Muslim-American Ambassadors Set Out to Improve Image of US Abroad

June 16, 2006

Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/06/b47f318d-dcef-4b59-ac09-9a9d33a70805.html

On June 16, 2006 Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported, "A recent survey again found that the world's opinion of the United States is slipping, and nowhere more so than in predominantly Muslim countries like Indonesia and Turkey. Next week the U.S. government launches a new people-to-people initiative designed to counter this disturbing trend... After waging two wars in majority Muslim countries, and launching a war on terror that catches mostly Muslims in its net, it's not surprising that some Muslims argue that their community is under attack from the United States. Nothing could be less true, according to Yahya Basha, a Syrian-American Muslim who immigrated to the United States in 1972 and since then has lived out his own version of the American dream. Basha is one of four civilian ambassadors the U.S. State Department has recruited to carry the message to foreign Muslims that the United States welcomes all religions and rewards immigrants who embrace its democratic values with opportunities and freedom beyond their dreams. The Bush administration has decided that changing the messenger might improve the credibility of its message."