefagh (Iran) http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/postglobal/ali_ettefagh/2009/06/more_deeds_please_and_fewer_wo.html
Muslims’ Great Fear: ‘Obama Can’t Do It’, Kader Abdolah (Netherlands) http://worldmeets.us/devolkskrant000011.shtml
Muslims welcome Obama’s offer of a ‘new beginning’, Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi http://www.detnews.com/article/20090610/OPINION03/906100318/Muslims-welcome-Obama-s-offer-of-a—new-beginning-
My Christian-Muslim American President, al-Husein N. Madhany http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/guestvoices/2009/06/what_obama_means_to_american_muslims.html
My first take on the speech, Mark Lynch http://lynch.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2009/06/04/the_speech
Obama Connects in Cairo, MPAC http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/obama_connects_in_cairo/0017370
Obama Draws From King in Cairo, Eboo Patel http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/eboo_patel/2009/06/obama_drawing_from_king_in_cai.html
Obama delivers a message of peace to the Muslim world, Jack Shaheen http://www.huffingtonpost.com/christian-avard/jack-shaheen-obama-delive_b_212016.html
Obama emerged in Cairo as a true friend of Israel, Gideon Levy http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1090534.html
Obama in Cairo: A Bush in sheep’s clothing?, Ali Abunimah http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article10576.shtml
Obama in Cairo, an opportunity to restore faith, Ambassador Edward S. Walker, Jr. http://www.commongroundnews.org/article.php?id=25618&lan=en&sid=1&sp=0&isNew=1
Obama in Cairo: High Words, Low Truths, Alexander Cockburn http://www.counterpunch.org/cockburn06052009.html
Obama in Cairo, Paul Craig Roberts http://www.counterpunch.org/roberts06052009.html
Obama on Palestine-Israel, Sarah Dwidar http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/obama_on_palestine_israel/0017376
Obama Presents a Bold Vision for Change to Come, Wael Nawara http://www.huffingtonpost.com/wael-nawara/obama-presents-a-bold-vis_b_211811.html
Obama seeks new start with Muslims, al Jazeera http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/06/20096492421821542.html
Obama “Shakes” the Jewish Consciousness in Cairo,  Shaul Magid http://www.newageislam.org/NewAgeIslamArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=1462
Obama Speech Draws Strong Reactions From Egyptians, Arabs And Israelis, Stuart Whatley http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/04/obama-speech-draws-strong_n_211261.html
Obama Speech Draws Spirited Response From DC To Damascus, James M. Wall http://wallwritings.wordpress.com/2009/06/07/obama-speech-draws-response-from-dc-to-damascus/
Obama Speech is Blow to Al Qaeda, David Silverberg http://www.hstoday.us/content/view/8811/151/
Obama the Transformer, Robert Shrum http://www.theweek.com/article/index/97432/Obama_the_Transformer
Obama-Abbas: It starts with the settlements, Daoud Kuttab http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/obama_abbas_it_starts_with_the_settlements/0017365
Obama leaves out half the Muslim world, Endy Bayuni (Indonesia) http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/postglobal/endy_bayuni/2009/06/obama_leaves_out_half_the_musl.html?hpid=talkbox1
Obama on Obama, Thomas L. Friedman http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/03/opinion/03friedman.html?_r=2&ref=opinion
Obama Reversing Christian Right’s Damage to Islam, John Esposito http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/panelists/john_esposito/2009/06/obama_reversing_christian_rights_damage_to_islam.html
Obama Shoots: Ball in the Muslim Court, Muqtedar Khan http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1237705975350&pagename=Zone-English-Muslim_Affairs%2FMAELayout
Obama Speech Leaves a Heavy Hangover, Adam Morrow and Khaled Moussa Al-Omrani http://www.ipsnews.net/africa/nota.asp?idnews=47172
Obama was up against Napoleon, Ali Eteraz http://trueslant.com/alieteraz/2009/06/04/obama-was-up-against-napoleon/
Obama’s (Almost) Perfect Speech, Omid Safi http://www.huffingtonpost.com/omid-safi/obamas-almost-perfect-spe_b_212080.html
Obama’s brilliant beginning, Pamela Taylor http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/panelists/pamela_k_taylor/2009/06/obamas_cairo_speech.html
Obama’s Cairo speech, a defense of the Clinton-Bush policies, Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad http://blog.minaret.org/?p=1557
