President Barack Obama promised to improve U.S. ties with the Muslim world in his inauguration address on Tuesday, after tensions that followed the September 11 attacks and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect," said Obama, who became the first black president of the United States.
Seems to me that the "mutual" part is going to require some effort from the other side.
The US has plenty of history in its policies towards Muslim nations that is not favorable. For example the 1953 coup that installed the Shah in Iran with his ruthless Saavak secret police. The US supported Saddam Hussien as he gassed Iranian soldiers and his own people in the 1980's, then sent troops to fight Iraq when the Saudis and Kuwait demanded it. Also the US gives unconditional support to the only undeclared nuclear power in the Middle East and that is Israel. Some food for thought.
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