Why is it so difficult to win the hearts and minds of Middle Eastern Muslims? Most do not believe a word they hear from Washington. Arab governments regularly distance themselves from America for their own survival. To make the case against terrorism, many of these governments need to overcome much of the anti-Americanism they themselves have carefully fostered, partly to deflect attention from their own unpopularity and ineptness. In their view, in abandoning the peace process, America joined in a war against the Palestinians led by Ariel Sharon, whom most Arabs regard as a worse criminal than bin Laden.

Why is the general population so anti-American? Why do they often hate the United States so intensely?

First, one of the main factors rests with the educational systems that permeate the Middle East. The near collapse of public education in Pakistan and Afghanistan, for example, are critical legacies of more than two decades of Cold War battles and armed strife in the region. So, when the Soviets left in the late 1980s, the US and other Western governments invested relatively little in promoting civil institutions, especially education. Militant Muslims eagerly stepped into that vacuum and educated the current Taliban regulars and radicalized a whole generation of young Muslims. Many of these young students are expected to memorize the entire Koran, a task that takes on average three years.

There is no instruction in math, science, geography, current events, or history beyond the Muslim world. They cannot do elementary arithmetic and they do not know that man has walked on the moon. According to the theology taught at most of these schools, dying for Islam showers a host of blessings on martyrs including a welcome to heaven by a host of virgins. There are thousands of these mosque-based schools, called madrasahs, all over Pakistan and Afghanistan. They not only learn the Koran and memorize it; they also are trained in weapons and judo. These are the jihad warriors of the future.

Second, the rise of oil power in the 1970s has had a devastating effect in the Middle East. All that the rise of oil prices has done over three decades is produce a new class of rich, superficially Western gulf states, who travel the globe in luxury and are despised by the rest of the Arab world. They are portrayed as corrupt and weak. For the typical Middle Easterner, we did not save Kuwait in the gulf war; we saved the rich, royal Saudi royal families. The oil wealth has also produced repressive regimes and frustrated, bitter and discontented young men many of whom are now following bin Laden. By 2000, where the communist regimes of Russia and Central Europe had fallen, the corrupt regimes of the Persian gulf are perceived as out of touch, corrupt, deeply unpopular and thoroughly illegitimate.

Third, globalization and modernization has inevitably and uncontrollably meant Westernization and, of course, Americanization. This fear has paralyzed Arab civilization. As Fareed Zakaria has argued, for the "Arab world, modernity has been one failure after another. Each path followed socialism, secularism, nationalism has turned into a dead end." It is now clear that modernization takes more than power and oil money. Importing the attitude of modernism a free market, political parties, accountability and the rule of law is difficult and dangerous. Zakaria goes on: "America stands at the center of this world of globalization. It seems unstoppable. If you close the borders, America comes in through the mail. If you censor the mail, it appears in the fast food and faded jeans. If you ban the products, it seeps in through satellite television.." All of this breeds a culture of protest and radical, extremist Islam gives this discontent its focus.

Fourth, because the Arab world is a closed society, there is no free press, no political parties and few pathways to dissent. Therefore, the mosque has turned into the place to discuss politics. Further, these mosques become the provider of social services, medical assistance, counseling and temporary housing. The mosque provides what the government does not and adds a world view around which all of the frustration, disconnect and rebellion begins to coalesce. With the rise of technology the computer, telecommunications, etc. it became possible for the common, ordinary Muslim to hear about a new vision for their societies, one where true Islam would be the vital center.

Ayatollah Khomeini, Saddam Hussein, Osama bin Laden began using the language of Islam as a political tool. American secularism and consumerism now had an alternative. That is why tragically these rich, autocratic regimes like Saudi Arabia are playing a dangerous game. Deflecting attention from their inept government, they fund religious schools and centers that spread a rigid, puritanical brand of Islam. The result is half- educated, fanatical Muslims who hate the modern world and view non-Muslims with contempt. America in this worldview is always evil. This view is slowly, subtly triumphing in major parts of the Middle East. It is the triumph of a medieval vision of Islam with its cruel attitudes and actions towards women, education, the economy and modern life.

These four factors help to explain the rage in the Middle East and the seemingly ludicrous support for bin Laden and the terrorists at several levels of this part of the world. America must understand this or America will lose the battle for the hearts and minds of the generation now maturing in the madrasahs of the Middle East.

See Fareed Zakaria, "Why Do They Hate Us?" Newsweek (15 October 2001), pp. 22-40;
The Economist (6 October 2001), p. 16; Wall Street Journal (2 October 2001);
US News and World Report (15 October 2001), pp. 28-29.

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RADICAL ISLAM AND WOMEN

One of the most liberating dimensions of genuine, biblical Christianity is the impact it has had on women. Jesus literally liberated women in the ancient world. He allowed them to sit at his feet as his disciples (Luke 10 with Mary), healed them, taught them and many supported Him financially (e.g., Joanna) in return. (See my article in Confident Living, "Significant Women of the New Testament," [February 1991], pp. 18-19, for a detailed account of how liberating Jesus really was for women.) In addition, as the Apostle Paul argued in Galatians 3:28, at the cross, men and women are equal. Christianity was radical in its social implications as regards women.

What about Islam?

The more moderate regimes, historically, like Pakistan and Turkey, have elected women to positions of government, including Prime Minister. Women are allowed to be educated, serve in business and travel in public.

However, in the radical regimes of Islam such is not the case. In Afghanistan, the Taliban have forbidden women from being educated; women cannot walk outside without a male escort and a burka, a head-to-toe covering broken only by finely woven netting at the eyes. Hence, women can teach and learn only in underground schools. Before the rise of the Taliban, women comprised 60% of its university faculty, 50% of the government workers and 70% of the teachers. But now they have been forced out of such positions by the autocratic medievalism of the Taliban. More women die in childbirth in Afghanistan than in almost any other nation. Kites, chess, music and dance are all banned by the Taliban. Women are not even allowed to laugh out loud under the Taliban.

The result is a culture where women are in effect property and where ugly, autocratic power is destroying the infinite worth and value of women. This is not what God desires and it is certainly not what justice, righteousness and a truly godly society should look like. Look to the Taliban for what society would be like if Osama bin Laden triumphs in the Middle East right now. His vision and the Taliban's vision is a medieval Islam where their view of society would dominate.

See Newsweek (15 October 2001), pp. 32-34.

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PRESIDENT BUSH AS A LEADER

The horrible crisis unfolding since 11 September 2001 has produced a leader! Throughout this crisis, President Bush has appeared confident, determined, certain of his purpose and in full command of the complex array of political and military challenges that the United States faces. He has reassured the nation and built up his own confidence as president. He has manifested a comforting mixture of straight talk, statesmanship and a needed touch of humor.

He has offered the following as assurances:

The United States and its allies will not abandon the people of Afghanistan after the Taliban and bin Laden are defeated. We will help them rebuild, and also assured the world we would lead in meeting the famine and human refugee crisis in that country. He has led the way in asking for patience and has not painted an unrealistic picture of where this war is going and how long it might take. There will be no easy victories. Towards the end of his recent news conference, he spoke movingly about men and women who were killed at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. He also asked the children of the US to contribute a dollar to help the children of Afghanistan. In short, he asked for sacrifice, patience and compassion, something a leader should always do.

See the New York Times editorial (12 October 2001).

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