Obama Has It Backwards: The Muslim World Owes The US An Apology--And A Debt Of Thanks!

Charles Krauthammer addresses Obama's recent statements that imply a need for the US to apologize and start afresh with the Muslim world.

In his inaugural address, Obama said:

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect.

In his interview with Al-Arabiya, Obama told his interviewer

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.

Krauthammer notes that Obama is wrong on 2 counts.

First of all, there is no need to go back 30 years to see that the US has sacrificed American soldiers on behalf of the Muslim world:

In these most recent 20 years -- the alleged winter of our disrespect of the Islamic world -- America did not just respect Muslims, it bled for them. It engaged in five military campaigns, every one of which involved -- and resulted in -- the liberation of a Muslim people: Bosnia, Kosovo, Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq.

The two Balkan interventions -- as well as the failed 1992-93 Somali intervention to feed starving African Muslims (43 Americans were killed) -- were humanitarian exercises of the highest order, there being no significant U.S. strategic interest at stake. In these 20 years, this nation has done more for suffering and oppressed Muslims than any nation, Muslim or non-Muslim, anywhere on earth. Why are we apologizing?

On the other hand, Krauthammer takes a look at what the Muslim world has done for us:

And what of that happy U.S.-Muslim relationship that Obama imagines existed "as recently as 20 or 30 years ago" that he has now come to restore? Thirty years ago, 1979, saw the greatest U.S.-Muslim rupture in our 233-year history: Iran's radical Islamic revolution, the seizure of the U.S. Embassy, the 14 months of America held hostage.

Which came just a few years after the Arab oil embargo that sent the United States into a long and punishing recession. Which, in turn, was preceded by the kidnapping and cold-blooded execution by Arab terrorists of the U.S. ambassador in Sudan and his chargé d'affaires.

Which raises the question: just who owes who an apology?

Technorati Tag: Obama and Muslims.