The United States’ policy of ignoring popular sentiment and depending on friendly iron men in the Muslim world might have worked until now. But with Al Qaeda and its ilk talking of a conflict that will last for generations, the United States needs to do more to win Muslim hearts and minds than it has done so far.
Protesters who marched around the world last week were wrong to assume that American inaction against Iraq will make their children safer or the Iraqi people better off. The protesters were right, however, to question whether war against Iraq will produce more security at home and real freedom for the Iraqi people.