While America can do much to help the people of Syria, this is not America's battle. The Geneva II plan would effectively see foreign powers impose a transitional body to reshape the Syrian government. This is an illusory peace. Long term, only the leaders and the people of the Middle East can settle these battles for influence, fought under cover of ancient religious differences, be they in Iraq, in Afghanistan, in Lebanon, or elsewhere.
The truth is that this is yet another war between Sunni and Shia, as two central powers battle for influence in the Middle East. Iran's Shia government supports President Assad while the Sunni government of Saudi Arabia supports Sunni opposition forces.
We are witnessing in Syria a proxy war for a deeper, wider battle between Sunni and Shia for the heart and soul of Islam and geo-political power in the Middle East. The fault lines are being felt from Iraq to Pakistan to Lebanon to the Gulf States of Yemen and Kuwait.
After the predictable failure this past week of the naively named peace talks in Switzerland, tonight I call on the leaders of the Arab world, their kings and queens, their presidents and prime ministers, members of the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation to take responsibility for Arab problems. This is the first step towards genuine, long-term peace in your region.
The world cannot wait for Sunnis and Shia to continue to slaughter each other in the name of Mohammed and a centuries old conflict about his rightful heir. As Middle East experts have reminded us, this is the world's longest running feud; measured by time, it beats the Catholic-Protestant schism by a factor of three and the Palestinian conflict by a factor of more than 20. Too much blood has been spilt and too much damage has been done to the reputation of Islam over a religious dispute dating back to 632AD that fuelled regional power rivalries ever since.
I say again to the leaders of the Arab world, your time has now come - solving the latest conflict in Syria is your responsibility.
Ultimately the leaders of the Middle East will find their own way to best govern their countries.
Our own experience is that democracy works better than another system yet invented by mankind. Through our democracies, imperfect as they are, we live peacefully with our differences in a tolerant society, resolving debates with words and votes cast at the ballot box, not through the barrel of a gun.
Finally, as part of the resolution of this conflict in the Middle East, I call on Hezbollah and Hamas, and all Arab governments which haven't yet done so, immediately to recognise Israel as the legitimate homeland of the Jewish people. Until that happens there will be no enduring settlement of outstanding issues in the Middle East, whether they are conflicts over land or religion.
While not without fault, Israel has proven its long-term commitment to democracy and liberty and to improving the lives of all Israelis, whether Jewish or not.
In conclusion, I repeat, this is a speech that should have been given by an Arab leader and heeded by fellow Arab leaders. Until it is, peace in the Middle East is ephemeral.
Goodnight and God Bless America.
