Not the Change You Were Expecting, Huh? - Obama’s State of the Union Address

On Wednesday night, January 27, 2010, President Barack Obama delivered his awaited 'State of the Union' address to the American People after completing the first year of his reign.  Though he focused primarily on the financial, economic and political issues of the US, it was his comments regarding American aggression in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Muslim world that were of most interest to the Muslim Ummah.

Mr. Obama stated in his speech that America was conducting its operations in Afghanistan to "reward good governance, reduce corruption and support the rights of all Afghans - men and women alike." He further added that in Iraq, America will "continue to partner with the Iraqi people to promote regional peace and prosperity." In the concluding part of his speech, he declared, "that is the leadership that we are providing - engagement that advances the common security and prosperity of all people."

Of course, this is far from the truth.  This President is skilled in changing incriminating facts into sympathetic works of fiction.

When he first became President, Mr. Obama had promised to rectify the injustice of the Guantanamo Bay (Gitmo) prison by closing it, but he has not been able to do so.  In fact, the situation is even worse for the inmates. Many will be moved to “baby Gitmos” inside the country where the environment is even more hostile. Whereas, Gitmo served as a glaring beacon of injustice for the world to see, now the prisoners will be hidden legally, while some are to be held indefinitely without being charged with any crime so as not to have any legal course nationally or internationally. Instead of winding down the aggression in Afghanistan, this new administration has increased the number of troops by three fold to over 100,000.  Through American led operations using the CIA, Xe (formerly Blackwater) and other agencies, war has been extended to Pakistan and Yemen.  American actions have created turmoil inside Pakistan causing the displacement of more than 2 million civilians in Swat, Waziristan and other areas.  American troops invade Pakistan to seek out targets and kill civilians with impunity. American drones regular attack areas inside Pakistan and now Yemen, indiscriminately killing women and children and destroying property.  In a crude twist of irony, Mr. Obama has justified his actions in his speech in Cairo:

“But let us be clear: al Qaeda killed nearly 3,000 people on that day. The victims were innocent men, women and children from America and many other nations who had done nothing to harm anybody. And yet Al Qaeda chose to ruthlessly murder these people…”

These actions are no different than those taken by the Bush administration.

American support for the state of Israel and its aggression against Muslims has not wavered. Just as before, this American President and his administration is very quick to condemn any defensive actions taken by the people of Palestine, while they swiftly excuse or discount Israeli aggression in the region.  In his Cairo speech, Obama affirmed America’s continued support for Israel:

“America's strong bonds with Israel are well known. This bond is unbreakable. It is based upon cultural and historical ties…”

It is clear that American actions towards the Muslims have only intensified since the arrival of Mr. Obama. This administration has been able to accomplish more assaults on Muslims in its first year than any other administration in the past.

While the American people attentively listened to their leader from the comfort and security of their homes, a far greater number of Muslims around the world are suffering from war, disease, hunger, poverty and artificial divisions under oppressive, western backed regimes.  They yearn for the Muslim leader who will shield them and protect them.  They yearn to live under the peace and tranquility of Islamic rule.  They yearn for the return of the Khilafah to provide them with safety and security and to elevate this Ummah to its rightful position of leadership in the world.

وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنكُمْ وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُم فِي الْأَرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ وَلَيُمَكِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ دِينَهُمُ الَّذِي ارْتَضَى لَهُمْ وَلَيُبَدِّلَنَّهُم مِّن بَعْدِ خَوْفِهِمْ أَمْنًا يَعْبُدُونَنِي لَا يُشْرِكُونَ بِي شَيْئًا وَمَن كَفَرَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَأُوْلَئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ

Allâh has promised those among you who believe, and do righteous good deeds, that He will certainly grant them succession to (the present rulers) in the earth, as He granted it to those before them, and that He will grant them the authority to practice their religion, that which He has chosen for them (i.e. Islâm). And He will surely give them in exchange a safe security after their fear (provided) they (believers) worship Me and do not associate anything (in worship) with Me. But whoever disbelieved after this, they are the Fâsiqûn (rebellious, disobedient to Allâh). (TMQ 24:55)