Obama’s Cairo Speech—A Detailed Fisking of a Multi-Layered Talk, Steven Waldman http://blog.beliefnet.com/stevenwaldman/2009/06/the-obama-speech——a-detailed.html
Obama’s Cairo Speech: One for the Ages, Richard Silverstein http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2009/06/04/obamas-cairo-speech-one-for-the-ages/
Obama’s Cairo speech transcends location and proves timeless, Javeed Akhter http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/obamas_cairo_speech_transcends_location_and_proves_timeless/0017374
Obama’s Cairo Speech: Significant, Eloquent—and Perhaps Just the Beginning, William Pfaff http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=102556003264&h=K-lDa&u=WoXu2&ref=nf
Obama’s Cairo speech was potent in what it did not say, Ghassan Rubeiz (Lebanon) http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=5&article_id=102812
Obama’s Call to the Faithful, Deepak Chopra http://www.huffingtonpost.com/deepak-chopra/obamas-call-to-the-faithf_b_211930.html
Obama’s challenge to the Muslim World, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/panelists/feisal_abdul_rauf/2009/06/obamas_challenge_to_the_muslim_world.html
Obama’s Charisma Ignites Hope in Muslim Hearts, Muqtedar Khan http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/guestvoices/2009/06/obamas_charisma_ignites_hope_in_muslim_hearts.html
Obama’s hearts and minds trifecta, Donald Emmerson http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/KF09Ak01.html
Obama’s Islam Success Depends On Israel, Steven R. Hurst http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/04/analysis-obamas-islam-suc_n_211666.html
Obama’s New Beginning in Cairo: Now He Needs One in Washington,  Jennifer S. Bryson http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/viewarticle.php?selectedarticle=2009.06.05.001.pdart
Obama’s new era in international diplomacy, The Daily Star, Lebanon http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&article_id=102672&categ_id=17
Obama’s Nine Hard Truthsm Nick Baumann http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2009/06/obamas-nine-hard-truths
Obama’s Speech, Walid Choucair http://www.daralhayat.com/portalarticlendah/24325
Obama speech a 1st step in fixing ties, Sophia Tareen http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D98JVC5O1&show_article=1
Obama’s Speech… A ‘New Beginning’ Indeed!, Faisal J. Abbas http://www.huffingtonpost.com/faisal-abbas/obamas-speech-a-new-begin_b_211654.html
Obama’s speech bridges the Abrahamic faiths, Greg Barrett http://www.huffingtonpost.com/greg-barrett/alaykum-as-salaam-and-upo_b_211520.html
Obama’s speech: good but not enough, Rami G. Khouri http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=5&article_id=100763
Obama’s Speech: Great Oratory, Wrong Message, Ramzy Baroud http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1243825090406&pagename=Zone-English-Muslim_Affairs%2FMAELayout
Obama’s Speech is a Fatiha, an Opening, Wajahat Ali http://www.patheos.com/Explore/Additional-Resources/Wajahat-Ali.html
Obama’s Speech: Right Man, Right Place, Right Time, James Zogby http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-zogby/obamas-speech-right-man-r_b_211859.html
Obama’s speech did not disappoint, James Zogby http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0609/23409.html
Obama’s Speech Tries to Close the Gap with the World of Islam, Habib Siddiqui http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/obamas_speech_tries_to_close_the_gap_with_the_world_of_islam/0017388
Obama’s Speech Welcomed by Arabs Who Want Now to See Action, Daniel Williams and Julianna Goldman http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aQo5GsrApWqk&refer=us
Obama’s Symbolism and How the Arab World Perceived It, H.A. Hellyer http://www.patheos.com/Explore/Additional-Resources/HA-Hellyer.html
Obama’s words won’t heal Gaza’s wounds, Monia Mazigh http://rabble.ca/news/2009/06/obamas-words-wont-heal-gazas-wounds
Observations on President Obama’s Speech in Cairo, Ray Hanania http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/observations_on_president_obamas_speech_in_cairo/0017373
Only an alliance of American Muslims and Jews can bring about 2-state-solution, John Mearsheimer http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/06/obamas-only-hope-and-it-is-a-slim-one-is-that-a-substantial-part-of-the-american-jewish-community-will-come-to-und.html
