(Image source: The New York Times)

BY CHRISTINA HARTMAN

You're watching multisource world video news analysis from Newsy.

U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: “There must be no doubt the the U.S. welcomes change that advances self-determination and opportunity. ... We have a chance to pursue the world as it should be. ... It was the people themselves who launched these movements, and it’s the people who must ultimately determine their outcome.”


President Obama -- offering praise for the “Arab Spring” sweeping the Middle East and North Africa.

… On the same day -- as this:

VIDEO FROM NY1: “An audio message recorded shortly before bin Laden was shot and killed has been released on a Jihadist website. Bin Laden praises recent protests across the middle east in the 12- minute message, saying winds of change will come to the entire Muslim world. But while the west is hoping the protests lead to democratic reforms...”

Two contrasting views on pro-democracy rallies in the region prompted Fox News’ Chris Stirewalt to suggest...

“...the early excitement with which the Obama administration greeted the uprisings may have been too much… [T]here is no doubt that U.S. influence in the region has been dramatically lessened.”

But money talks. On Wednesday the White House announced economic sanctions against Syrian President Bashar al Asad -- who continues to brutally crack down on protesters.

It’s a carrot and stick approach. In the speech Thursday - Mr. Obama also announced aid for Egypt and Tunisia -- both countries whose autocratic leaders were ousted after weeks of pro-democracy protests. Egypt owes the U.S. $3.5 billion -- and $1 billion of that debt will be forgiven. (VIDEO FROM RT)

FireDogLake’s David Dayen writes -- money won’t solve all the region’s problems -- but it’s a start -- and ensures the U.S. will continue to have influence there.

“The strategy seems to be that if Tunisia and Egypt can stand on their own as democracies, they provide models for the region. ... In contrast, Assad and other dictators will see economic isolation and personal sanctions placed on them. … It’s hardly the Marshall Plan for Egypt and Tunisia … but it’s a nudge in the right direction.”

This isn’t President Obama’s first major address on the Middle East. The last one -- in 2009 -- was delivered in Cairo. A columnist from Egypt’s Al Masry Al Youm says -- THAT speech is why he’s skeptical about THIS one.

“In 2009 … the charismatic young African-American president immediately struck a more likable image than his predecessor. But within a year the vagaries of the American political system and strategic reality had caught up with Mr Obama’s message of hope and change. He proved unable or unwilling to deliver...”

Stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace talks -- brokered by the U.S. -- were magnified last week when President Obama’s special envoy to the Middle East announced his resignation. In the speech - President Obama maintained commitment to Mid East peace -- calling for an Israeli-Palestinian deal based on pre-1967 borders.

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