Obama Says He Plans to Speak in Islamic Capital

President-elect Obama said that he plans to give a speech in an Islamic capital to help America’s image around the world.

“This is something that I talked about doing in the campaign and it’s something that I intend to follow through on,” Obama told the Los Angeles Times.

He said he has yet to determine when he would give the speech.

“But I think we’ve got a unique opportunity to reboot America’s image around the world and also in the Muslim world in particular,” he added. “So, we need to take advantage of that and the message I want to send is that we will be unyielding in stamping out the kind of terrorist extremism that we saw in Mumbai.

“We will be at the same time unrelenting in our desire to create a relationship of mutual respect and partnership with countries and peoples of goodwill who want their citizens and ours to prosper together. And I think that the world is ready for that message.”

When asked about what name he would use when he is sworn in as president, he said he would use Barack Hussein Obama.

“I think the tradition is that they use all three names, and I will follow the tradition, not trying to make a statement one way or the other,” he said. “I’ll do what everybody else does.”

Obama’s general election opponent, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), rebuked a supporter who invoked Obama’s middle name. McCain suggested that the use of Obama’s middle name during a campaign rally was disrespectful.