It is not about the feel-good factor

Keeping friends in the Muslim world

Covering developments in Pakistan in recent weeks, I've been struck by how many Pakistanis blame the United States for the disturbing turn their country is taking. Standing inside the gutted Islamabad Marriott late last month, some eyewitnesses saved their most bitter remarks not for the suicide bomber, but for Washington. A few believed the outrageous conspiracy theory that the CIA was behind the bombing—to justify further U.S. raids inside Pakistan, they claimed. But more saw the attack as Taliban payback for those American raids. So, by their logic, Pakistanis were again paying the price for U.S. actions unconnected to their interests. They were angry.As the military conflict in the tribal areas grows more intense, many Pakistanis see their country descending into a war that they believe is of America's making.

The situation in Pakistan demonstrates the mountain the next U.S. president has to climb in the Muslim world. America is faced with the task not only of fighting terrorists, but also of winning back a far larger segment of the population who see the United States as a greater threat than the extremists. Today, a remarkable variety of Muslims believe in a grand Western conspiracy against Islam, led by America and bent on punishing Muslims for Sept. 11, 2001. For them, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are the most pointed examples. Guantanamo, Abu Ghraib and America's continuing relationships with Middle Eastern dictatorships are also cited as evidence. Increase in Islamic fundamentalism is an enormous problem, but for many Muslims, it is American policies, not religious beliefs, that drive their anger.

And so, I hear that anger even from people we'd expect to be our allies.

But, why should U.S. care?

This is not about a feel-good factor. It's about advancing U.S. interests. Many of our most important goals in the region—from keeping young Muslims from joining extremist groups, to promoting political reform, to fighting the Taliban in Pakistan—are impossible without local support. While there are some in the Muslim world who will never be our friends and for whom military force is necessary—like the captured Al Qaeda fighters I have met—the majority of Muslims are not fundamentalists but remain convinced of America's bad intentions. They could be our friends, but today see us as a disappointment and a threat.