Obama ends Turkish visit with student town hall

[Turborama]

Source: AP

By MARK S. SMITH, Associated Press Writer – 2 mins ago

ISTANBUL, Turkey – In a humble finish to his first foreign trip, President Barack Obama said Tuesday that despite its flaws and imperfections the United States is poised for a "new chapter in American engagement" with Muslims and the rest of the world.

Addressing college students in Turkey's largest city, Obama rejected the stereotype that American is selfish and crass. "I'm here to tell you that's not the country I know and not the country I love," the president said. "America, like every other nation, has made mistakes and has its flaws, but for more than two centuries it has strived" to seek a more perfect union.

Obama made those opening remarks before taking questions, telling students he'd keep the session short because of the Muslim call to prayer. Obama repeated his pledge to rebuild relations between the United States and the Muslim world.

"I am personally committed to a new chapter in American engagement," he said. "We can't afford to talk past one another and focus only on our differences, or to let the walls of mistrust go up around us."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090407/ap_on_go_pr_wh/eu_obama

---

Obama is walking the walk, unlike his barely intelligible predecessor.

[DFW]

1. Just to hear these words from an American president will do more good than a billion's worth of PR

And there will be a LOT of murmuring "Çok güzel" to be heard in Istanbul.

We have a long way to go before we have even started on the road to necessary
damage control, but the first step has finally been taken.

[Kalyan]

2. nope ... guns are better ...

Bush did it the right way ... it was either his way or the highway. He doesn't get bothered by nuances of diplomacy as the might of the gun & ICBMs is far better than the claps & agreements in distant Istanbul.

of course :sarcasm:

[DFW]

4. Bush couldn't spell Istanbul, and anyway, he thought it was a kind of steer.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. This was exactly what needed to be done

Talking directly to the people in a democratic Muslim country. And his respect for Salat (prayer) will be noted around the Muslim world.