Only a Dream: Obama Hits the Wailing Wall, Alan Sabrosky http://www.alarabonline.org/english/display.asp?fname=2009%5C06%5C06-11%5Czopinionz%5C970.htm&dismode=x&ts=11/06/2009%2011:51:27%20%C3%95
The Paradigmatic Revolution of Common Ground, Dr. Robert D. Crane http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_paradigmatic_revolution_of_common_ground/0017383
The President Has Spoken; Now We Are Waiting for Action!, Amira El Ahl (Germany) http://www.qantara.de/webcom/show_article.php/_c-476/_nr-1167/i.html
President Barack Obama to the Muslims. Just a speech ?, Tariq Ramadan http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/president_barack_obama_to_the_muslims_just_a_speech/0017368
President Obama and Prophet Muhammad: Mightier than the Sword, Cynthia Schneider http://www.patheos.com/Explore/Additional-Resources/President-Obama-and-Prophet-Muhammad-Mightier-than-the-Sword.html
President Obama Passes the Muslim Test, Mohammad Fadel http://www.patheos.com/Explore/Additional-Resources/Mohammad-Fadel.html
President Obama’s Cairo Speech:  Deeds, Not Words, Hasan Zillur Rahim http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/deeds_not_words/0017366
President Obama’s Cairo Speech: Healing the Wounds?, Hedy Amr http://www.brookings.edu/opinions/2009/0611_cairo_speech_amr.aspx
President Obama’s speech in Cairo: crystal clear, Arab American Institute http://www.aaiusa.org/issues/3991/president-obamas-speech-in-cairo-crystal-clear
President Obama’s Cairo Speech is a Foundation for Mutual Recognition and Positive Engagement, ISNA http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/president_obamas_cairo_speech_is_a_foundation_for_mutual_recognition_and_po/0017367
President Obama’s outreach to the Muslim world: possibilites and pitfalls, Dr. Javeed Akhter http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/president_obamas_outreach_to_the_muslim_world_possibilites_and_pitfalls/0017362
President’s Speech Reaffirms America’s Ideals, John Kerry http://www.patheos.com/Explore/Additional-Resources/John-Kerry.html
Reaction in Arabic language media, Eric Calderwood http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2009/06/07/what_he_said_how_the_arabic_language_media_heard_the_big_obama_speech/
Reaction in Arab world, al Arabiya http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2009/06/04/74887.html
Reaction in Egypt http://www.aina.org/news/20090604143035.htm
Reaction in Gulf States, Duraid Al Baik http://archive.gulfnews.com/region/Egypt/10319690.html
Reaction in Iraq http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,525125,00.html - and http://baghdadbureau.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/04/across-iraq-reaction-to-president-obamas-speech/
Reaction in Israel, Irene Prusher http://features.csmonitor.com/globalnews/2009/06/04/israelis-react-to-obamas-speech/
Reaction in Israel, Juan Cole http://www.juancole.com/2009/06/osc-israeli-press-on-obamas-cairo.html
Reaction in Israel divided http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/06/04/Israeli-response-to-Obama-speech-divided/UPI-23651244119593/
Reaction in Iran, Scott Peterson http://features.csmonitor.com/globalnews/2009/06/04/obamas-speech-a-boost-to-moderates-in-irans-election/
Reaction in Iran http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/20/iranian-response-to-obama_n_177320.html
Reaction in Iran - How Iranians See It, Kian Tajbakhsh http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/04/what-obama-said-what-the-mideast-heard/#kian
Reaction in Indonesia http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/connectasia/stories/200906/s2590258.htm
Reaction in Pakistan, Issam Ahmed http://features.csmonitor.com/globalnews/2009/06/04/pakistan-obama-seems-to-know-more-about-islam-than-our-own-leaders/  and http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-06-04-voa27.cfm
Reaction in Saudi Arabia http://xrdarabia.org/2009/06/05/obamas-speech-saudi-reaction/
Reaction in Turkey http://www.jamestown.org/single/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=35096&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=7&cHash=76e93adae2
Reaction in Uzbekistan http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-06-09-voa19.cfm
Reaction of Al Azhar http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-market-news-story.aspx?storyid=200906041203dowjonesdjonline000812&title=sunni-islams-al-azhar-center-of-learning-hails-obama-speech

