There are a few points of discussion here:America played a large role in bringing progress to the Middle East. Made many governments and certain individuals very wealthy, including the bin Laden family. In return for such good will we over empathize with their dogma to a fault. So much so that we are more willing to discuss what we don't understand about them and avoid what they have done as of late. It is very surprising to see so many people so surprised at the way Muslims behave as if it is a shortcoming of our own because we can't feel for them. Just about every amendment to our constitution is for the benefit of the individual. And yet we so readily accuse ourselves of being unable to perceive the culture of others.
1. Contributing to the wealth of certain governments and individuals has not made the United States popular in the eyes of many people. Concentrated wealth is one of the problems in many areas of the world, not just the Middle East. Citizens aren't fools. When they see conspicuous wealth while their children are living in destitution, they respect neither those with wealth nor those who enabled that wealth.
2. People in other nations are critical of U.S. motives when the United States is perceived to be choosing sides in sectarian disputes and conflicts. For a home-grown example, recall what happened when Osama bin Laden in October 2004 issued a statement perceived to favor John Kerry over George Bush in the U.S. presidential election. That was not welcomed by either political party.
3. The U.S. Constitutional emphasis on individual rights and freedoms is part of our cultural norm. It is is an ideal that the United States has offered to the world since the 1770s, but it is not universally shared. It was very interesting to read General Odierno's new Counter-Insurgency guidance, recdently posted on the Small Wars Journal Blog and elsewhere. Item 2 says to "Give the People Justice and Honor." That is what they value most in their cultural context. The United States values personal rights and freedom. Iraqis value justice and honor. This is a powerful insight on the part of the U.S. and Coalition authorities. Imagine, again, a scenerio in which an occupying power arrived in the United States and operated by placing the greatest emphasis on its own values of justice and honor while downplaying individual rights and freedoms.
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