President Obama's Speech Draws Mixed Reviews From Islamic World

CAIRO, Egypt, June 4, 2009— -- From a tent city in Gaza to an Internet cafe in Baghdad, to a barber shop in the West Bank, Muslims around the world stopped and listened today as President Barack Obama, in a long-awaited speech in Cairo, Egypt, told Muslims across the globe he wanted to engage them and their countries.

"I have come here to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world," Obama told an audience of several thousand gathered at Cairo University.

Watching the speech at a cafe in Cairo today, Mohammed Samir said he liked the president's words on Israel and Palestine.

"He gave a practical plan [on] a two-state solution," he said. "He's not against the Arabs and that's new."

Ingy Sami liked Obama's reference to women's rights.

"He respects even women like me who wear the veil," she said. "And that impressed me."

In Iran, state television described the speech as "too many words -- attractive but unbelievable."

But Mostafa Bayati, who watched the address with his family in Tehran, said he appreciated the president's emphasis on diplomacy.

"Obama is not after war with us or the Muslim world," he said. "Instead, he's seeking friendship."

Many Muslims remain conflicted about Obama's overtures to Arabs. While they believe the U.S. president offers a new American approach to the Muslim world, an increasing number of them say they want proof that he'll deliver it.

"Obama managed to say everything without promising anything," said Nakhle Al Hage, news director at Al Arabiya, the Arab-language news channel.

President Obama's speech addressed several themes Muslims were eager to hear. He pushed for a Palestinian state and said Israel must stop building new settlements in the West Bank. Obama assured them the U.S. would pull all of its troops out of Iraq by 2012 and promised no permanent U.S. presence in Afghanistan.

But in Iraq, some still doubt the president will actually withdraw U.S. troops.

"Even if some troops leave, American bases will remain," Hassan Al-Mawsawi told ABC News in Baghdad.

And in the West Bank there are doubts about a Palestinian state.

"Speeches doesn't build states, doesn't end suffering," said Ribhi Asfour.