While this is a noble target, it remains a daunting task and an evasive goal. The reason is that despite all the good rhetoric, US-Muslim world relations remain low on the agenda of both the US and Muslim countries. Without a substantial change in US foreign policy and the peaceful transformation of Arab regimes, talk of more respect and more understanding remains just that: talk.The 7th annual US-Islamic World Forum, organized by the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar on Feb. 13, featured Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan; US President Barack Obama, who joined the opening session with a videotaped message; Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber al-Thani; the Algerian prime minister; US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry; and US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke. Many prominent American and Muslim scholars and community leaders were also present.
All speakers underlined the urgency of improving US-Muslim world relations, and they did it with style and eloquence, for which I applaud them all. But if mutual understanding and cooperation is so vital for the future of Islam-West relations and if we have all these leaders committed to that goal, why don’t we see progress on the ground? Why are we still talking about the “need” to improve relations, overcome misunderstanding, increase cooperation? If we have the hearts and minds of these leaders truly committed to this historic mission, why are the realities on the ground still so depressing?
President Obama turned a new page in US-Muslim world relations since he took office in 2009. In his two speeches in Turkey and Cairo as well as on other occasions, he called for a “fresh start” and outlined a new vision to improve relations. In his videotaped message on Feb. 13, he admitted that “the United States and Muslims around the world have often slipped into a cycle of misunderstanding and mistrust that can lead to conflict rather than cooperation.” To break this cycle, the new US administration launched a series of programs. But, given the enormous size of the problem and the insignificant amount of resources devoted to it, this is not enough.
However, what is more important is to address the core issues that deeply divide the US and the Muslim world. In his address, Prime Minister Erdoğan did just that and spoke about two key issues: Islamophobia and the Middle East peace process. He condemned Islamophobia as a form of racism and a crime against humanity just like anti-Semitism. He called on world leaders, communities, religious leaders, artists, media people and educators to confront Islamophobia. Second, he underlined the urgency of the Middle East peace process and the need to find a just and lasting solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. He referred to the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the occupied territories and in Gaza. He also reiterated his willingness to restart the Syrian-Israeli talks if and when the Netanyahu government decides to take the offer.
It is always good to hear political leaders say the right things because there are times when they cannot even get it right. But we need more than nicely crafted, inspirational speeches to address one of the most urgent issues of our age. The way forward is clear: The Obama administration must continue to change the main parameters of US foreign policy and US involvement in Muslim countries. The US cannot talk about peace while keeping thousands of combat troops in scores of Muslim countries.
At the same time, Muslim countries must transform themselves into governments and societies governed by the rule of law, justice and accountability. They must stop the blame game and overcome the sense of victimhood. They must face up to their realities and stop blaming the US or Israel for the state in which they find themselves.
“Mutual understanding” means “mutual change.”
