Barack Obama’s speech in Turkey: Obama backs Palestinian state, conciliatory to Muslims.

ANKARA (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama told Turkey’s largely Muslim but secular democracy on Monday the United States was not at war with Islam and that it wanted to reinvigorate efforts toward creating a Palestinian state.

Obama reiterated the U.S. position after the new Israeli foreign minister said last week Israel was not bound by a U.S.-backed deal to start talks on establishing a Palestinian state.

“Let me be clear: the United States strongly supports the goal of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security,” he said in a speech to Turkey’s parliament. …

“Let me say this as clearly as I can: the United States is not at war with Islam. In fact, our partnership with the Muslim world is critical in rolling back a fringe ideology that people of all faiths reject,” Obama said.

“But I also want to be clear that America’s relationship with the Muslim world cannot and will not be based on opposition to al Qaeda. Far from it. We seek broad engagement based upon mutual interests and mutual respect. We will listen carefully, bridge misunderstanding, and seek common ground.”

And before we fly off the handle, I’ll risk getting some more hate mail by pointing out that this is virtually identical to countless speeches made by George W. Bush, who said almost exactly the same words on many occasions. “Religion of peace,” anyone?