Red states or blue states, superdelegates or pledged delegates, surrogates or campaign staff, these are the divides that are currently consuming the discussion in America. However, the events of the past two weeks should remind us of another divide with real implications for America's future security that we should be focused on: the divide between the United States and the Muslim world.
Al Qaeda reminded us in the past several days that despite our best efforts, they are continuing to communicate with the Muslim world. Just this week, Al Qaeda's #2, Ayman al-Zawahiri, released a tape calling for attacks on Jewish and American targets because of events in the Gaza Strip. And Bin Laden himself released two tapes last week exploiting event in Gaza, as well, and threatening attacks on the EU.
Nearly seven years after 9/11, Al Qaeda is continuing its conversation with the Muslim world. Are we engaging in a similar conversation? Unfortunately, and to the detriment of our national security, it appears that we are not. A far-reaching poll recently done by the Gallup organization shows that America is still failing to communicate with the Muslim world and failing to understand their true concerns. Unfavorable views of the United States are growing in strategically important countries like Jordan and Turkey [PDF].
The Muslim world has as much stake as the United States in defeating violent extremism, and we must bridge this communication gap. The 9/11 Commission talked about engaging the struggle of ideas [PDF] as a key part of the war on terror. We talked about the need to find common ground with the Muslim world, to talk about an agenda of opportunity, and to develop a common strategy for defeating terrorism.
Our communication gap with the Muslim world is one we cannot afford to let Al Qaeda fill as they have tried to do over that past few weeks. It is a divide we must address -- in the 2008 presidential election, which has piqued worldwide interest like never before, and beyond.
