Lynn C. Woolsey: “the Bush administration has done a woefully inadequate job of reaching out to the Muslim world. To quote an oft- used…”

“the Bush administration has done a woefully inadequate job of reaching out to the Muslim world. To quote an oft- used phrase, ``They never seem to miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.'' I believe that fundamentally they fail to understand that most Muslims do not want to blow up Western sites and buildings; they want to live in a free society, one which allows them to worship the God of their choosing and raise their children in safety, much like every American. Unfortunately, the Bush administration because of this lack of understanding has twisted the September 11 attacks in order to achieve a veritable clash of societies. The President uses phrases like ``us versus them'' and ``you are either with us or against us.'' Quotes like these cause many nonviolent Muslims to oppose the United States as they see a U.S. engaged in a war not against terrorism but against Muslims. They see the United States as a colonial occupier, not as a liberating government. This has encouraged radical Muslim groups to step up their recruiting and their tactics. The net result is 3\1/2\ years after September 11, Americans are much less safe, not safer than they were.…”