Former US Senator and presidential candidate Bob Graham delivered a talk at the School entitled "From 9/11 to Barack Obama: US Relations with the Muslim World."
Pragmatism, hope and mutual respect will increasingly characterize relations between the US and the Arab world under the Obama administration for the benefit of both regions, according to Senator Graham, two-term governor of Florida and a former member of the US Senate for 18 years.
Senator Graham said: "While the relations between the US and the Arab world have soured in the last eight years, the trend has already begun to reverse with several bold initiatives being undertaken by President Barack Obama, and all of them point in the right direction."
Speaking of terrorism and global threats emanating from organizations that intend to spread violence and hatred, Senator Graham pointed out the US administration is making concerted efforts to pre-empt and prevent further attacks in any part of the world. But the means of doing this will be markedly different from those of the previous administration, he pointed out.
Speaking of President Obama and what the Arab world can expect in terms of US relations, he said: "He is a remarkable person who is very gifted. He is also a pragmatist who does not heavily rely on any ideology to solve problems in the real world. An incrementalist, he is adept at solving problems one by one – setting goals and finding solutions step by step.
"One can expect him to do the right thing when it comes to dealing with the Middle East and other international issues as he has a unique background, being the son of a Muslim father and a Caucasian mother, having been raised in Indonesia and studied in some of the most prestigious American institutions. He is also a student of history, drawing upon some of our most important experiences and blending them into the fabric of contemporary society to weave a coherent pattern of ideas and approach for governance."
Senator Graham added: "I have the unique responsibility of ensuring that my children and grandchildren don’t feel intimidated by those who don’t look or live like them. There is also a need to ensure that others don’t feel intimidated by them, and that we need to respect each other and help one another live with dignity and self respect. Institutions such as the Dubai School of Government that are firmly committed to training young professionals for greater participation in the public sphere will immensely help the overall social progress of this region." |