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Torn between high hopes and low expectations, the Muslim and Arab worlds anticipate Obama's landmark speech "A New Beginning" from Cairo Egypt. Will he help alleviate the anger and frustration among youth in the region? Will he dispel the view of American foreign policy as openly anti-Islamic? Will he convince viewers of a new American brokerage in the Palestinian-Israeli impasse? How will he address the growing frustration with the slowing progress on the closing of the Guantanamo Bay detention center and US withdrawal from Iraq? Ta3beer followed the historic speech live from Cairo and offered a simultaneous play-by-play analysis, and the resonance of Obama's words in the region. This is likely the most watched public speech in history.

-10 mins: The auditorium at Cairo University has never looked this good. All guests and audiences are seated in anticipation. Students' exams have been postponed by several days, so they will listen to Obama rather than their invigilators and proctors. Obama has given speeches at some of the most extravagant sites from the Brandenburg Gate to the steps of the US Capitol building, but this stage is unique in that it resembles an opera/orchestral hall. The audience seems comprised of more officials/dignitaries/parliamentarians/faculty moreso than youth although the speech is tabbed as an appeal to youth in the Muslim world.

0:01: Obama arrives to rousing applause and utters his first Arabic word "Shukran."

0:03: Offers a few words of diplomatic gesturing to the Arab world, while mispronouncing Al-Azhar, he gets Al Salamu3aleikum better than most. He opens with an acknowledgement of ancient cooperation. States colonialism as a source of impediments in the region. Now that is going farther than most. Talks about the cold war and its role. But jumps immediately into the post-9/11 climate. The rhetoric seems reconciliatory at this point. Very reminiscent of Sadat's speech at the Knesset. "I came to Cairo to seek a new beginning. America and Islam are not exclusive...the overlap...share tolerance and dignity of all human beings." A first time nod to the common values of islam and the United States.

0:05: Historicizes the role of Islamic civilization from medicine to art etc etc....while Samuel Huntington must be rolling in his grave, some of the words sound a bit fetishizing of Islam and its adherents. He's really done some research to uncover the role of Muslims in America. Although they don't get any recognition domestically and usually operate invisibly. Not particularly convincing.

Mentions the Thomas Jefferson Quran.....which was the topic of a great presentation at last year's Middle Eastern Studies Association (MESA) conference plenary session in Washington, DC. Pledged to fight negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear. This surely should start with the conviction of Daniel Pipes of hate speech!!!

Casts America as a post-colonial project to congeal with most of the Muslim world. This is clever rhetoric.

0:08: Committed a boo-boo by calling the Hijab, the Hajib!!! hehhee.....there are muted claps and applause when he states Muslims should acknowledge misrepresentation of America. Appeals to the collective conscience with common humanity-type mambo-jambo. Using terms like subjugation only subjugates him to his own rhetoric. How much of this speech is a facade or oratory eloquence meant to massage the audience's cerebrum.

0:11: He uses emotional appeal to rescusitate 9/11's spirit and pose a decisive response to that event. States that security is the only reason why American troops are there. Mentions the "coalition of the willing" in Afghanistan....sounds familiar. Two quotes from the Koran so far. Audience claps irrespective of quote. Stranded "I love you" in the audience. Casts moderate Islam aside from the "extremism" of a minority. Counterpoint to war in the region $1.5 billion to build infrastructure in Pakistan and $2 billion to Afghanistan....the price of destruction. Distinguishes wars of choice and no-choice. Talks about Iraq's sovereignty......but no apology for the loss of life caused by Bush administrations egregious error.........

0:15: 9/11 returns but this time to acknowledge the incorrect direction. Asserts the decision to close Guantanamo to audience applause. America pledges to commit to rule of law. I am told the translators on some arabic networks are horrendous and inaccurate.

0:20: The Israel ghost rises....the inseparable bond between Israel and the United states gets no applause at all...silence falls upon the auditorium. Jewish homeland is cast as a response to Holocaust. hmmmmmm Sounds like an unshakable Zionist foundation. When talking about the concentration camps at Buchenwald, he mispronounces the Third Reich (a relief that Arabic isn't his only linguisitic weekness. Discusses the Palestinian dislocation and dispossession. But tries to force another perspective by offering a huge plea for the two-state solution and statement of unequivocal commitment to it. No discussion of democratic states.

