カイロ大学でのイスラム社会に向けての演説である。具体的な政策というよりも今後の基本方針の表明と言えるだろう。ブッシュ政権の強圧的な方針決定ではなく対話を重視する姿勢を強調した。また敵は平和を脅かす過激派であり、イスラム社会とは今後留学支援を増大するなど関係を深めて協調したい移項を述べた。またイスラエルとパレスチナの「２国家共存体制」を追求する方針も再確認した。
又グローバリゼーションがもたらす変化に伴い、西欧文明がイスラムの伝統文化への敵と見なされることもあるようだが、今や一国の経済情勢や伝染病の発生が世界中に影響を及ぼす時代であり、手を携えて協力すべき関係にあると認識する。女性が男性と同じ選択をすべきとは考えないし伝統文化に準じた生き方の選択を尊重するが、女性への教育や雇用機会増大の機会を増やすための財政援助は惜しまないものである。
アフガニスタンに関しては、永続的に駐留する支配権維持を意図したものではなく、寧ろ必要が消滅次第、速やかに撤兵を望む立場である。また軍事力だけではアフガニスタン・パキスタンの現状を改善できないことを認識しており、パキスタンには今後５年間にわたって毎年1500億円相当を学校・病院建設、道路や産業の復興のために支援援助する。アフガニスタンにも2500億円相当を経済復興と生活基盤整備の為に援助する。
イラク問題に関しては結果として国民生活は改善されたとしても外交交渉と国際的合意の更なる必要性を認識させられた。（間接的にブッシュ政権の行動を批判したものと考えられる）
Thank you very much. Good afternoon. I am honored to be in the timeless city of Cairo, and to be hosted by two remarkable institutions. For over a thousand years, Al-Azhar has stood as a beacon of Islamic learning; and for over a century, Cairo University has been a source of Egypt’s advancement. And together, you represent the harmony between tradition and progress. I’m grateful for your hospitality, and the hospitality of the people of Egypt. And I’m also proud to carry with me the goodwill of the American people, and a greeting of peace from Muslim communities in my country: Assalaamu alaykum. (Applause.)
We meet at a time of great tension between the United States and Muslims around the world — tension rooted in historical forces that go beyond any current policy debate. The relationship between Islam and the West includes centuries of coexistence and cooperation, but also conflict and religious wars. More recently, tension has been fed by colonialism that denied rights and opportunities to many Muslims, and a Cold War in which Muslim-majority countries were too often treated as proxies without regard to their own aspirations. Moreover, the sweeping change brought by modernity and globalization led many Muslims to view the West as hostile to the traditions of Islam.
Violent extremists have exploited these tensions in a small but potent minority of Muslims. The attacks of September 11, 2001 and the continued efforts of these extremists to engage in violence against civilians has led some in my country to view Islam as inevitably hostile not only to America and Western countries, but also to human rights. All this has bred more fear and more mistrust.
So long as our relationship is defined by our differences, we will empower those who sow hatred rather than peace, those who promote conflict rather than the cooperation that can help all of our people achieve justice and prosperity. And this cycle of suspicion and discord must end.
I’ve come here to Cairo to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world, one based on mutual interest and mutual respect, and one based upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive and need not be in competition. Instead, they overlap, and share common principles — principles of justice and progress; tolerance and the dignity of all human beings.
I do so recognizing that change cannot happen overnight. I know there’s been a lot of publicity about this speech, but no single speech can eradicate years of mistrust, nor can I answer in the time that I have this afternoon all the complex questions that brought us to this point. But I am convinced that in order to move forward, we must say openly to each other the things we hold in our hearts and that too often are said only behind closed doors. There must be a sustained effort to listen to each other; to learn from each other; to respect one another; and to seek common ground. As the Holy Koran tells us, “Be conscious of God and speak always the truth.” (Applause.) That is what I will try to do today — to speak the truth as best I can
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