January 13, 2004
By ANWAR FARUQI, Associated Press Writer
DOHA, Qatar - Former President Clinton (news - web sites) said many Muslims have a distorted view of the United States because they often judge America solely on the basis of the Mideast peace process.
Clinton told a U.S.-Islamic World Forum on Monday that Americans also had problems understanding the Islamic world because their judgments were based on the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
"Too many Americans know too little about the Islamic world, and much of what they know they learned after Sept. 11 through the narrow lens of terror," Clinton told the forum, organized by the Washington-based Brookings Institution.
"What people do out of anger, pain and fear both darkens and distorts reality."
Much of the criticism at the conference from Muslim scholars, religious leaders and politicians has been directed at the United States for what they say is unconditional support of Israel against the Palestinians.
"Sometimes I feel that our country is judged by many Muslims based on how they think the Mideast peace process is going, and whether they think we are doing enough to try and give the Palestinians a state and a decent future. That is not the only standard," Clinton said.
"America's support for Israel is not rooted in hostility to the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinians."
The United States has been pushing for Israeli and Palestinian leaders to adopt a "road map" peace plan, which calls for a Palestinian state by 2005. But talks have stalled over the proposal and both sides have failed to fulfill initial requirements.