[Skybird]

I'm split over the speech, not because he admitted obvious political mistakes of the recent years, but because he glossed over some very substantial cultural differences and made some questionable historical references whose truth could be argued. His quoting from the Quran also was extremely pinpointed, ignoring passages that say very much the opposite of his quotes, or put his quotes into relation and contexts that are expressing the opposite.

He probably accepted to do that in the hope that the intention justifies the means. If that will pay off in the long run instead of boomeranging, remains to be seen. I'm sceptical. I wished he would have made a different speech. I see reason but also plenty of appeasement in it. Meeting Islam from a position of Islam-perceived weakness, never did and never will do any good.