President Bush’s realization of the importance of public diplomacy prompted him to appoint one of his closest confidantes to steer our gigantic ship back into safe waters during these times of unprecedented turbulence. On March 14 Secretary Rice rightfully stated that “The time has come to look anew at our institutions of public diplomacy.”

I can personally attest to the validity of Secretary Rice’s statement. I worked for some of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs' projects. Without hesitation I can say that the level of ignorance related to Arab and Muslim issues within the Bureau and its entire logistical support network is very disturbing.

One example is the sending of the wrong Arabic interpreter with the Iraqi Symphony in their highly publicized visit to the White House In February 2004. This interpreter personally acknowledged that Iraqi accent is very difficult to understand. She confessed to me that she didn’t understand a single word from the speech of the Iraqi delegation head. However, this interpreter somehow managed to interpret the delegation head’s speech to President Bush. Who is kidding whom? This is clear compromises to our national security.

Ms. Rice was also right when she stated that "We must do much more to confront hateful propaganda." Since this hateful propaganda is bi-directional, attaining the desired goal will take monumental efforts of public diplomacy. It will require a multi-pronged multi-faceted approach. The hateful propaganda that exists in the Muslim world only flourishes when our domestic phobia-mongers flourish and vise versa. Ms. Karen Hughes was right when she said in her March 14th acceptance speech that “America's public diplomacy should be as much about listening and understanding as it is about speaking.”

This leads me to the subject of the appointment of Ms. Dina Powell to head the Bureau of Educational and Cultural affairs. To those who are not familiar with Middle East history, the appointment of an Egyptian-born American to the number 2 position relating to public diplomacy at the Department of State will appear to be a very thoughtful gesture. But those who have some knowledge of the Middle East history and culture will immediately realize that this appointment is inappropriate. To see firsthand the level of the animosity between Muslims and Cops, just read about the events that took place at Jersey City, New Jersey , in the past January. Or just visit one of hundreds of chat rooms that are staffed around the clock by Copts who are waging the most vicious attack against Muslims. Most of these chat rooms are being operated from within the US.

Nobody is suggesting that Ms. Dina Powell is a Muslim basher. Also nobody can doubt Ms. Powell’s excellent credentials. Ms. Powell would be a good choice for the job if it were not for the fact that the Muslim world will be the primary focus of this public diplomacy effort.

It is commonly perceived by Muslims all over the world in general, and in the Middle East in particular, that much of the US policy that is viewed as unfavorable and even detrimental to their interests is largely shaped by Egyptian Copts. The degree to which this belief is accurate is irrelevant since it is so firmly held all over the Muslim world.

Nobody would ask a Protestant from Northern Island to serve as a cultural insider to design and to lead the efforts to reform Catholic Ireland.

Even though Ms. Powell might rise above this well-entrenched and deeply infested animosity, her appointment will still be viewed by all Muslims as a thumb in the eye. It will be added ammunition for recruitment, not only to militant hard liners, but to even more moderate Muslims.

This vicious campaign of Muslim-bashing has ripple effects that go way beyond the Middle East to as close as our homeland. A good homeland security policy as well as a good-will gesture by the US that would win the hearts and minds of Arabs and Muslims would be to lobby the Coptic community to tone down its rhetoric against Muslims. Ms. Powell could make a great presidential envoy to the Coptic community to serve this purpose of toning down the inflammatory rhetoric.

As I wrote to the Department of State’s officials last December, given the phenomenal escalation of events world-wide, proper actions can’t be guess-work any more. Unfortunately, even today, people’s lives depend on others learning key information after the fact because those with correct inside knowledge are side-lined while those with no clue are relied upon to provide critical information and services. We all pay the price.