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Al-Arabiya’s Obama Scoop
The first interview with President Obama goes to…al-Arabiya? In his first formal sitdown in the White House, the new president told the Dubai-based Arabic cable channel Monday his administration would strive for a more comprehensive approach in its relations with the Muslim world. “It is impossible for us to think only in terms of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and not think in terms of what's happening with Syria or Iran or Lebanon or Afghanistan and Pakistan,” he said. “These things are interrelated.” Obama also said he’d sent his Mideast peace envoy, former Sen. George Mitchell, to the region Monday night, adding, “I do believe that the moment is ripe for both sides to realize that the path that they are on is one that is not going to result in prosperity and security for their people. And that instead, it’s time to return to the negotiating table.”
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I think this is a brilliant move on Obama's part. Three of the central challenges facing the US relate to energy security, terrorism and the Iraq/Afghanistan wars and originate out of the mid-east. By making his first interview appearance at the Dubai network, he's signaling a renewed focus to re-shift the undercurrent of mid-east politics and the region's relationship with the US. If he can solve that, the US and the mid-east will be on stronger footing to building a more peaceful and prosperous future.
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