CAIRO - Translated in more than a dozen languages and broadcast around the world, President Barack Obama (web | news | bio) addressed the Muslim world Thursday in what could be the most watched presidential speech ever.

"We meet at a time of tension between the United States and Muslims around the world," he said.

In words so delicately dissected and digested, President Obama laid before the Muslim world an olive branch of peace, an attempt at bridging a very dangerous gap.

"I have come here to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world," he said, "one based upon mutual interest and mutual respect."

Obama won applause when vowing to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility and end the war in Iraq (web | news) , both well received by those who woke up early to watch.

"Now it's up to all of us to get behind the president to make sure that it goes from rhetoric and a speech to concrete actions," said Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

At Kamarah, an organization of Muslim women lawyers, there was elation over Obama's push for more rights for women.

"Finally, you know, we hear something coming out of the united states that we do not have to explain or apologize for," said Azizah al-Hibri, the organization's president and founder.

Students and professionals in Foggy Bottom, an area encompassing the diversity of faiths blamed for the Middle East strife, cheered the speech.

Rebecca Cooper reports on how the speech was received by people of different faiths in Foggy Bottom.

"Any effort towards diplomacy is good. Keeping the lines of communication is important," said Kecia Stauffer, a George Washington University student. "I really appreciated his talk about working towards peace and kind of forgetting your own problems and coming towards a discussion which is kind of what he talked about during the campaign."

Steve Dogorad is Jewish, but says his perspective is as an American He felt Obama struck a balanced tone.

"I thought it was a good speech to try to engender better relations with the Muslim world," Dorogood, a D.C. resident, said. "It was a little short on details but I expected that and I thought he came across well."

Jehan Morsi gave the speech high marks. As a Muslim who grew up in a multi-faith environment in Pennsylvania, but with with parents from Egypt, she says she understands well the issues surrounding Israel in the Arab and Muslim worlds.

"This is a big conflict going on in the Middle East, especially in Palestine," said Morsi, a GW student. "And Israel might be the key to all the conflicts in the Middle East. So it's going to take time, but it needs a couple of steps and hopefully Obama will start them -- at the least." 

Sherif Matar, originally from Cairo, says he considers the president's speech a sign of a new era of relations between the Muslim world and his adopted home.

"Egypt is the heart of Arab countries and Muslim countries," he said. "It is very good for him to go there and make [a] speech to them over there."

Herndon resident Mohamed Ali wants more than talk, especially concerning the festering conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. "Right now the United States [has a closer] friendship with Israel which is fine -- it is a choice of the government. But when we make peace between the two we have to be neutral," he said.

Across town at the Jewish Community Center, the president's speech also drew applause. "I thought it was a landmark speech," said Tena Nauheim, a Vienna resident. "I have not been so inspired in many, many years."

"I don't think it is anti- or pro-Israel," added Ed Kay, an Annandale resident. "It is a whole new day."

While America is not at war with Islam, Obama stressed, it will also not allow attacks to go unanswered. All sides were criticized: Americans, Arabs, Israelis and Palestinians. And all were admonished to follow the golden rule, so to speak. 

"Islam is a part of America. And I believe that America holds within her the truth that regardless of race, religion, or station in life, all of us share common aspirations,"

But there are still serious doubts about the president's message and his intent. Some called the speech style over substance. Hardliners say he had no concrete proposals to change policy, and should have apologized for U.S. wars in Muslim countries.

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