Ian Meimaris

5/21/17

Media 2nd

 Trump in Saudi Arabia

President Trump’s speech in Saudi Arabia focused on fighting the extremist ideology that inspires terror groups. The overarching theme of Sunday’s address was that the Middle East can have a bright future – if they choose together “to conquer extremism and vanquish the forces of terrorism.” Trump’s respectful, diplomatic tone was a contrast to his bombastic campaign speeches. He spoke of the history of learning and achievement in ancient Egypt and Iraq and pointed out that even in modern times people of Christian, Jewish, and Muslim faiths have lived together side-by-side in the Middle East, but that the extremist “foot soldiers of evil” have brought chaos, death, and destruction to the area.

Though many countries have been touched to some degree by bloodshed and terror, Trump pointed out that the Middle Eastern countries are paying the biggest price – not only in human lives, but economically. “The true toll of ISIS, Al Qaeda, Hezbollah, Hamas, and so many others, must be counted not only in the number of dead. It must also be counted in generations of vanished dreams.” Trump asserted that this wasn’t a battle between religions or ideologies, but “a battle between barbaric criminals who seek to obliterate human life, and decent people of all religions who seek to protect it.”

The president has been criticized as wanting endless war in the Middle East, but said in today’s speech that America wants peace, not war, and to work with the leaders of more than 50 nations assembled together to wipe out groups like ISIS, Hezbollah, Al Qaeda, and Hamas. He touched on the theme of oppression of women and religious intolerance, but not to the degree some hoped – and he did not mention other human rights abuses, such as the execution of gays.

Overall this was a good speech made by the president. It will help Muslim nations trust the U.S. enough to cooperate against terrorism.