Obama urges UN to redress causes of Muslim rage

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Obama urges UN to redress causes of Muslim rage

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Obama on Tuesday will challenge the world to confront the causes of rage across the Muslim world.

25 September,2012 08:09 pm

US President Barack Obama on Tuesday will challenge the world to confront the causes of rage across the Muslim world, calling it a defining choice between the forces that would drive us apart and the hopes we hold in common.It is expected to be his final international address before the November election.Obama will step before the annual gathering of world leaders at the U.N. General Assembly and declare that the United States will not shrink from its role in troubled, transitioning nations despite the killing of four Americans in Libya, including US ambassador Chris Stevens, and more than 50 people in all in violence linked at least in part to an amateur anti-Islam film made in the U.S.Obama also will seek to show US resolve in preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, a issue that has undermined White House relations with Israels leadership.Obama will use the speech to try to boost his political standing without ever mentioning Republican opponent Mitt Romney. Hell quickly get back to campaigning after his appearance at the U.N. and is not expected to have the usual private meetings with key allies.Romney on Monday assailed Obamas foreign affairs leadership. Now comes Obamas chance to assert his world vision on his terms.The dominant theme of Obamas UN speech will be his response to the protests in places across the Middle East and North Africa. As he has for days, Obama will condemn the violence, defend democratic principles of free speech and promise no US withdrawal of outreach.For US presidents, the yearly United Nations address is always laced with domestic politics, even though the speeches are scripted without campaign references. Wars and the failed attempts at Mideast peace have dominated in recent years.