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The Real Divide We Should Be Focused On...
By Tim Roemer, The Huffington
Post
Red states or blue
states, superdelegates or pledged delegates,
surrogates or campaign staff, these are the
divides that are currently
consuming the discussion in America. However,
the events of the past
two weeks should remind us of another divide
with real implications for
America's future security that we should be
focused on: the divide
between the United States and the Muslim
world.
Al Qaeda reminded us in the past several days
that despite our best efforts, they are
continuing to communicate with the Muslim
world. Just this week, Al Qaeda's #2, Ayman
al-Zawahiri, released a tape calling for
attacks on Jewish and American targets because
of events in the Gaza Strip. And Bin Laden
himself released two tapes last week exploiting
event in Gaza, as well, and threatening attacks
on the EU.
Nearly seven years after 9/11, Al Qaeda is
continuing its conversation with the Muslim
world. Are we engaging in a similar
conversation? Unfortunately, and to the
detriment of our national security, it appears
that we are not. A far-reaching poll recently
done by the Gallup organization shows that
America is still failing to communicate with
the Muslim world and failing to understand
their true concerns. Unfavorable views of the
United States are growing in strategically
important countries like Jordan and
Turkey
.
The Muslim world has as much stake as the
United States in defeating violent extremism,
and we must bridge this communication gap. The
9/11 Commission talked about engaging the
struggle of ideas as a key part of the war on
terror. We talked about the need to find common
ground with the Muslim world, to talk about an
agenda of opportunity, and to develop a common
strategy for defeating terrorism.
Our communication gap with the Muslim world is
one we cannot afford to let Al Qaeda fill as
they have tried to do over that past few weeks.
It is a divide we must address -- in the 2008
presidential election, which has piqued
worldwide interest like never before, and
beyond.