When America Was Loved in the Muslim World

President Obama gave an interview with Al-Aribiya where he said that the U.S. had made mistakes in the past but "that the same respect and partnership that America had with the Muslim world as recently as 20 or 30 years ago, there's no reason why we can't restore that."

This is an interesting point. My thinking on this is informed by Michael Oren's Power, Faith & Fantasy: America in the Middle East: 1776 to the Present.

My take away from that book is that America was indeed much beloved in the Middle East, prior to 1945. We were beloved when our interaction with the region was confined to civilian missionary work and a political posture that was supportive of self-determination but largely unwilling to interfere with the region's politics. That all changed following the retreat of French and British imperial power in the region, and the establishment of a "pax Americana" knitting together our anti-Communist allies.

Given that history, it will be very difficult (although not impossible) for President Obama to restore America's image in the region. Ultimately, that image is not tarnished by the words of our leaders but by the power politics they're forced to engage in because of the importance of oil and our support of Israel. And I highly doubt that President Obama is going to attempt to reset America's relationship with the region along pre-1945 lines.

UPDATE: Check out the Video log for the video of Obama.

Steve Clemons swoons:

But Obama gets to make his own reality at the moment -- and is imposing it -- in a respectful, humble, and powerful way.

His style matters -- just like Bush's swagger did -- and it is this act of humility towards the Muslim world which may animate hope in the nations around the world and in the Middle East specifically.

Everyone will have to adjust now. The Saudis will leave the peace deal on the table. The Israelis have to remake themselves -- even if Netanyahu succeeds Olmert. Hamas will have to find a way to become differently postured -- if not on Israel, then at least on some level of international acceptability with American partners. Arab stakeholders are going to have to snap out of positions shaped more by status quo thinking and inertia that things will never change and get with the Obama program.

What Obama did has provided a new punctuation point in American foreign policy, and it is not "continuous" foreign policy at all. This is a new game and a very impressive new leader.

While I think the speech was a worthy and important gesture, I really don't see how Clemons can imbue it with this God-like ("reality-creating") impact. I would argue that symbolism does not, in fact, matter nearly as much as Clemons suggests. Do we suppose that the Arab world really cannot discern the difference between rhetoric and policy? That they are going to be swept off their feet? I will happily stand corrected if there's any evidence that mere rhetoric will turn around America's image, but I suspect it won't be enough.