US Ambassador to Brunei.

On June 4 in Cairo, Egypt, US President Barack Obama spoke to the world, but most especially the Muslim world.
I know many of you had a chance to listen to his speech. The president made an extra effort to have the speech available in a variety of media outlets, including allowing Brunei subscribers to receive SMS updates of the speech. President Obama's speech is an important part of his effort to strengthen US tie to the Muslims around the world through strategic partnerships.

I would like to talk more about his speech in today's column. I welcome your questions, including follow-up questions about President Obama's speech at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Q: Can you discuss President Obama's speech? Why he gave it and why it was important?

President Obama's speech in Cairo on June 4 is one important part of the US's commitment to new beginning in our relations with the Muslim world. President Obama, since the first days of his administration, has reached out to our friends in the Muslim world. He started in his inaugural address and continued in interviews with Al Arabiya, his Nowruz message, and in his speech and town hall meeting in Turkey.

In his speech, President Obama proposed a new beginning between the US and Muslims around the world. This new beginning is based on mutual interest and mutual respect, including a sustained effort to listen to each other, learn from each other and respect one another.

Specifically, President Obama said the US would pursue new partnerships with governments, citizens, community organisations, religious leaders, businesses, and international organisations in the areas of education, economic development, science, technology and health.

I have written before about my personal experiences living and working in the Islamic world, as well as the important and vital roles Muslims have in the growth and prosperity of the US.

President Obama spoke from the heart about how he has seen firsthand the dignity and peace that Muslims have found in their faith. He talked of being part of a family that has generations of followers of Islam in Kenya, of his experience living in Indonesia, and working in Chicago communities that are home to African American Muslims.

President Obama also spoke of how Islam has always been a part of America's story, with nearly seven million American Muslims living and working throughout the US.

He noted that the first country to recognise our independence was Morocco. Our ties to Islam are strong and exemplified by our first Muslim American congressman taking the oath of office on a Quran that came from the library of one of our most famous presidents, Thomas Jefferson.

A key element of President Obama's message was the acknowledgement of civilisation's debt to Islam and Muslims for their historic contributions to education, innovation, science, medicine, religious tolerance, and racial equality.

He spoke of the innovations that allowed us to explore the world that came from Islam. During times of darkness in Europe, it was the Muslim world that kept the light of knowledge on.

President Obama also noted that this is a time of tension between the US and many Muslims in the world. He noted that all sides must face the sources of the tensions squarely and focus on our mutual interests that we must confront together. I would like to talk more about these mutual interests.

We must first confront violent extremism. The president declared, again, that America is not and never will be at war with Islam.

We all share a common interest in confronting violent extremists. In Afghanistan and Pakistan, we confront violent extremists who are determined to kill as many Americans as they possibly can. President Obama declared it is his duty to protect the American people. We must work together there to ensure that violent extremists are not allowed to spread their hate and destruction.

The US plans to invest $1.5 billion each year over the next five years to partner with Pakistanis to build schools and hospitals, roads and businesses.

The US will spend hundreds of millions to help those who have been displaced. In Afghanistan, the US is providing more than $2.8 billion to help Afghans develop their economy and deliver services that their citizens depend on.

The US is also helping Iraq train its security forces and develop its economy while at the same time honouring our agreement to remove US combat troops from Iraqi cities by July, removing combat brigades by next August and removing all US troops by 2012.

The president also noted that he has taken concrete actions to ensure that extremism does not alter American principles, including unequivocally prohibiting the use of torture by the US and ordering the closing of Guantanamo Bay prison by early next year.

President Obama reaffirmed that the US will align its policies with those who pursue peace. Israel's right to exist cannot be denied.

At the same time, Israel must recognise that Israeli settlements must stop, that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza does not serve Israel's security and that Israel must live up to its obligations to ensure Palestinians can live, and work, and develop their society.

Palestinians must have a state of their own while at the same time they must abandon the violence that kills the innocent and surrenders moral authority. Hamas must put an end to violence and recognise Israel's right to exist.

Arab nations must help the Palestinian people develop institutions that are self sustaining; recognise Israel's legitimacy, and chose progress over self-defeating focus on the past. The US is committed to a world in which no nations hold nuclear weapons.

To prevent a regional nuclear arms race that would devastate the global non-proliferation regime, the president reaffirms his commitment to discuss the many issues between the US and the Islamic Republic of Iran. This includes a willingness to move forward without preconditions on the basis of mutual respect.

Although it will be hard to overcome decades of mistrust between the US and Iran, President Obama will proceed with courage, rectitude and resolve.

The US believes that no system of government can or should be imposed on one nation by any other.

However, the US will support human rights throughout the world. The ability of people to speak their mind and have a say in how they are governed.

Governments must be transparent and not steal from their people. Governments that protect these rights are ultimately more stable, successful and secure.

President Obama declared that people in every country should be free to choose and live their faith based upon the persuasion in their minds, heart and soul.

For American Muslims, because the rules on charitable giving have made it harder to fulfil their religious obligations, the president said that he is committed to working with them to ensure they can fulfil 'zakat'.

Countries where women are well educated, like Brunei, are far more likely to be prosperous. When our daughters can contribute just as much to our society as our sons then our common prosperity will be advanced by allowing all humanity -men and women- to reach their full potential.

The US will partner with any Muslim-majority country to support expanding literacy for girls and will help young women pursue employment so they can live their dreams.

In the midst of a world economic downturn, President Obama knows that economic development and opportunity are fundamental to strengthen the ties of the Muslim world to the US.

The US has focused on oil and gas but now must seek a broader engagement with the Muslim world. This must include new partnerships in education, economic development, science, technology and health.

The Islamic world gave us great advances in all of these areas and the US seeks to work with the people of all Islamic nations to make the next great advances possible. President Obama's speech was inspiring while also speaking honestly of the challenges we all face in the future. Working together and addressing one another with mutual respect and understanding we can make progress and ensure a better future for ourselves and our children.

As the US Ambassador, I look forward to supporting the president's efforts. As an American citizen, I am proud of my president and his willingness to reach out to the world, especially the Muslim world. In my most important role as a father, I am inspired and hopeful that my children will be able to live in a world safer, peaceful and full of opportunities and hope.

As President Obama said, we are at a new beginning and it is one that can lead us to a brighter future. I would like to conclude by offering this quote from President Obama and I wish everyone has a safe and enjoyable weekend.  -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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