The central theme of this book is that U.S. strategy in theMiddle East is fundamentally flawed but not irreparable. Thismay be the result of the inherent mismatch between strategyand policy and, more significantly, between America's prin-ciples and interests. In particular, the author argues that theU.S. approach toward Islam is "beset with ambiguities andtensions" (p. 3). Furthermore, he stresses that there is asomewhat dangerous growing gap between the Americanpeople and their representatives in Congress, on the onehand, and presidential administrations, on the other, when itcomes to dealing with "islamists" (those who espouse greaterreligious activism in politics). The former lean toward aconfrontational attitude that is fed by cultural differences,stereotyping, and negative images of Muslims, whereas thelatter strive to accommodate or tolerate a majority of mod-erate or pro-West Islamic forces and states.