This is historical material “frozen in time”. The website is no longer updated and links to external websites and some internal pages may not work.

Moment of Opportunity: President Obama on the Middle East & North Africa

May 19, 2011 at 7:29 PM ET by Jesse Lee

Summary:

President Obama lays out his vision for a new chapter in American diplomacy in support of the calls for reform and democracy that are spreading across the Middle East and North Africa.

In a major speech at the State Department, President Obama laid out his vision for a new chapter in American diplomacy as calls for reform and democracy spread across the Middle East and North Africa. He made clear that the United States will support people who call for democracy and reform and leaders who implement them, will oppose violence in cracking down on protests and efforts to limit the rights of minorities, and continue to work for peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

Watch the President's full remarks here.

Also watch the online discussion that took place afterwards with questions from all over the world via Twitter, or learn more from two White House fact sheets:

Members of the National Security Team Listen to President Barack Obama's Speech on the Middle East and North Africa at the State Department

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen, National Security Advisor Tom Donilon, Sen. John Kerry, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Susan E. Rice, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, and George Mitchell, U.S. Special Envoy for Middle East Peace, listen as President Barack Obama delivers a speech on the Middle East and North Africa at the State Department in Washington, D.C., May 19, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)