Legislative Action Message: June 4, 2009

Will Congress Support Obama's Outreach to Muslim World?

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Write a Letter to the Editor

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Today, President Barack Obama called for a "new beginning between the United States and the Muslim world." In his Cairo speech, the president staked his administration's efforts in the greater Middle East on a principled, new approach to the Arab states, Iran, and Israel. He stated, "Resistance through violence and killing is wrong and does not succeed," and articulated a policy that balances a challenge for Arab states to recognize Israel with a demand that Israelis stop undermining the creation of a viable Palestinian state.

On Iran, the president sought to make a clean break with past U.S. policies. He acknowledged Iran's right to develop peaceful nuclear power facilities, if that country will abide by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which safeguards against the development of nuclear weapons.

The challenge here in Washington will be persuading Congress to support the president's fair, balanced, and reasonable goals, rather than obstruct them. Past U.S. policies based on "tough" posturing, unilateralism, threats of regime change, and a one-sided engagement with Israel have not produced results; in fact, they have made things worse.

The president's new approach deserves support. Its success will benefit the peoples of the Middle East and the United States. You can help by writing a letter to the editor of your newspaper voicing support for Obama's opening for a new U.S. relationship with the governments and people of Islamic countries, particularly in the Middle East.

Take Action

Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. Say that the president's speech suggests an important new beginning for U.S. relations with the Muslim world. Ask the readers of your local paper to contact Congress in support of the president's new approach to peacemaking in the greater Middle East.

Background

Read FCNL's analysis of President Obama's speech today. See the full text of the speech.