Barack Obama cast his presidency as a moment to rebuild America's relations with the Muslim world yesterday, confirming that he would take the oath of office using his middle name Hussein and that he planned to set the tone with a major speech in a Muslim capital early in his presidency.
"I think we've got a unique opportunity to reboot America's image around the world and also in the Muslim world in particular," Obama told his hometown newspaper, the Chicago Tribune.
Obama said that in choosing to use his middle name he would merely be following custom. "I think the tradition is they use all three names, and I will follow tradition," he told the Tribune. "I'm not trying to make a statement one way or another. I'll do what everybody else does."
Several recent American presidents, including Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter, omitted their middle name when taking the oath.
The symbolism of the moment when Obama pronounces all three of his names is undeniable. During the campaign he contended with a constant swirl of internet rumours that he was a secret Muslim who had been educated in a madrasa in Indonesia.
His denials and attempts to highlight his Christian faith rankled with some Muslims. Campaign workers barred two Muslim women wearing headscarves from sitting behind Obama at an event in Detroit last June, claiming their presence would be hurtful to the candidate.
As president though, one of Obama's missions will be to repair America's image in the world, and to assuage anger over the US invasion of Iraq and US support for Israel in its conflict with the Palestinians.
The Obama camp appears to be looking at ways to put relations back on track. Campaign aides said last week that Obama would make a trip to the Middle East to deliver that speech within his first 100 days in the White House.
There were also reports that Cairo was a likely venue for the appearance. Obama has also signalled his commitment to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but has faced scepticism about a real change in US policy towards the Middle East.
The planning committee yesterday released new details of the four days of celebration surrounding Obama's inauguration on January 20, under the theme Renewing America's Promise.
"At this moment of great challenge and great change, renewing the promise of America begins with renewing the idea that in America we rise or fall as one nation and one people," Obama said in a statement.
"That sense of unity and shared purpose is what this inauguration will reflect."
