In Turkey, Obama Stresses Partnership, Peace

Pardon me, but who are these guys we are fighting against... Buddhist extremists? These are 7th Century fundamentalist, literalist Muslims who want to establish fundamentalist, literalist Islamic states as far as they can reach.


Their vision of civilization is 180° from ours. They believe in repression, violence against all who do not believe exactly as they do, and an authoritarian theocracy. In their society, you cannot be a moderate Muslim. There is no such thing. And anyone who disagrees...


We are at war with this version of Islam and should always be at war with it. This never fully registered with Barack Hussein Obama:


Obama does not speak for me. If the Muslim world doesn't actively condemn those who commit atrocities in the name of Islam, then the Muslim world is condoning such actions. Passive silence is acceptance.

In Turkey, Obama Stresses Partnership, Peace

Obama: U.S. 'Not at War With Islam'

Barack Obama, making his first visit to a Muslim nation as U.S. president, declared Monday the United States 'is not at war with Islam' and called for a greater partnership with the Islamic world.

ANKARA, Turkey, April 6 -- President Obama reached out to the Muslim world Monday, telling this country's Grand National Assembly that the United States "is not and never will be at war with Islam" and visiting the memorial to the founding father of the modern Turkish republic.

"Our partnership with the Muslim world is critical not just in rolling back the violent ideologies that people of all faiths reject, but also to strengthen opportunity for all its people," Obama told the assembly. He added, "The future must belong to those who create, not those who destroy. That is the future we must work for, and we must work for it together."

Obama strove to establish a direct connection with Turkey during his speech to the parliament, using the Turkish word for "yes" (evet); praising Turkish NBA players Hedo Turkoglu of the Orlando Magic and Mehmet Okur of the Utah Jazz; and pledging that the United States "will convey our deep appreciation for the Islamic faith, which has done so much over so many centuries to shape the world for the better -- including my own country."

Noting the contributions of Muslim Americans to the United States, Obama noted that many non-Muslim Americans "have Muslims in their family, or have lived in a Muslim-majority country."

"I know," Obama said, drawing applause from the lawmakers, "because I am one of the them."

In his speech, Obama reiterated U.S. support for the creation of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel, a goal jeopardized by continuing Israeli settlement construction in the occupied territories and deep divisions within the Palestinian national movement. The new Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, has never formally endorsed a "two-state solution" to the conflict. The armed Islamist movement, Hamas, has refused to recognize the Jewish state's right to exist.

Obama acknowledged Turkey's helpful role as mediator in Syrian-Israeli peace talks, which have yet to yield results after more than a year. He called on Turkey's leaders, who like many Muslims were angry over the scope of Israel's assault on the Gaza Strip last year, to show the same support for an Israeli-Palestinian peace process that at the moment appears dormant.

"We must extend a hand to those Palestinians who are in need, while helping them strengthen their own institutions," he said. "We must reject the use of terror, and recognize that Israel's security concerns are legitimate."

The U.S. president received a mostly warm welcome on the streets of the Turkish capital, reflecting a widespread desire for improved Ankara-Washington relations, which were strained after the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

"You are in a country that is a friend of the United States. However, you broke our hearts during the last 8 years. Now it is time to fix it," said a front-page article in the Hurriyet newspaper that was headlined, in English, "Welcome Mr. President."

The boulevard outside the presidential palace, where Obama met with Turkish President Abdullah Gul, was lined with American and Turkish flags. A local baker created a giant baklava decorated with Obama's likeness.

But there were also protests by several hundred people outside the parliament building, with one group carrying an effigy of Obama, dressed in a blue blazer and khaki pants, then throwing it to the ground and kicking it to pieces.

"Obama wants to use Turkish soldiers in Afghanistan as shields for American soldiers," said Burak Gunes, 21, an international relations student at a local university. "America killed millions of people in Iraq, so the Turkish people do not have any tolerance for the United States of America."

Security was tight, especially outside the parliament building where protesters gathered. Police in riot gear blocked the protesters from passing, while police water-cannon trucks stood ready nearby. Hundreds more police ringed the parliament building. Helicopters flew overhead and snipers manned rooftops as Obama's motorcade entered the sprawling grounds.

The Union of Turkish Youth marched as far as the riot police would let them, chanting "Yankee Go Home" and "Killer USA: Leave the Middle East."

Obama arrived in Turkey on Sunday night from Prague to begin the final leg of his first overseas trip. Obama said the two countries are key allies, both in fighting terrorism and, increasingly, in working toward a more productive economy for both nations.

"Turkey and the United States must stand together -- and work together -- to overcome the challenges of our time," Obama said in his speech to parliament. He said Turkey's ability to preserve a "strong and secular democracy" as a majority Muslim nation stands as a model for the 21st century.

"At the end of World War I, Turkey could have succumbed to the foreign powers that were trying to claim its territory, or sought to restore an ancient empire. But Turkey chose a different future," the U.S. president said. "You freed yourself from foreign control. And you founded a republic that commands the respect of the United States and the wider world."

At the memorial to Ataturk, the founder of the modern Turkish regime, Obama marched in a formal procession, laid a wreath and wrote an inscription in a memorial book.

Obama vowed strong support for the Turkey's entrance into the European Union, a move that would be popular among the people here. But he sidestepped the touchy issue of whether the Turks committed genocide against the Armenians in 1915, just after the first World War, despite his comments during the presidential campaign on the issue. Instead, Obama praised ongoing negotiations between the Turks and Armenians to resolve a host of long-standing issues, and said he did not want to say anything to jeopardize that potential resolution.

"If they can move forward and deal with a difficult and tragic history, then I think the entire world should encourage them," Obama said. "While there has been a good deal of commentary about my views, this is really about how the Turkish and Armenian people deal with the past. And the best way forward for the Turkish and Armenian people is a process that works through the past in a way that is honest, open and constructive."

Obama met later in the afternoon with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Later tonight, he leaves for Istanbul, where he will visit some of the country's cultural sites.

Dogu Ergil, a professor of political science at Ankara University, said the protesters "represent nothing" of mainstream Turkish thinking. He said Turks will be pleased with Obama's hands-off approach to the genocide question, his support for Turkey's E.U. bid and his praise for Turkish democracy.

"There are fringe groups everywhere who think America is the devil," Ergil said, noting that a recent opinion poll showed that 52 percent of Turks had a favorable opinion of Obama.

"If he wanted to be a candidate, he could be elected and become the next president of Turkey!" Ergil said with a laugh.

The largest protest march on Monday was by the Turkish Communist Party, which drew more than 250 people who marched in the narrow shopping streets near Parliament shouting, "We don't want Yankees in our country."

"Obama represents America, which is responsible for all the war and misery and repression of nations in the world," said Ahmet Kayali, 20, an economics student at a local university. He said he saw no significant difference between Obama and his predecessor, George W. Bush.

"Obama is more dangerous because he is giving the impression that he is a better person, but they serve the same purposes," Kayali said.

Wilson reported from Washington. Staff writer Debbi Wilgoren also contributed to this report from Washington.