Reaction of American Christian leaders http://www.cuac.org/79901_109065_ENG_HTM.htm - Reaction of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) http://www.elca.org/Who-We-Are/Our-Three-Expressions/Churchwide-Organization/Communication-Services/News/Releases.aspx?a=4150 - Reaction of Catholic News Agency http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=16203 - - Christian Leaders Pledge Support for Peace Effort http://www.americamagazine.org/content/signs.cfm?signid=118 - Reaction of Baptists http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30615 - - Reaction of U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops http://www.usccb.org/comm/archives/2009/09-125.shtml

Reaction of American Jews http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1090457.html - Reaction of Reform Jewish Movement http://rac.org/Articles/index.cfm?id=3497 - Reaction of American Jewish Committee http://religion.einnews.com/article.php?nid=4210 - Reaction of ADL http://www.adl.org/PresRele/IslME_62/5542_62.htm

Reaction of American Muslims in

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/broward/breaking-news/story/1081432.html

Reaction of American Muslims and Jews, alt Muslim http://www.altmuslim.com/a/a/m/3106/  - in

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/A1E92FE24AD90533862575CC000EC9E0?OpenDocument

Reaction of Muslim experts and policy makers collected by the Saban Center at Brookings’ Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World http://www.brookings.edu/opinions/2009/0604_obama_egypt_speech.aspx?rssid=foreign+policy
Reaction of Dr. Mohammed Saad El-Katatni, head of the Muslim Brotherhood Parliamentary Bloc http://www.ikhwanweb.com/Article.asp?ID=20359&SectionID=0
Reaction of Ibrahim Al-Houdaiby of Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/06/04/muslim-brotherhood-activist-obama-glosses-authoritarian-regimes-cairo-speech/
Reaction of Egyptian Grand Mufti Sheikh Ali Gomaa http://www.thedailynewsegypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=22222
Reaction of Indian Muslims http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-marantz/out-of-arabia-obama-speak_b_212278.html
Reaction of Ingrid Mattson (Pres. of ISNA) http://www.isna.net/articles/News/President-Obamas-Cairo-Speech.aspx
Reaction of Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jP2XN2eo_DPatn44DK4v2-c1Im-w
Real hope for peace process,  George S. Hishmeh http://www.gulfnews.com/opinion/columns/region/10321581.html
Respect, Find Out What It Means To Muslims, Dalia Mogahed http://www.iviews.com/Articles/articles.asp?ref=PT0906-3872
Salaam Obama, Mark Juergensmeyer http://www.religiondispatches.org/archive/politics/1532/salaam_obama
The Settlements: Obama’s Demands and Netanyahu’s Options, Alon Ben-Meir http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alon-benmeir/the-settlements-obamas-de_b_213083.html
Some militants respond positively to Obama speech, Karin Laub http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/07/AR2009060701204.html
Soothing words, Jordan Times http://www.jordantimes.com/?news=17305
Speaking Frankly in Cairo, Reza Aslan http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2009/jun/04/obama-cairo-muslims
The Speech Heard Around the World: The Audacity to Hope for Peace, Robert Salaam http://salaamsblog.wordpress.com/2009/06/04/the-speech-heard-around-the-world/
Statement on Obama Actions Thus Far re Gaza, Cynthia McKinney http://votersforpeace.us/press/index.php?itemid=1860
Straight from the heart, Uri Avnery http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/opinion/2009/June/opinion_June45.xml&section=opinion&col=
Surprise, surprise! Al-Qaeda is unhappy with Obama’s speech, Hussam Ayloush http://hussamayloush.blogspot.com/2009/06/surprise-surprise-al-qaeda-is-unhappy.html
Tears and hard truths in Cairo, S Abdallah Schleifer http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/06/20096503523590820.html
