The U.S. is not losing the battle of perception against al-Qaeda in the Muslim world purely because they see America as a Godless society. Due to a systematic failure in public diplomacy, Muslims also see the U.S. lacking any foundational moral code whatsoever – divine, Kantian or otherwise.

U.S. diplomacy lacks moral imperative in war of ideas with al-Qaeda
by Michael Hughes

The U.S. is not losing the battle of perception against al-Qaeda in the Muslim world purely because they see America as a Godless society. Due to a systematic failure in public diplomacy, Muslims also see the U.S. lacking any foundational moral code whatsoever – divine, Kantian or otherwise.

In his article in The Journal of International Security Affairs, former director of Voice of America Robert R. Reilly asserts that the persistent focus on image over content in diplomatic policy since the end of the Cold War has yielded nugatory policies that inhibit our ability to effectively promote American values. I tend to agree because the United States always seems to want to constantly communicate “how we look” to the world as opposed to telling them “who we are.”

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