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Thursday, Sep 20, 2012 7:00 PM UTC

Obama has a mixed record on outreach to Muslims

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Obama has a mixed record on outreach to MuslimsPakistani protesters burn a representation of a U.S. flag and an effigy of President Barack Obama during a rally in Peshawar, Pakistan as a part of widespread anger across the Muslim world about a film ridiculing Islam's Prophet Muhammad, on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012. Hundreds of Pakistanis angry at an anti-Islam film that denigrates the religion's prophet clashed with police in the Pakistani capital Thursday, the most violent show of anger in a day that saw smaller demonstrations in Indonesia, Iran and Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Mohammad Sajjad)(Credit: AP)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Images of angry mobs in Arab cities burning American flags and attacking U.S. diplomatic posts suggest the Muslim world is no less enraged at the United States than when President George W. Bush had to duck shoes hurled at him in Baghdad.

But more than three years after President Barack Obama declared he would seek “a new beginning” in U.S.-Muslim relations, a closer look reveals strides as well as setbacks.

The Arab Spring revolution has given people new power and hope as well as democratic elections.

But peace between Israel and the Palestinians is nowhere in sight, and Iran still is considered a menace.

Such is the progress report that Obama carries to the United Nations General Assembly next week — and into the Nov. 6 election.

More Ben Feller.

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