Telling it like it is, Bunni Nagara (Malaysia) http://thestar.com.my/columnists/story.asp?col=behindtheheadlines&file=/2009/6/7/columnists/behindtheheadlines/4066127&sec=Behind%20The%20Headlines
Thank You from a Hyphenated American, Rami Nashishibi http://www.patheos.com/Explore/Additional-Resources/Thank-You-from-a-Hyphenated-American.html
There can be no ‘Islam v the west’, Maajid Nawaz, Quilliam Foundation http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jun/05/islam-west-obama-cairo (response to Maajid Nawaz article by Mahdi Hasan http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2009/jun/07/muslim-world-quilliam-foundation )
The Tone and the Music, Uri Avnery http://usa.mediamonitors.net/content/view/full/63025
Tribalistic self-absorption, Glenn Greenwald http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/06/12/self_absorption/index.html
The Trouble With Obama’s Cairo Speech,  Noam Chomsky http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/4488/the_trouble_with_obamas_cairo_speech/
The US woos the umma, Peter Mandaville http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/jun/04/barack-obama-cairo-speech-umma
The value of words, Rafia Zakariya http://www.altmuslim.com/a/a/a/3105/
Varying Responses to Speech in Mideast Highlight Divisions, Michael Slackman http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/05/world/middleeast/05reax.html?ref=world
The Vatican response(s) to Obama’s Cairo speech http://www.catholicculture.org/news/features/index.cfm?recnum=60328
The View of Obama from the Heart of the Arab (Comedy) World, Dean Obaidallah http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dean-obeidallah/the-view-of-obama-from-th_b_211506.html
Turning a new page?, Dr Maleeha Lodhi http://www.thenews.com.pk/print1.asp?id=181980
We Need Policy, Not Respect, Mouin Rabbani http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/04/what-obama-said-what-the-mideast-heard/#mouin
We wanted a world leader. We saw only a US president, Ahdaf Soueif http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jun/05/barack-obama-cairo
What Arabs and Muslims hope for in Obama speech, Ray Hanania http://arabwritersgroup.wordpress.com/2009/06/03/06-03-0-what-arabs-and-muslims-hope-for-in-obama-speech/
What Obama didn’t say, Heba Morayef http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/jun/04/barack-obama-human-rights
What US Christianity Must Face for Peace in the Middle East, Anthea Butler http://www.religiondispatches.org/archive/politics/1530/from_cairo_to_the_bible_belt%3A_what_us_christianity_must_face_for_peace_in_the_middle_east
Where are the women and secularists of Muslim countries in Obama’s speech, Marieme Helie Lucas http://www.averroespress.com/AverroesPress/Main/Entries/2009/6/6_Algerian_feminist_slams_Obama_for_reinforcing_presumed_religious_identities..html
Who did the Muslim World Listen to? (Obama or bin Laden), Mamoun Fandy http://aawsat.com/english/news.asp?section=2&id=17009
Why Obama’s Speech in Cairo Matters—and Why it Doesn’t, Kamran Pasha http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kamran-pasha/why-obamas-speech-in-cair_b_211096.html
Why the U.S. Should Start Talking to Hamas, Joe Klein http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1903966,00.html
Words that could heal wounds of centuries, Robert Fisk http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/robert-fisk-words-that-could-heal-wounds-of-centuries-1697417.html
World Reaction Mixed On Obama’s Cairo Speech, Elizabeth Lee http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-06-05-voa1.cfm

* Articles by Arabs and/or Muslims are highlighted in bold. 

Note:  while articles listed above may be positive or negative or somewhere in between, they are all reasoned.  The following are reactions that are blindly negative.

