Dean Lindsey, pastor of Salem Presbyterian Church in Salem, VA, recently reported in the local paper on a talk by the Rev. George Conn, a retired Presbyterian pastor.

Sunday, May 30, 2004

Recently returned from a "diplomatic" visit to sister churches in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine and Egypt, a representative of our denomination spoke to our congregation the other evening. He began with these words, "The United States has become deeply hated in the Middle East."

For our Christian partners in the region, these are trying times, for they have always considered us their closest friends; we are to them the "mother church." Now, that close connection with us threatens their efforts at evangelism and service. Like their neighbors, they are filled with questions about American actions and intentions, and they are desperately worried about what the future will bring.

Besides the well-being of the minority Christians in the Middle East, is there any other reason that Americans should worry about widespread hatred toward us?

To this question, I believe the answer is a resounding yes. Unfortunately, many of our actions in the region seem to foster that very hatred, strengthen the hand of those who want to stir the hatreds even more and weaken the standing of those who have long respected and loved us.

What few Americans seem to grasp is that Osama bin Laden, Muqtada al-Sadr and similar terrorist leaders are not solely involved in a war against the West.

True, they have attacked us with devastating effect, but their real struggle is part of a civil war within the Muslim and Arab worlds. They want to rule over Islam, and they feel that they can gain traction in that internecine conflict if they are seen as the ones who stand up to America and fight against us.

Heretofore, they have not been very popular among their own people. However, they know the uniting power of having an outside enemy and have worked hard to nurse old grudges and create new ones.

Indeed, if bin Laden could have written a script for what he hoped would happen following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, it would probably include these elements: America's blindly invading an Arab country; large loss of civilian life; and anarchy and confusion, capped by oppressive countermeasures to restore control.

The impact of the widespread abuse of Iraqi detainees must be seen in this context. With alarming recklessness, we have made ourselves the poster boys for al-Qaida recruitment.

I pray we find an escape from this trap and that the June 30 deadline President Bush has established marks the beginning of a serious disengagement from Iraq. In the meantime, we need to do our best to create fewer enemies but more friends, wherever we can find them.

The hatred that has been built up against us cannot be overcome with a show of arms. We will have to practice patient listening, diplomacy and charitable acts.

In other words, we will have to learn love. That is how we used to make friends in the Middle East. Now, that may be the only way to reclaim them.