The story

President Obama departed for the Middle East on Tuesday in an effort to repair a damaged U.S. image -- and seemingly reset relations with the Muslim world.

It's a process that has been in the works since his first week in office.

"My job is to communicate the fact that the United States has a stake in the well-being of the Muslim world, that the language we use has to be a language of respect," Obama said in a January interview with Al-Arabiya television network. "I have Muslim members of my family. I have lived in Muslim countries." Read full article »

CNN's Zain Verjee contributed to this report.

All About Barack Obama • Egypt • Islam • Israel