Condoleezza Rice speaks to the Institute about the challenges of "Waging the War of Ideas" in the global war on terror. (White House Photo: Tina Hager)

WASHINGTON—The war on terror is "as much a conflict of visions as a conflict of arms," said National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice during a speech at the U.S. Institute of Peace on August 19. "True victory will come not merely when the terrorists are defeated by force, but when the ideology of death and hatred is overcome by the appeal of life and when the lies are replaced by truth," said Rice.

Emphasizing the importance of distinguishing between a minority of extremists and the one billion people in the world who profess the Islamic faith, Rice said the United States must dramatically expand efforts to "support and encourage the voices of moderation and tolerance and pluralism within the Muslim world." She also called upon Americans to dispel "destructive myths" about American society and policy and pointed out that the United States has gone to war five times since the end of the Cold War, each time to help Muslims. "Americans have fought in Kuwait and in Bosnia and in Kosovo and in Afghanistan and Iraq. Without exception, these were wars of liberation and of freedom." These are stories that need to be told and heard, she stressed.

Likewise, Rice said it is important for Americans to learn about and engage Muslim people around the world but cautioned that this engagement be in the form of "a conversation, not a monologue." Calling herself a "Cold War baby," Rice highlighted the critical role of student exchanges as well as Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty, and the Voice of America in getting out clear and truthful messages to the other side of the Iron Curtain during the Cold War. "The values of freedom and democracy—as much, if not more than economic power and military might—won the Cold War. And those same values will lead us to victory in the war on terror."

Citing current administration initiatives aimed at reaching out to the Muslim world such as the Middle East Partnership Initiative, and the creation of the Arabic-language Radio Sawa and the Farsi-language Radio Farda service, as well as Alhurra (a new Middle East television network), Rice conceded that more needs to be done. She urged the creation of sister cities programs, student and professional exchanges, and language and area studies programs, focused on the Muslim world. Not only the government, but all Americans, especially universities need to engage the Muslim world, she said. "I am quite sure that if we, as a country, take on this challenge in the way that we took on the war of ideas in the Cold War, that we’re going to succeed."

Rice responded to several questions from the audience on a range of issues including divisions in the transatlantic relationship regarding the Muslim world, administration policy with respect to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, funding for public diplomacy programs, terrorist activity in northern Iraq, and the prospects for achieving a unified Iraqi state.

In responding to a question about the situation in Iraq, Rice appealed to Americans to have patience with the unfolding democratic process there. Noting that Americans live in a 230-year old democracy, she urged them to be "less critical of every twist and turn, less certain that every up and down is going to collapse the process, and more humble about how long it has taken to get to a multi-ethnic democracy that works." And she added, "To this point, I have not yet seen the Iraqis make a compromise as bad as the one that in 1789 made my ancestors three fifths of a man."

The United States Institute of Peace is an independent, nonpartisan institution established and funded by Congress. Its goals are to help prevent and resolve violent international conflicts, promote post-conflict stability and development, and increase conflict management capacity, tools, and intellectual capital worldwide. The Institute does this by empowering others with knowledge, skills, and resources, as well as by directly engaging in peacebuilding efforts around the globe.