Egyptians set the stage for Obama address

The people of Cairo have some ideas about what the U.S. president should tell the Muslim world this Thursday.

By Theodore May - GlobalPost
Published: June 1, 2009 11:04 ET
Updated: June 1, 2009 13:41 ET
Page 3 of 3

But with 80 million people, a historical legacy of regional leadership, and a position of geographic importance, Egypt will always be a player in the region.

“We have a nation today” Rashwan said, “that’s dealing with the region’s real problems: the Sudanese issue, the Israeli-Palestinian issue, etc.”

American presidents have long had a warm welcome in Egypt. However, as popular as Obama may be here, many in Egypt have long expressed a deep respect for another Democratic president: Jimmy Carter.

Carter visited Egypt during his presidency as part of an aggressive diplomatic push in the region. As the story goes, a camel dealer got to Carter during a tour through Cairo and gave him a camel as a gift. It was a sign of abiding respect for America’s 39th president.

Carter didn’t bring the camel back to the U.S. with him, instead leaving it in Egypt to live out its days as Carter’s Camel.

The Secret Service may not allow any camel-bearing well-wishers near the 44th president, but he’ll have to hit many correct notes and tackle an ambitious agenda if he has any hope of creating the legend of Obama’s Camel.

More GlobalPost dispatches on Egypt:

From the people who brought you the pyramids

A new library with great expectations

A tale of two lovers

 


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Posted by morriss on August 20, 2009 12:14 ET

thanks,very interesting post improve page rank free tv

Posted by nikifrost8 on November 17, 2009 13:58 ET

I like the fact that our new administration is mending ties with the rest of the world, particularly in the Middle East. Maybe America won't be such an envied nation then.provillus magic of making up provillus review bowtrol un55b8000 keurig b60 quickbooks pro 2010 garmin 60csx un46b6000 numark ns7 un55b7000

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