'They hate our policies, not our freedom'

What is the source of the antagonism between the West and the Islamic world? Is it, as Bush and co. suggest, hatred and jealousy on the part of Islam of America's freedoms and wealth and decadence or, as the left has always insisted the West's policies and imperialist attitude to the Middle East? Well, it seems the left has a new ally in the form of this Pentagon Committee's report - PolPop

Pentagon report contains major criticisms of administration.

by Tom Regan

Late on the Wednesday afternoon before the Thanksgiving holiday, the US Defense Department confirmed the contents of a report by the Defense Science Board that is highly critical of the administration's efforts in the war on terror and in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The report had been originally placed on the DSB's website in early November.

'Muslims do not hate our freedom, but rather they hate our policies [the report says]. The overwhelming majority voice their objections to what they see as one-sided support in favor of Israel and against Palestinian rights, and the long-standing, even increasing, support for what Muslims collectively see as tyrannies, most notably Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Pakistan and the Gulf states. Thus, when American public diplomacy talks about bringing democracy to Islamic societies, this is seen as no more than self-serving hypocrisy.'

The Pentagon confirmed the study after The New York Times ran a story about the report in its Wednesday editions.