2023学年完整公开课版ArabWorldRollingOutRedCarpettoPresidentObama

TopArabsatellitetelevisionstations,fromNorthAfricatotheGulf,aredevotingalargeportionoftheircoveragetoPresidentBarackObama'svisit.Thetoneismostlypositiveandcommentatorsappearoptimistic.

Incoffeehousesandtea-housesinBeirut,Damascus,Baghdad,Riyadh,andCairo,everyonefromintellectualstothecommonmanseemstobepreoccupiedwithMr.Obama'svisit,andahighlyanticipatedspeechThursdayinCairo.

Theeditor-in-chiefoftheSaudidailyal-Watan,JamalKashoggi,sayshelikeswhathesees.

"[Thevisit]isgoodnews.ItisdifferentfromwhatwehavehadwithBush.Ourcartoon,ourcaricature,tomorrow,inal-Watantellsthestory.Obamaisbeingreceivedwithflowersandheissaying'Whytheyloveus,'whileGeorgeBushissaying'Whytheyhateus.'So,Obamaischangingthesubject,Obamaisnotgoingforconfrontation;heisintoreachingouttotheMuslimworld.IthinkthepublicinSaudiArabiaisverymuchwelcominghisvisit,"hesaid.

KashoggibelievesMr.ObamaandSaudiKingAbdullah,aswellasmanyotherArableaders,wanttoputanendtotheeraofconfrontationbetweenculturesandreligions.

Sudan'sgovernmenthasalonghistoryofbadrelationswiththeUnitedStates,andisfacinganInternationalCriminalCourtarrestwarrantforitspresident,OmarHassanal-Beshir.ButinKhartoummanysaytheyareoptimisticabouttheObamaMideastvisit.

SudaneseeagertohearUSpresidentspeak

SidigTurabithinksmostSudanesearepleasedthe.presidentiscomingtoCairoandareeagertohearhimspeak.

"Ithinkthatpeopleareveryhopefulabouthisvisit,justaswouldbemostMuslimsandArabs,maybealsoNorthAfricans,becauseSudanisanAfro-Arabcountry,andwell,wearealllookingforwardtothespeech.Iamsuremanypeoplewillbewatchingthisspeechandalsowatchingtheeventsafter,"hesaid.

ButTurabi,thesonofveteranSudanesepoliticianHassanTurabi,saysheisafraidtheattitudeoftheSudanesegovernment,whichhethinksisnotfavorabletoimprovingrelationswithWashington,couldimpactnegativelyontheopportunitiesbeingpresentedbyPresidentObama'svisit.

"Weonlyhopethatourgovernments,someofwhicharenotsofavorablebytheirpeoples,areintelligentenoughtousetheopportunitytogainandcreateasmanywin-winsituationsaspossible.WebelievethatintheSudan,thegovernmentisunnecessarilycreatinghardconditionsforitselfandforthenewadministrationintheUSA,andwearenotveryconfidentthatthisgovernmentiscapableofusingthisgoodopportunitytomakelifeeasier,sociallyandeconomically,"hesaid.

InDamascus,Syriansfeelleftout

InDamascus,topSyrianpoliticalanalystImadFawziShueibithinksPresidentObamaistryingtodemonstratehisadministrationisdifferentfromthatofformerPresidentGeorgeBush.

"Icanonlysaythatthisvisitisgood,becausemaybeMr.ObamacansaysomethingagainstthebadreputationoftheBushadministration,andmaybehecanmakeaplanforpeaceintheregion,"hesaid.

ButShueibiisdisappointedMr.ObamaisvisitingSaudiArabiaandEgypt,andnotSyria.

"IthinkthatitisabadchoicethatheiscomingtoSaudiArabiaandtoEgypt,only.HeshouldcometoSyria,too,"headded.

Lebaneselookingforsomethingnew

InBeirut,HaigazianUniversityPresidentPaulHaidostianthinksmanyArabsarelookingforsomethingfreshanddifferentfromMr.Obama,alongthelinesofwhathepromisedtheAmericanpeopleduringtheelectioncampaign.

"PeoplewouldexpectPresidentObamatobringsomethingfreshtoshowthathisperspectiveandhisbackground,hispersonalbackground,andhisdiscussionsandtalksduringhiscampaignwouldcometrueandbringsomethingthatismorepeaceful,thatismoreeven-handed,thatlooksatthesufferingsofallthepeoplesoftheMiddleEastandnotonlypartoftheissue,"saidHaidostian.

Haidostianarguesthatmostordinarypeopleint