President Obama met with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak today to “publicly thank him for the extraordinary hospitality that he showed us when I traveled to Egypt and delivered my speech at Cairo University,” Obama said.

During that June speech, Obama spoke of a “new beginning” between the United States and the Muslim world. “The importance of the Cairo visit was very appreciated by the Muslim and Islamic world, because the Islamic world had thought that the U.S. was against Islam, but [Obama’s] great, fantastic address there has removed all those doubts,” Mubarak said through a translator.

The leaders discussed the situations in Iran and Iraq, the Arab-Israeli conflict and economic development, among other topics. While they can cooperate on many projects, Obama acknowledged that there are areas of disagreement.

“There are some areas where we still have disagreements, and where we do have disagreements we have a frank and honest exchange,” Obama said.

What do you think of the leaders’ comments? Did Obama’s speech remove doubt about relations between the United States and Islam? Can these nations have a frank and honest exchange over issues on which they disagree?

During his busy day in Egypt July 4, President Obama also met with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

“We discussed the situation with Israel and the Palestinians. We discussed how we can move forward in a constructive way that brings about peace and prosperity for all people in the region. And I emphasized to him that America is committed to working in partnership with the countries in the region so that all people can meet their aspirations,” President Obama said.

He also made time to see some of Egypt’s greatest sites – pyramids!

Some readers have been asking if President Obama’s speech in Cairo today has been translated. So far, Obama’s speech has been translated into Arabic, Chinese, Persian, Indonesian and Turkish.

If I see it in any other languages, I’ll post them online as well. If anyone else sees translations, I hope you will share them with everyone! Post them in the comments section.

UPDATE June 5:Thanks to readers’ help, we’ve found the speech in some more languages, including French, Hindi, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Urdu and Hebrew.

If you see any others, let everyone know!

“America’s strong bonds with Israel are well known. This bond is unbreakable,” President Obama said today. “On the other hand, it is also undeniable that the Palestinian people – Muslims and Christians – have suffered in pursuit of a homeland.”

The only solution for solving the decades-long conflict, Obama said, is for two states, “where Israelis and Palestinians each live in peace and security.” A two state solution is in Israel’s, Palestine’s and America’s interests, the president said.

But for peace to come, Obama said, it is time for everyone to “live up to our responsibilities.”

For the Palestinians, that means they must abandon violence. “Resistance through violence and killing is wrong and it does not succeed,” Obama said, citing African Americans’ own experience struggling for equality through non-violent means. “Violence is a dead end.”

“At the same time,” Obama said, “Israelis must acknowledge that just as Israel’s right to exist cannot be denied, neither can Palestine’s. The United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements. … It is time for these settlements to stop.”

President Obama pledged to “say in public what we say in private to Israelis and Palestinians and Arabs.” What do you think of the president’s statements on the Middle East?

In his speech at Cairo University, President Obama said that in today’s interconnected world, “any world order that elevates one nation or group of people over another will inevitably fail.” Instead, nations need to work in partnership so that our “progress must be shared.”
The president outlined seven issues “we must finally confront together.” Here is what they are and a brief comment the president made about each one:

1. Violent extremism: “America is not – and never will be – at war with Islam. … We reject the same thing that people of all faiths reject: the killing of innocent men, women and children.”

2. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict: “If we see this conflict only from one side or the other, then we will be blind to the truth: The only resolution is for the aspirations of both sides to be met through two states, where Israelis and Palestinians each live in peace and security.”

3. Securing nuclear weapons: “This is not simply about America’s interests. It’s about preventing a nuclear arms race in the Middle East that could lead this region and the world down a hugely dangerous path.”

4. Democracy: “No system of government can or should be imposed by one nation by any other. That does not lessen my commitment, however, to governments that reflect the will of the people.”

5. Religious freedom: “Freedom of religion is central to the ability of peoples to live together. We must always examine the ways in which we protect it.”

6. Women’s rights: “Issues of women’s equality are by no means simply an issue for Islam … the struggle for women’s equality continues in many aspects of American life, and in countries around the world.”

7. Economic development and opportunity: “There need not be contradictions between development and tradition.”

A summary and full transcript of the president’s speech is available on America.gov.

“I’ve come here to Cairo to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world,” President Obama said today before an audience of 3,000 at Cairo University. “One based on mutual interest and mutual respect, and one based upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive and need not be in competition.”

President Obama’s speech touched on a range of issues – from security matters to political goals to opportunities for education and economic development. The 45-minute speech garnered attention worldwide. In the United States, national and local news stations broadcasted the speech live to Americans who chose to get up early to watch it.

As a writer who has read or watched probably more than half of President Obama’s speeches since I saw him speak during the New Hampshire primary in January 2007, I believe today’s speech differed from many of the statements the president has made in the past. This speech was less about policy and more about personal actions.

“I know there are many — Muslim and non-Muslim — who question whether we can forge this new beginning,” Obama said. “… But if we choose to be bound by the past, we will never move forward. And I want to particularly say this to young people of every faith, in every country — you, more than anyone, have the ability to re-imagine the world.”

“All of us share this world for but a brief moment in time. The question is whether we spend that time focused on what pushes us apart, or whether we commit ourselves to an effort — a sustained effort — to find common ground, to focus on the future we seek for our children, and to respect the dignity of all human beings.”

There’s a lot more to talk about in this speech, and Obama Today will try to address some of the important issues in blog posts throughout the day. But first, I want to know what you think of the president’s speech. Is this a new beginning? Share your comments!