Obama and the Muslim world

I've been so busy writing about the stimulus and other Democratic attempts to wreck the economy that I have neglected to mention Obama's debut on Al-Arabiya television the other day. I'll outsource a review of his performance to Charles Krauthammer:

Every new president flatters himself that he, kinder and gentler, is beginning the world anew. Yet, when Barack Obama in his inaugural address reached out to Muslims by saying "to the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect," his formulation was needlessly defensive and apologetic.

Is it "new" to acknowledge Muslim interests and show respect to the Muslim world? Obama doesn't just think so, he said so again to millions in his al-Arabiya interview, insisting on the need to "restore" the "same respect and partnership that America had with the Muslim world as recently as 20 or 30 years ago."

Krauthammer goes on to note that Obama is either deeply ignorant of the history of U.S.-Arab relations or simply delusional. After all, 20 to 30 years ago -- 1979-89 -- were marked by, among other things, the taking of hostages at the U.S. embassy in Iran, the blowing up of the Marine barracks in Lebanon, the taking of hostages in Lebanon, the hijacking of airplanes and killing of American passengers, the hijacking of the Achille Lauro and murder of wheelchair-bound Leon Klinghoffer, and the bombing of a disco in Berlin that was frequented by U.S. soldiers.

This was respect and partnership? And Obama is supposed to be the shining light of intelligence to replace that dim bulb George W. Bush?

The U.S., Krauthammer points out, sent U.S. soldiers to engage in humanitarian interventions in Somalia, Bosnia and Kosovo. We prevented literally thousands of Muslims from being killed or starving to death. We also spearheaded the liberation of Kuwait from Iraqi control. As thanks we had the World Trade Center bombed in 1993, embassies bombed in 1998, USS Cole bombed in 2000 and the WTC and Pentagon attacked in 2001 with 3,000 Americans dead.

And yet, despite this, open animosity towards Muslims in the U.S. is rare. Hundreds of thousands of Muslims have come here to seek a better life and have been typically welcomed. President George W. Bush referred to Islam as a "religion of peace".

Just what the hell is Obama talking about? Either the man simply doesn't know better or his gut instinct is to apologize even when none is needed. Either way it does not bode well at all.

Update: During the campaign Obama's offer to talk to Iran was seen as soft headed at best and dangerous and counterproductive at worst. Looks like that criticism was spot on.