Patriot games

From the earliest days after 9/11, the Bush team continually has confused Islam and the Arabs. Although the 19 hijackers were ethnic Arabs (and 15 from Saudi Arabia), Bush himself continues to contuse Arabs with religious Muslims. In a February speech in Pakistan, he stated: "I believe that a prosperous, democratic Pakistan will be a steadfast partner for America, a peaceful neighbor for India, and a force for freedom and moderation in the Arab world."

Of course, Pakistanis are not Arabs, nor is much of the Muslim world. The White House corrected the mistake a day later. The citizenry of the U.S. still is confused, but now more clearly hateful ... toward someone. Foreign investors, beware!

Llewellyn D. Howell, International Affairs Editor of USA Today, is director and senior research fellow, Asia Pacific Risk Institute, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu.

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