President Obama chose an Arabic satellite TV network for his first formal television interview as president, saying he wanted to persuade Muslims that "the Americans are not your enemy.
His remarks, broadcast Tuesday, signaled a shift -- in style and manner at least -- from the Bush administration, offering a dialogue with Iran and what he depicted as a new readiness to listen rather than dictate.
In a transcript published on Al-Arabiya's English language website, Obama said he believed "the most important thing is for the United States to get engaged right away" and that he had told his envoy to "start by listening, because all too often the United States starts by dictating."
Looking to the future of U.S. ties
He spoke at length about the United States' future relationship with the Muslim world, saying his "job is to communicate to the American people that the Muslim world is filled with extraordinary people who simply want to live their lives and see their children live better lives."
In contrast to the enthusiastic reception Obama's victory has garnered around the world, the Arab world has been much more cautious about the new U.S. president -- with most people skeptical that U.S. policy in the region will change.
Obama talked about growing up in Indonesia, the Muslim world's most populous nation, and noted that he has Muslim relatives. Obama's Kenyan father was born Muslim, though a self-described atheist, and many of his relatives in Kenya are practicing Muslims. As a child, Obama lived for a number of years in Indonesia while his mother as doing research there.
Obama spoke, too, about Iran. He criticized the country's threats against Israel and pursuit of nuclear weapons. But he said "it is important for us to be willing to talk to Iran, to express very clearly where our differences are, but where there are potential avenues for progress."
