position on democracy, saying that the United States “doesn’t presume to know what’s best for everyone, just as we would not presume to pick the outcome of a peaceful election,” the latter referring to a criticism against the United States for cherry-picking allies in democratic elections when fears exist over Islamist groups like the Muslim Brotherhood, Hezbollah and others coming to power through legitimate, democratic means. Still, he indirectly warned such groups like the Muslim Brotherhood and even figures like Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki (who has more recently revealed an authoritarian streak) when he pointed out that some might advocate for democracy while in the opposition, but then “once in power, they are ruthless in suppressing the rights of others.”

Obama closed with a discussion on the People of the Book, weaving together the common threads between Islam, Judaism and Christianity to address the most contentious issues of this explosive region. He stressed inter-faith commonalities with quotes from the Koran, the Talmud and the Bible on a vision of peace for the region.

Though he delivered a hopeful message for his global audience, Obama still faces a number of intractable challenges in the Middle East. Rhetoric only goes so far in addressing the core issues of the region — from Iran’s nuclear program, driven in part by fears over U.S. influence in Iraq, to the inherent disunity among the Arab regimes to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that continues to lie in geopolitical morass. At the least, Obama’s address to the Muslim world will enhance his popularity both at home and abroad for taking a more open approach in discussing these issues. At the most, his speech will bring to light more moderate elements in the Islamist spectrum to counter a minority of extremists.

Overall, it appears that the speech played well across the region, though deep skepticism naturally persists over which elements of the speech realistically can be translated into policy. The Iranians and their allies in the region have thus far been the most vociferous in criticizing the speech; Hamas issued a joint statement with other Palestinian groups that claimed the speech was “an attempt to mislead people and create more illusions to improve America’s aggressive image in the Arab and Islamic world.” Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei even made a point to issue a statement before Obama’s speech, declaring that “The nations of this part of the world … deeply hate America. Even if they give sweet and beautiful [speeches] to the Muslim nation that will not create change. Action is needed.”

Still, Obama himself acknowledged the shortcomings to his address, saying that “change cannot happen overnight” and no “single speech can eradicate years of mistrust.” Mistrust may be part of the problem, but the geopolitical reality that defines the intractability of most Middle East issues remains the root of this challenge.