Americans Unpopular as Mumbai Attack Target US Citizens

It seems that Americans abroad are not safe in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 />India. The sentiments that led to the 9/11 attacks on New York and the Pentagon have been simmering for a long time in the Muslim Middle East, and they obviously continue hot and unabated.

We've grown use to being hated by Muslim extremests, and maybe that's not such a bad thing considering what they stand for. It is interesting however that the US response to those 2001 attacks have landed Americans in hot water in a lot of otherwise friendly countries as well. Europeans used to tolerate us, even though we are known as being belligerent and opinionated as a culture of individuals. The two terms of activity of the Bush Administration has taken those generally distasteful sentiments to a level of outright outrage though.

We should be happy that these terrorist groups are a common enemy to the US and to the European allies that otherwise are learning to distrust and distain America. If these attackers had not been busy bloodying European cities as well, what kind of sympathy might we receive when terrorists target Americans in India or anywhere else.

The US has a lot of ground to make up in the sentimentalities of the global community. Although being in a position of global dominance as a military and an ideological power doesn't necessarily require winning a popularity contest, you have to consider the fact that being popular is safer than being hated. It seems logical to work toward the former instead of the latter.