Rapprochement with the Muslim world is part of the Obama administration's efforts to improve America's international image and carry out "smart power" diplomacy. The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq not only caused severe American casualties and economic losses, but also jeopardized the international image of the United States. Muslims' perception of the country is alarmingly negative. The results of a BBC global poll released in February showed that 12 percent of the Pakistanis surveyed viewed the United States positively, whereas 69 percent viewed it negatively. Only 7 percent of the Iranians polled gave the United States a positive rating, as opposed to 79 percent who gave it a negative rating. Muslim nations' hostility toward the United States, an inevitable result of Bush's preemptive policy, has hindered the United States from implementing its diplomatic strategies.

As a liberal Democrat, Obama differs essentially from Bush, a neo-conservative Republican, in diplomatic philosophy. Believing in unilateralism and advocating a preemptive approach, Bush confronted uncertain threats with tough measures. Although he somewhat modified his strongly neo-conservative foreign policy in the latter years of his presidency, the modification represented only a slight change to the Republicans' international line. Obama, a believer in liberal internationalism, has inherited the foreign strategies of former U.S. presidents Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy. He has also adopted the concept of "smart power" put forward by Harvard University professor Joseph Nye as the foreign strategy of his new administration.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton clarified the concept at a hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in January. "We must use what has been called 'smart power,' the full range of tools at our disposal—diplomatic, economic, military, political, legal, and cultural—picking the right tool, or combination of tools, for each situation," she said. "Smart power requires reaching out to both friends and adversaries, to bolster old alliances and to forge new ones."

Muslims account for one fifth of the world population. An overwhelming majority of the countries in the Middle East and South Asia are Muslim countries. Obama will not be able to put his new approach to diplomacy into practice unless he reduces tension with the Islamic world and improves Muslims' perception of the United States.

Regional peace

In the short term, Obama's friendly gesture toward the Muslim world serves America's interests in forging international antiterrorism cooperation and promoting peace in the Middle East. The United States faces four big troubles in the Greater Middle East—Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Bush administration's diplomatic record has shown that the United States cannot resolve these problems on its own. To do that, it has to seek help from Muslim nations.

The Obama administration has set the goal of pulling U.S. troops out of Iraq by the end of 2011. In order to withdraw its troops without causing major disturbances in Iraq, the United States needs support from Iraq's neighbors in providing transportation routes and helping stabilize the situation. Turkey is a major passage of the United States to Iraq. The Kurdish people in the south of Turkey have complex links with the Kurds in north Iraq. Iran is a major supporter of Shiite militants in Iraq. Some insurgents also enter Iraq from Syria. The United States must have the support and cooperation of these three countries to ensure its successful exit.

The Obama administration has identified Afghanistan as a priority in its global antiterrorism program. It has realized that the border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan is a hiding place and sanctuary for terrorists. "The future of Afghanistan is inextricably linked to the future of its neighbor, Pakistan," Obama said in a speech at the White House on March 27. "For the American people, this border region has become the most dangerous place in the world." The United States has to cooperate with Pakistan to advance its antiterrorism operations in Afghanistan. It also needs the support of Iran, which borders Afghanistan on the west.

Over the past few years, Iran's growing nuclear capability has been of great concern to the United States and Israel. Behind the Iranian nuclear issue is the enmity between the United States and Iran. The Obama administration has come to realize that the two countries have to address their enmity before they can resolve the Iranian nuclear issue. That is why it is pursuing engagement and dialogue with Iran, in the hope of resolving the issue through diplomatic means with moral support from other Muslim countries.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a reflection of the broader conflict between the Arab world and Israel. Obama supports the Palestinians in establishing a country of their own and has promised to work actively for a peace agreement between the Palestinians and the Israelis during his presidency. Turkey hosted a meeting between its southern neighbor Syria and Israel in 2008. It also played a key role in the signing of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza early this year. Turkey's actions indicate that the Muslim world's support and mediation are essential to the conclusion of an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement.

Long-term benefits

Improved relations with the Muslim world serve America's long-term interests in the Middle East and are conducive to the advancement of its global strategy. The United States established its presence in the Middle East after Britain and France withdrew from the region following the Suez Crisis in 1956. During the Cold War, the Middle East provided a stage for the competition for supremacy between the United States and the Soviet Union. However, the United States was able to maintain its leading position in the region. Although policies toward the Middle East vary slightly from administration to administration, America's fundamental interests in the region have not changed: ensuring a stable oil supply, safeguarding Israel, fostering moderate Muslim nations, preventing the infiltration of other major powers and preserving U.S. supremacy in the region. In the long run, it needs Muslim nations' support and cooperation to accomplish these strategic goals.