December 23rd, 2008 by Stephen

Amid all of the speculation about the Obama administration and its approach to the Middle East, POMED has asked a variety of respected voices from the community of Middle East policy experts, democracy promotion practitioners, pollsters, academics, and human rights advocates to answer the following question in 300 words or less:

At the outset of the new American administration, what should President Obama say to the people of the Middle East?

We have been posting responses to this question over the past few weeks. Today, we continue with a response from Larry Diamond, Senior Fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution and coordinator of the democracy program at Stanford’s Center for Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law:

Larry Diamond:

“First, the United States seeks a just, stable, and secure political order in the Middle East, not hegemony. Thus I reaffirm my commitment to withdraw all U.S. combat forces from Iraq within 16 months.  And I renounce the use of force as a means to promote ‘regime change’ in the region.
 
Secondly, I deeply regret the abuses that have been committed by American security forces at Abu Ghraib, and I will immediately ban the use of torture by American security personnel, ban the practice of ‘extraordinary rendition,’ and shut down the detention facility at Guantánamo. 
 
Third, I reaffirm America’s commitment to a two-state solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, recognizing both the right of the Palestinian people to a viable state and the right of Israel to exist as a Jewish state within secure and defensible borders.  Engagement with all parties in the quest for such a settlement will be a priority of this administration.
 
Fourth, I call on the people of the Middle East to reject extremism, prejudice, hatred and violence, which contradict the principles of all great religions and have only deepened misery in the region. And I affirm my administration’s readiness to engage any group or party that rejects violence and commits to democratic principles, including the rights of women and religious minorities.
 
Finally, I reaffirm America’s commitment to human rights and the development of democratic governance in the region.  These cannot be the only goals the United States seeks in the Middle East, but they are enduring interests and values, and we believe they are necessary foundations for justice and long-term stability in the region.  My administration will support democratic forces in the region and work to encourage gradual democratic change.”

Posted in What Should New President Say to Middle East? |