Says Reuters.

The U.S. last month ranked Muslim states — Bahrain, Kuwait, Iran, Malaysia, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria and Qatar — as among the worst human trade offenders, and said they may face sanctions.

We are not bothered about…the sanctions,” Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said. “I don’t think we need to respond to that sort of pressure.”

“The U.S. really needs to be friendly to Muslim countries,” he told retired Malaysian diplomats. “This is not a good development as they have just appointed a special envoy to OIC.” Malaysia heads the 57-nation Organization of Islamic Conference.

When I was little, my mom told me once that I would be judged by who my friends were. It seemed unfair at the time, but as a grew up I realized it has the ring of sensibility to it. Seems to be a childhood lesson that Karen Hughes and company didn’t learn. (U.S Out to Buff its global Image- Chicago Tribune)

I knew when I accepted this job that the likelihood I could do anything in two or three years to change opinion polls about America was basically zero,” Hughes said. “I say my job is to reach out to the world in the spirit of respect and friendship. Many people around the world are mad at us about Iraq. But there are always going to be political differences.

How come no one ever worries about alienating us? Perhaps its high time the articles start reading, “Muslims May Alienate U.S over Human Trafficking Slavery.” ( or terrorism, Jihad, sharia demands)

Will President Bush appoint an OIC special envoy who will interpret his or her mission as more than simply supplicating our Islamist “betters”, who will defend western values and rightly condemn practices like human trafficking, whether it alienates or not? Maybe. From Israpundit:

The buzz among policy wonks around Washington (last) week concerned what candidate the White House would choose. This proposed Special Envoy to the OIC will be as one wonk opined “either weak or powerful” as the President want to make him. Among the ‘better’ names mentioned were:

• Zhudi Jasser; moderate Muslim, former Naval officer, physician and columnist and president of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy;
• Amir Taheri, Iranian born noted journalist, author and syndicated columnist;
• Fouad Ajami, renowned Majid Khadduri Professor of Middle East studies at John Hopkins Washington, DC Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, noted author and commentator;
• Farid Ghadry, head of the Reform Party of Syria

But maybe not. President Bush has failed to be responsive to the citizenry he represents of late, but perhaps it’s worth a shot of trying to influence the appointment.

Write or Call and tell the White House who you’d like to see as Special Envoy.