Attacks on Muslim women in the streets of US cities in
recent days suggest that stereotyping of all Muslims, as somehow
responsible for the actions of a few, and the thirst for revenge, for the
horrific terrorism in America, are stronger than cool-headed, rational
thinking. This is an unfortunate turn of events for the cohesion of the
multicultural society.

But, more importantly, this is shaping up to be a fateful turn in relations
between Western states, led by the United States, and the Muslim world - a
turn that may become a self-fulfilling prophesy of doom.

The focus on Osama bin Laden by the US administration and the media
misses the point. It concentrates on a man and seeks to physically remove
him by surgical bombing raids and cruise missile attacks.

But bin Laden is not a man to be eliminated. He is a phenomenon. And that
cannot be "neutralised" by surgical attacks.

Bin Laden represents a backlash against the US for its role in supporting
undemocratic and unpopular regimes, such as the Saudi dynasty and the
former Shah of Iran, and the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands. The
public in the Middle East is outraged by this record, and the continued
US-led sanctions on Iraq, which are causing daily death and misery for the
ordinary Iraqis.

Bin Laden happens to be the most recent spokesman for this rage. Others
had before him delivered the same message, perhaps with less deadly force
- for example, Muammar Gaddafi and Ayatollah Khomeini. Still others are
likely to do the same after bin Laden.

So what can be done? There are three main areas that require urgent
attention.

First, the US needs to revise its approach on stability in oil-rich states at any
cost. This approach justified pumping up the detested regime of the Shah in
Iran in the 1970s, when it was clear for anyone who wanted to see that all
was not well there. This approach has also led to supporting the repressive
Saudi dynasty, which does not even pretend at democracy.

The policy of supporting unpopular but US-friendly regimes to ensure
uninterrupted flow of oil to Western markets has seriously damaged the
credibility of the US as a champion of democracy in the Middle East.

Second, the US needs to allow the implementation of United Nations
resolutions 169 and 242, which call for the return of Palestinian refugees to
their homes and the withdrawal of Israeli occupying forces from Palestinian
lands. The US veto has blocked the UN from enforcing its resolutions in
relation to Israel.

This is in sharp contrast to the US strategy of coalition-building and
securing UN endorsement for its action against Iraq. The apparent
hypocrisy has caused disillusionment in the Middle East.

Only a concerted effort by the US to distance Washington from Tel Aviv
and to act as an impartial and honest broker, in line with UN resolutions,
can begin to restore confidence in the US.

Third, the US needs to re-examine its hardline policy on Iraq. What is
achieved by continued sanctions on Iraq? The regime of Saddam Hussein is
not suffering, but ordinary citizens are. Continued sanctions have
undermined the ability of the Iraqi people to feed themselves and have done
a lot to antagonise public opinion in the Middle East against what appears to
be American arrogance and double standards.

Many in the Middle East regard the US strategy against Iraq as the latest
episode in a systematic effort to suppress any regime or movement that
steers an independent course from America.

The backlash against the US is not about Islam and Christianity. It is about
a sense of outrage among a people who feel overwhelmed and hard-done
by the sole superpower in the 21st century. This outrage does not justify
terror. Nothing does. But it breeds conflict and extremism.

Fighting terrorism by focusing on such shadowy figures as Osama bin
Laden ignores the root causes of terrorist campaigns. Only systematic and
sustained efforts at reformulating the US strategy in the Middle East can
disarm terrorists and undermine their support base.

This cannot be achieved overnight. It took nearly 40 years for the US to
make an unfavorable impression in the Middle East. It could take just as
long to change it. But never is too late to start.

The alternative is too costly