In the context of public diplomacy (or what Butch likes to call strategic campaign) involving Muslims, the url below should be read with interest.  I am not sure whether you know this, but Barak Obama has
written a letter to the Muslims of the world (I believe) explaining his name and his views toward Islam and Muslims.  Not that Muslims needed to know the meaning of his name.  (Incidentally, Barak is an extraction of Barakah, which means mercy or glory of God, and Hussein is the name of the grand son of
the Prophet of Islam).  That letter has been given immense publicity in Muslim outlets and websites all over the world. 

By the same token, the conservative radio talk show host, who recently berated Obama's middle name (Hussein) was also given high publicity, especially by hard-line Muslim websites.  The US government is not
waging a battle against Islam, but it is hard for the United States to make a case is that Islam is not the object of attack. 

Bottom line: The global campaign of public diplomacy is being carried out with a vengeance by all sides, and, unfortunately, we are not winning it.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/28/AR2008022803775_pf.html