New Delhi, June 5 (IANS) President Barack Obama's stirring speech at the Cairo University struck a chord in India, home to the world's second largest Muslim population, with academicians and intellectuals seeing in it a new beginning by Washington to repair the US' strained relations with the Muslim world.

"It is an attempt on Obama's part to build a coalition of Arab-Muslim nations. Cairo has the perfect blend of modern and traditional Muslims," said Jayalakshmi, a professor at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) here.

Zafar Agha, a journalist, said: "It is an attempt on his part to leave the past mistakes behind and move ahead in partnership with the Muslim world.

"This can be a new beginning in solidifying the severed ties between the Americans and the Muslims. His speech has a great vision in it and it is extremely important that we respond in the same spirit," he underlined.

Obama's multi-ethnic identity is seen here as an asset in his attempt to shore up the US' standing in the Muslim world.

"Obama, being a half Muslim who carries the (middle) name 'Hussain', can understand the dynamics of Islam and associate well with the people," added Agha.

Jayalakshmi also lauded Obama's emphasis on rights of Muslim women. "He is going in the right direction by voicing concerns about women's rights. He is a family man and understands the importance of women education for the development of the society," added Jayalakshmi.

Islamic leader and professor A. Wasi called upon all religious leaders to take note of Obama's speech and come forward in support.

"It is for the first time that an American president has addressed the Muslims not from the safety of the White House but rather in the veins of a city (in the Muslim world). We must all react positively to his gracious effort," said Wasi.

Not all were impressed though.

Sultan Shaheen, a prominent journalist, pointed out there was no mention of India in Obama's entire speech. "India has the second largest population of Muslims in the world after Indonesia. I am surprised that he completely ignored Indian Muslims," said Shaheen.

Stressing that the fight against extremism is an ideological struggle and not a subject of military victory, Shaheen said: "For several years Muslims have not introspected and have slowly stagnated. Military force is not the solution. The entire mindset needs a makeover."

Obama speech gets mixed reviews from US Muslims, Jews

Washington, June 5 (IANS) President Obama's historic speech to "reboot" relations with the Islamic world received enthusiastic reviews from American Muslims, but the reaction of the US Jewish community was mixed.

In the Washington area, the Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) hosted a 6 a.m. viewing of the speech for local Muslim groups and community leaders.

Reaction to the speech by viewers at CAIR "was universally positive," said Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the group cited by the Washington Post. "People really thought he set a new tone, a new direction for American policy toward the Muslim world, particularly in reference to the Israeli-Palestinian issue."

Amaney A. Jamal, an assistant professor of politics at Princeton and co-editor of "Race and Arab Americans after 9-11: From Invisible Citizens to Visible Subjects," called the speech "fabulous" and a "180-degree turn from the Bush administration."

Mahdi Bray, executive director MAS Freedom, a network of Muslim-American community groups, said the speech was "a breath of fresh air... as an American Muslim, I was inspired from the standpoint of feeling that this could be finally a breakthrough in terms of the relationship between the United States and the Muslim world," he said.

James Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute in Washington, admired the way the speech was "designed to address a wide range of problems across a broad region." But the very breadth of the speech may make it harder for the message to get across at home, Zogby was quoted as saying by CNN.

American Jews responded cautiously to the speech, in which a US president referred to "occupation" and "Palestine", CNN said

Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, was pleased that there was no linkage between the Iranian issue and the Israeli and Palestinian conflict, but he didn't think Obama delivered a strong message about the dangers of a nuclear-armed Iran.

The Anti-Defamation League, the US group that monitors and fights anti-Semitism, said Obama's speech was "groundbreaking and honest," but the president "missed an opportunity" to place the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in proper historical perspective.

The American Jewish Committee, a group dedicated to safeguarding Jews and Jewish life, welcomed the speech, praising the rejection of anti-Semitism and embracing Israel's legitimate right to exist.

Obama speech gets mixed early reaction at home 

Washington, June 5 (IANS) President Barack Obama's speech Thursday to the Muslim world has been receiving mixed reactions so far at home with supporters calling it "absolutely critical" in signalling a new era and critics taking issue with his "balanced tone" on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Senator John Kerry, Democratic presidential candidate in 2004 said: "President Obama's blunt, honest address in Cairo was absolutely critical in signalling a new era of understanding with Muslim communities worldwide."

"He shattered stereotypes on both sides, reminded the west and the Muslim world of our responsibilities, and reaffirmed one of America's highest ideals and traditional roles - that those who seek freedom and democracy, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, have no greater friend than the United States of America."

However, the Republican Jewish Coalition's Matthew Brooks, noting that Obama had struck a "balanced tone with regard to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict", said "that's what was wrong with this speech.

"American policy should not be balanced - it should side with those who fight terror, not those who either engage in it or are too weak to prevent it," he said.

"This conflict will not reach a peaceful conclusion until the Palestinians put an end to terrorism, violence, and incitement against Israel."

Democratic senator Russ Feingold said Obama's "historic speech was delivered with the kind of honesty and boldness needed to help secure a more peaceful and secure future.

"Though it emphasised broader themes more than specific steps, it was precisely the kind of public diplomacy that must be a greater part of our national security strategy," he said.

Obama speech stirs controversy at home

Washington, June 5 (IANS) President Barack Obama's Thursday speech to the Muslim world has stirred controversy at home with some calling it "a continuation of his detente" and others finding fault with his "studious avoidance" of the word "terrorism".

