U.S. panel gets earful in Jakarta (NYT)

[Nambe]

Jane Perlez NYT

A group of Indonesian Muslims, handpicked by the U.S. Embassy here for their moderate views, told an expert panel from Washington in unvarnished terms last week why America is unloved in the Islamic world.

The basic problem is policy, not public relations, said Yenni Zannuba Wahid, 28, who is the daughter of the nation's former president, Abdurrahman Wahid, and who has just returned from a year of graduate study at Harvard.

"There is no point in saying this is a problem of communication, blah blah blah," said Wahid after a videoconference with the advisory group on public diplomacy in the Arab and Muslim world. The panel is to report to the White House and Congress on Wednesday. "The perception in the Muslim world is that the problem is the policy toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Iraq." ---

Another panelist criticized the United States' preoccupation with Islamic fundamentalists. "Every country has fundamentalists," said Zaki Mansoer, the director of a Muslim magazine, Panjimas. "I think Billy Graham Jr. is a fundamentalist," he said, referring to the Reverend Franklin Graham, who has called Islam "a very evil and wicked religion." ---

Ride Don’t Drive It’s Global Cool

[peacetalksforall]

1. I cannot see why Congressmen who asked for this study would even

have to authorize the money (and it must be a suitcase or two full of money).

The first and last key to the problem is Palestine-Israel and the right wing arrogant leaders they 'elect' in Israel and the rule by hysteria in Palestine.

In between there are a few others such as the act of imperialism and corporatism and religious leaders and governments who let religious crazies rule.

Listen up American leaders - the issues are that every human wants to be treated with respect for their culture and religion; the opportunity to realize the birth rights - to be able to rise to their god-given potential; to enjoy the basics and a little more; to see great grandchildren; to live free of top banana country usury rates on loans; to never need give-aways unless hit by a disaster; to be free of expolitation of labor and slavery. Just simple things - IF you truly love your fellow man - those brothers and sisters with whom we share the planet.

[sushi]

2. The I/P conflict

IS the number one problem between the US and the Muslims worldwide. Until there is a peace agreement that is fair to the Palestinians, iow, a peace agreement that they willingly accept and is not forced on them, the US can't expect much cooperation from Muslim countries.