America’s Image in the Islamic World

Perhaps lost in the euphoria of President Obama’s signature of the so-called stimulus bill were the comments made by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on her first trip overseas.

During a Q-and-A session, the secretary of State commented that she and the Obama administration will make “a concerted effort” to restore the image of the United States in the Islamic world. With all due respect — what in blazes is she talking about?

I don’t remember President Clinton and the first lady seeking to make a concerted effort to restore the image of the U.S. in the Islamic world after terrorists attacked the World Trade Center in 1993 or our embassies around the world in 1998. Scores of Americans were killed in those attacks, to say nothing of the 3,000 who lost their lives at the hands of radical Muslim terrorists who steered airplanes into buildings on Sept. 11, 2001.

One may agree or disagree with the president’s response to keep the country safe after 9/11, but I tire of the apologists who believe we should apologize to those who kill innocent Americans and proclaim war against us. If only they liked us, they wouldn’t attack us, right?

President Obama and Sen. Clinton would better utilize their time by seeking to restore credibility around the world by continuing the Bush Doctrine that any individual or country who seeks to kill innocent Americans will be met in kind with swift force. Let’s stop apologizing to those who kill us indiscriminately — please?