0:27: Resistance through violence is not acceptable....condemns violence as a response by Palestinians. Talks about qassam missiles landing on Sderot. Only violence sanctioned by the US is acceptable. Audience unimpressed. Israel's right to exist doesnt win audience satisfaction, but the condemnation of settlements does.

0:30: Arabs are called on to act in support of Palestinians....I presume he forgot the demonstrations for Gaza across the region. He pledges a future of transparency in the negotiations. Offers an image of Jerusalem that is united in its faithful cosmopolitanism and plugs the story of Isra'a.

0:35: A president acknowledges the illegal actions in trying to destabilize Iran historically. Embracing rhetoric ....."some countries have weapons and others do not." Non-proliferation over selective proliferation. But the audience is probably thinking why not state the obvious.....what about Israel's arsenal.

0:40: Promotion of democracy should not be imposition of one nation over another. Expresses a nuanced view of America's transgressions ....seemingly humbling view of US, far more modest than the pax americana realism of previous administrations. Freedom from a country that steals from the people......I suppose there are enough officials in the audience for people NOT to applaud this statement. hehhe Must be surreal to talk about democratization in this environment. Maintain power through consent.....appeal to respecting minorities. This has a special flavor to the Coptic and religious minorities in Egypt. Screams of "I love you"

0:43: His 5th point is focused on religious tolerance, and states clearly the rights of Maronites and Copts. Doesn't ring as Orientalist as his predecessor's appeals to so-called religious rights for minorities. Critiques liberal ideals that he argues might be infringing on rights of women to act freely. Nod to saudi king Abdullah and Tayip Erdogan's interfaith dialogue initiatives.

0:48: Concentrates on the role of women in Muslim societies and the extent to which they have contributed to Islamic nations. Preaching to the choir in this crowd but is an open critique of the rise of gender disparities as a product of religious extremism.

0:50: Fear of modernity as a product of rise of conservatism. Has anyone told Obama that this is an old argument?? Most Muslims and Arabs have embraced modernity everywhere. Education and innovation are the currency of the next century. Acknowledging American equivalents. A dramatic turn in policy from the Bush administration, by encouraging Muslims to study in the United States and vice versa. So I suppose the visa limitations and obstacles should end. Centers of excellence.....how many ideas can one offer in a single speech?? Where is the money coming from? More bailout money? US taxpayer funds to support development in the Muslim world?

1:04: Israelis and Palestinians secure in states of their own. No appeal to "cohabitation" and "coexistence" but rather adjacency....what becomes of the faultlines, the 1948 Arabs etc??

1:07: More colourful language about intercultural contact and communication. Appeal to looking inward for solutions. Rule in all religions pertaining to mutual and egalitarian treatment. A true preacher..... Just in time for the dismissal and exile of Amr Khaled from Egypt, Obama gives a speech worthy of the best evangelist.

1:10: In closing, Obama cites the Koran, Talmud and Bible in that order to confirm the expediency and primacy of peace. A little fluster at the end...."May god.....uhmmm...peace be upon you!!" And standing ovation from the audience!!

Overall a very evocative speech that really shakes up tthe rules of engagment inherited from the previous administration. A diplomatic speech moreso than a war speech. While expressing viewpoints clothed in faith-talk, he was the voice of a leader of a "benevolent empire," as described by Marwan Bishara on Al-Jazeera. Very much his "I have a dream" speech. Some of his speaking points appear too closely aligned to the Israeli narrative and presents them in a manner that makes Zionist claims as not only palatable, but clearly legitimate. Hamas spokesperson says the speech reminded him of MLK Jr. but contests that absence of the right of return from the speech and other reservations. One might expect some discomfort from the Israeli government who will be cringing at the time dedicated to Palestinian suffering and the priority for statehood. While Americans are still waking up, one should anticipate a stormy reaction from conservative commentators who will be aggravated by Obama's frequent apologies on behalf of his country's misadventures in the region. Azmi Bishara argued on Al-Jazeera Arabic that the colorful language and sweet talk Obama offered is a standard practice when it comes to discussing Palestinian ambitions. Also the equivalency between the Jewish genocide in Europe with the dispossession of Palestinians from their homeland is deeply problematic. All in all, the speech seemed like an exercise in binaries.....Palestinian/Israeli, moderate/extremist, American/Muslim, peaceful resistance/violent resistance etc...and gravitates back and forth between asserting the lines and blurring them. For a full transcript of the speech, click here.