Diplomacy Efforts Lack Funds, Follow-ThroughBy Robin Wright, Washington Post, August 20, 2004
"The
Bush administration is facing growing criticism from both inside and
outside its ranks that it has failed to move aggressively enough in the
war of ideas against Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda and other Islamic
extremist groups over the three years since the attacks of Sept. 11,
2001. "
...
"But Middle East experts -- and some frustrated U.S.
officials -- complain that the administration has provided only limited
new direction in dealing with anti-American anger among the world's 1.2
billion Muslims and is spending far too little on such efforts,
particularly in contrast with the billions spent on other pressing
needs, such as homeland security and intelligence."
"'It's worse
than failing. Failing means you tried and didn't get better. But at this
point, three years after September 11, you can say there wasn't even
much of an attempt, and today Arab and Muslim attitudes toward the U.S.
and the degree of distrust in the U.S. are far worse than they were
three years ago. Bin Laden is winning by default,' said Shibley Telhami,
a member of a White House-appointed advisory group on public diplomacy
and Brookings Institution scholar."
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