WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 (UPI) -- A report to be released Wednesday says hostility to the United States "has reached shocking levels" among Muslims and Arabs, the New York Times reported.
The panel, created by the Bush administration, added "spin" and manipulative public relations "are not the answer," but neither is avoiding the debate.
The panel warned the war in Iraq and the intensified conflict in the Middle East had increased anger at the United States, and people throughout the world are ignorant of or misinformed about U.S. policies.
Led by Edward Djerejian, an Arab specialist and former ambassador and White House spokesman, the panel spent several months surveying the U.S. efforts to promote U.S. views to the world's 1.5 billion Muslims. Its 13 members, including academics, diplomats and writers, traveled to the Middle East, Asia and Europe.
The committee found the State Department spent about $600 million last year on programs to advocate U.S. policies, and $540 million more for Voice of America and other broadcast networks.
