The US newspaper Chicago Tribune printed an article titled "Muslim Scholars Visit Chicago, Seek Obama's Support". It affirms that, intent on improving the U.S. image abroad, President Barack Obama offered an olive branch to the Muslim world in his inauguration speech Tuesday, saying, "We seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect." Many Muslims have grown skeptical of Obama's vow to improve relations, especially after his initial silence during the recent hostilities in the Gaza Strip. But in several forums during a visit to Chicago last week, scholars from Egypt and Saudi Arabia offered suggestions on how the Obama administration could deliver on his promise. They called for sincere support of opposition groups and election results, a balanced approach to the Israeli-Palestinian issue, and other steps. Said Sadek, a political sociologist at the American University in Cairo: "There's a belief he was silent [about Palestinian casualties in Gaza] because he was waiting to see the Israelis finish the job, and then he'd speak ... so there's caution because words are not enough. We want to see action." Abou Elela Mady, co-founder of the centrist Al-Wasat party in Egypt: "I think I and a lot of people in the Arab world are optimistic of the Obama administration." But Mady added that Obama needs to support creation of opposition parties like his that have been fighting for 13 years to run in fairer elections in Egypt. "We only have two choices right now—corrupt authoritarian regimes and the Muslim Brotherhood. We don't support either of them." Sadig Malki, assistant professor of political science at King Abdul Aziz University in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia: "Short term, we need some practical steps to change Muslim opinion of America." His suggestions: Help Muslim countries solve problems such as traffic control. Promote education in the Muslim world, including preschools. And expose Muslims to U.S. culture and discourse by bringing National Public Radio to Saudi Arabia.
