Confronting Who We Are

Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad ("Peace in the Middle east," Summer 2008) presented productive answers to the questions posed to him regarding strategies to contain extremism. He spoke of the importance of understanding the struggle today between conservatives and liberals within the Muslim world. Something central, however, was missing from his remarks. In order for the US to be a credible player on the international stage once again, they must regain the moral high ground. Today, the best thing that Americans can do to help strengthen centrist pluralism in the Muslim world, and return to being the "shining light upon the hill" in the eyes of the world is to do a better job at living up to their ideals.