NEGATIVE REACTIONS TO OBAMA’S SPEECH

Ayaan Hirsi Ali http://www.torontosun.com/news/columnists/peter_worthington/2009/06/12/9771216-sun.html
Afghan Taliban http://informationclearinghouse.info/article22795.htm
al Qaeda http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/02/ayman-al-zawahri-to-egypt_n_210467.html
10 Stupidest Things Said About Obama’s Cairo Speech (So Far), Roy Edroso http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2009/06/10_stupidest_th.php
Gary Bauer http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=32160
Osama bin Laden http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20090608/OPINION01/306089970/-1/OPINION
Edward Cline http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/publications/id.3432/pub_detail.asp
e-Jihadists Rail Against Obama’s Speech http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/06/05/world/worldwatch/entry5066142.shtml
Steven Emerson http://www.investigativeproject.org/1054/obamas-message-to-muslims
Hugh Fitzgerald http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/026563.php#more
David Frum http://newmajority.com/ShowScroll.aspx?ID=009a9e96-37c7-4180-b4b6-b4fc8b935528
Brigitte Gabriel http://209.157.64.200/focus/f-news/2267485/posts and http://cleveland.indymedia.org/news/2009/06/42030.php
Frank Gaffney, Jr http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/p18084.xml - and Gaffney actually claims that Obama may be a Muslim http://thinkprogress.org/2009/06/09/gaffney-obama-muslim/ - and http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jun/09/americas-first-muslim-president/ - and even compares him to Hitler http://www.usnews.com/blogs/robert-schlesinger/2009/06/09/the-nutty-obama-is-a-muslim-charge-is-back-now-with-a-hitler-comparison.html
Pamela Geller http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2009/06/obama-to-ummah-.html
Caroline Glick http://www.jewishworldreview.com/0609/glick060509.php3?printer_friendly
GOP Senator, Conservative Pundits Claim Obama’s Cairo Speech Anti-American (VIDEO) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/05/gop-senator-conservative_n_211780.html
Sean Hannity http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2009/06/hannity-obama-continues-apology-tour-in-cairo.html and http://foxnewsboycott.com/sean-hannity/sean-hannity-caught-manipulating-video-of-obamas-cairo-speech/  and http://www.examiner.com/x-4519-SF-News-Media-Examiner~y2009m6d6-Fox-News-continues-to-insinuate-that-Obama-is-a-devious-Muslim
Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) http://thinkprogress.org/2009/06/05/obama-muslim-speech-inhofe/
Israeli Settlers http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/06/10/eveningnews/main5079068.shtml
Charles Krauthammer http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/04/AR2009060403811.html
Rush Limbaugh http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_060409/content/01125108.guest.html  and http://mediamatters.org/limbaughwire/2009/06/11
Michelle Malkin http://michellemalkin.com/2009/06/04/rainbows-and-unicorns-and-a-world-without-the-j-word/
Andrew McCarthy http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=YTBkYjRmMzI4MmI3NTRkMzIwYzU0NDhkNzk2NTBlZmU= - and http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ODVhZDI1ODdhMTkxMmYzMTA0M2RhOTU3MzFjN2RhZmY=
Marty Peretz http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_spine/archive/2009/06/04/a-break-from-star-gazing.aspx
Walid Phares http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/publications/id.3424/pub_detail.asp
Daniel Pipes http://www.danielpipes.org/blog/2009/06/assessing-obamas-cairo-speech.html#continued
Rabbi Dr. Morton H. Pomerantz http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/obama_holocaust_museum/2009/06/10/223863.html
Dennis Prager http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=32201
Robert Spencer http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/026426.php
Mark Steyn http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jun/08/the-hollow-superpower/
The Taliban http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE55522H20090606?rpc=64
Yid with lid http://yidwithlid.blogspot.com/2009/06/obamas-cairo-speech-threw-israel-under.html
Zionist Organization of America http://blogs.jta.org/politics/article/2009/06/05/1005684/zoa-speech-was-biased-and-inaccurate