Obama mentions Al-Andalus

The Spanish newspapers were all quite impressed or amused that President Obama mentioned Al-Andalus and the Caliphate of Córdoba in his speech in Cairo. They also all chuckled because he said Cordóba, with the emphasis on the wrong syllable. Though his reference to the Spanish Middle Ages was somewhat superficial, I am impressed that we have a president and administration that would actually go to the effort to use an Al-Andalus reference to remind the Muslim world that they too are part of "the West".

Also, it is very interesting watching American news filtered through another culture. The things which impress them are not always the most obvious, and the things they ignore are sometimes surprising.