US appoints envoy to Muslim world

US appoints envoy to Muslim worldMrs Clinton said Ms Pandith brought 'years of experience' to the role

The US State Department has appointed its first Special Representative to Muslim Communities.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Farah Pandith would play a leading role in US efforts to "engage Muslims around the world".

She said Ms Pandith, who was born in Indian-administered Kashmir, would bring years of experience to the role.

The appointment is part of President Barack Obama's attempts to improve relations with the Muslim world.

Mrs Clinton said Ms Pandith "sees her personal experience as an illustration of how Muslim immigrants to the US can successfully integrate themselves into American society".

The State Department said Ms Pandith, who is a Muslim, would be responsible for helping US efforts to "engage with Muslims around the world on a people-to-people and organisational level".

The statement said Ms Pandith was previously the senior adviser on Muslim engagement in the European and Eurasian region at the State Department and had worked in the Afghan capital, Kabul, with the US Agency for International Development.

In a speech in Cairo earlier this month, Mr Obama said there had been "years of distrust" between the West and Islam but he was seeking "a new beginning" in the relationship.

"if we compare what Sadan did and what USA caused to Iraq, we would say that Sadan is an angel and USA is the devil."

It's not what the USA did in Iraq, but what the terrorists groups did when they were let lose by the chaos.

It shows deep ignorance that you really have no idea about the mass repression of people under Saddam Hussein.

"anywhat, alot of Iraq wished that Sadan stayed, after they saw what the USA troop brough to their countries."

Most don't. Most are unhappy with the chaos that came after but they were generally pleased when Saddam Hussein was taken out of power.

Great to hear that an Indian Muslim is represnting other muslims.