The New York Times said Obama "delivered a sweeping message that was forceful and, at times, scolding". And tweeting from Cairo, Washington Post's staff writer Howard Schneider wrote: "Halftime analysis from the crowd: let's see how he implements it."

Speaking to Egyptians, the Times said "all the polish and all the excitement will fade shortly after Air Force One lifts off, most people here say, if nothing changes in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict."

The Wall Street Journal said Obama was "shrewd" to include a passage on women's rights, "noteworthy coming from the father of two girls".

CNN's Christiane Amanpour called the speech "a continuation of President Obama's detente" with the Muslim world.

But Obama's citing of his own background invited mockery from some quarters with the Politico's Mike Allen calling the comments "by far the most extensive he has made about his Muslim roots."

Michael Rubin of conservative weblog The Corner also found fault with Obama's studious avoidance of the word "terrorism".

Questioning Obama's "balanced tone" on the the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Republican Jewish Coalition's Matthew Brooks said: "American policy should not be balanced - it should side with those who fight terror, not those who either engage in it or are too weak to prevent it."

The Times' Helene Cooper said Muslims will judge Obama by actions more than words. It is too soon to tell whether Obama's speech "will be the balm to America's broken relationship with Islam that White House officials hope," she said.

But one thing is already clear, Cooper said, while "Obama's strong words may resonate today, on the Arab street and in the madrassas and the tea shops and dining tables where the world's 1.5 billion Muslims congregate, the future actions of Obama will be far more important."

US experts hail Obama for attacking 'Al Qaeda's argument for terror'

Washington, June 5 (IANS) A former CIA analyst and a key adviser to Barack Obama on his Afghanistan-Pakistan policy has hailed the US president's direct attack on "Al Qaeda's argument for terror" calling it a key to the terrorist outfit's defeat.

"One of the most important points Obama made in his speech today was to attack directly the narrative and ideology of Al Qaeda," said Bruce Riedel now senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.

"For too long the war of ideas was ceded to Al Qaeda. By explaining his view of Islam, his vision of Arab-Israeli peace and other key issues the president took on Al Qaeda's argument for terror," he said in his first reaction to Obama's highly anticipated address to the Muslim world.

"It is no accident Osama bin Laden and Ayman Zawahiri issued statements just before Obama spoke - they know the battle for the soul of Islam has now been joined and they are fighting back. The president is right to take on the enemies narrative as that is key to its defeat," Riedel said.

Several other US experts also generally welcomed Obama's speech, but said actions more than words would be needed to change perceptions of the US in the Middle East and elsewhere in the Muslim world.

Stephen Grand, Fellow and Director, Project on US Relations with the Islamic World at the Brookings, called it a "masterful speech" but said it will be up to his administration to flesh out "a new beginning" with "tangible

policies and programmes that address the major conflicts roiling the Middle East region and creating divides between the American and Muslim peoples".

"The president must also find a means of supporting change in Muslim majority societies that face profound crises of governance. Only time will tell if the United States can pursue policies vis-?-vis the Muslim world that live up to its values while at the same time advancing its interests," he said.

Shibley Telhami, senior fellow, Saban Centre for Middle East Policy said: "In the end, it was an important forward step but it only raised higher expectations in Muslim-majority countries especially in the Middle East.

"The pressure will mount for moving beyond words on the core issues and emerging American credibility will be tested early."

Obama begins European tour with visit to Germany

Dresden, June 5 (DPA) US President Barack Obama arrived in the eastern German city of Dresden Thursday evening for a 24-hour visit that will see him meet Chancellor Angela Merkel and tour

the former Nazi concentration camp of Buchenwald. 

During his second visit to Germany in 10 weeks, Obama will also view some of Dresden's cultural highlights and visit a US military hospital to meet American soldiers wounded in combat. 

The president flew in from Cairo, where he gave a landmark address to the world's 1.5 billion Muslims, stressing the need for peace in the Middle East and urging Iran to open a dialogue with the West on its controversial nuclear programme. 

Obama made no statement when he arrived shortly before 9 p.m. (1900 GMT). From the airport, he was driven in the presidential limousine to a baroque palace in the centre of town, populated for the night with White House staff. 

Efforts to press ahead with the Middle East peace process will figure prominently in talks between the president and his host Merkel Friday morning. The talks will take place in the Gruenes Gewoelbe (Green Vault), a museum that contains the largest collection of treasures in Europe. 

Obama will also pay a brief visit to the Frauenkirche church, which was destroyed by Allied bombing in World War II and later rebuilt with the help of donations from around the world. 

As well as touring Dresden, the president will pay his respects at Buchenwald, located near the city of Weimar in Thuringia state. There, the two leaders plan to meet Holocaust survivors, notably Jewish writer and Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel. 

Obama's great-uncle, Charles Payne, was among the soldiers who liberated a subsidiary camp of Buchenwald April 5, 1945. 

In addition to the Middle East, Obama and Merkel are expected to discuss climate issues, the global economic crisis, German involvement in the NATO mission to Afghanistan and the nuclear threat posed by North Korea and Iran. 

Presidential advisors said holding the meeting in Dresden showed respect for Merkel, who has reportedly charmed Obama with stories of her life in former East Germany. 

The president will also pay a visit to injured American soldiers at the US military hospital in Landstuhl, undergoing treatment after tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

From Germany, Obama travels to France where he will attend ceremonies in Normandy marking the 65th anniversary of the Allied D-Day landings. 

IANS