"To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist." President Obama could hardly improve on this line, from his inaugural address, during his forthcoming much-heralded major speech to the Muslim world on June 4th. Better yet, he has already further reinforced this position when he announced--after an extensive strategic review--that the United States' goal in Afghanistan was "to disrupt, dismantle and defeat al Qaeda," full stop. To further this message, we have outlined here points we hope the President will include in his scheduled speech.

There are two positions on Islam that are best avoided: (a) claiming that Islam is a religion of love and peace that has been hijacked by terrorists, and (b) claiming that Islam is inherently supportive of violence. (c) The preferred position: Like all great religions, major Muslim texts and traditions are open to different interpretations and understandings. We will walk with those who reject violence in statements (by violence we mean terrorism, invading and threatening other countries, acts of genocide as well as military build-ups and WMD proliferation). We will walk with those that view Jihad as a journey of self-development, or as solely defensive ("Fight those in the way of God who fight you but do not be aggressive: God does not like aggressors" [Qur'an 2:190]), but not with those who see it as a requirement to decimate all non-believers. We will walk with those who recognize that "There is no compulsion in matter of faith" (Qur'an 2:256); that when Muhammad exclaimed, "Oh Lord, these are certainly a people who do not believe," Allah responded to him, "Turn away from them and say: 'Peace'" (Qur'an 43:88-89); and that no human can force a change of heart over which God alone has control ("If your Lord had willed, all the people on the earth would have come to believe, one and all. Are you going to compel the people to believe except by God's dispensation?" [Qur'an 10:99-100]) - and not with those who seek to "Slay the idolaters wheresoever you find them, and take them captive or besiege them" (Qur'an 9:5) and "...fight against people so long as they do not declare that there is no god but Allah" (Muslim, 1.9.30).

Additionally, we hope the President will emphasize further that the finding--based on several public opinion polls--that the overwhelming majority of Muslims embrace the nonviolent versions of Islam does not mean that they necessarily also accept our list of human rights and embrace our form of democracy.

Among the then 140 million Muslims in Indonesia, 69.5 million in Turkey, and 32.3 million in Morocco, fifteen per cent or fewer support suicide bombers, according to a 2005 Pew survey. Support for suicide bombers has dropped sharply in Pakistan, from 41% in March 2004 to 5% in spring 2009. It has also dropped dramatically in Jordan, from 57% in May 2005 to 25% in Spring 2009. When asked about attacks on civilians in the United States, the large majority of respondents in Egypt (84%), Indonesia (73%), Pakistan (55%), Jordan (68%), Turkey (74%) and the Palestinian territories (59%) stated that they disapprove, a 2008 poll found.

Seventy percent or more of respondents to a 2008 Pew poll in Indonesia, Pakistan, Tanzania and Lebanon are concerned with the rise of Islamic extremism in the world, and majorities in Egypt, Nigeria, and Jordan feel the same way. Additionally, the majority of Egyptians (57%) see terrorism a "very big problem" in their country, and the vast majority of people in Indonesia (72%) and Pakistan (90%) feel the same. Large majorities in these three countries also believe that violent attacks that are carried out to achieve political or religious goals are not justified. Other reports have indicated little support for terrorism among Muslims in India, Malaysia, and Bangladesh. Thus, the threshold for reliable partners in peace must be a rejection of violence (or again, as the President put it, to "unclench one's fist"). On all other matters, reasonable people can differ.

We hope he stresses that as people of faith we respect faith, and do not view secular beliefs and practices as the only enlightened basis for one's government and lifestyle. And that when it comes to building a democracy and expanding the reach of human rights, there are numerous pathways. Expanding the opportunities for competitive parties, increasing access to the media, building civil society, revising the constitution, as well as holding local and national elections are all avenues that can be used by those seeking to travel this road.

To highlight the difference between violence-rejecting Muslims and those who also favor liberal democracy, the United States might make a gift of, say, ten million dollars to the Library of Alexandria for it to select, working with other institutions of its choosing, major texts by moderate Muslims. These are to be translated into English and other languages the Library will favor, to make these texts more accessible to people all over the world who are not sufficiently familiar with the moderate face of Islam.

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**I will respond to the comments of those persons who are willing to identify themselves, because I hold this essential for a civilized dialogue.

Amitai Etzioni is Professor of International Relations at The George Washington University and author of Security First (Yale, 2007). For more, go here: http://www.gwu.edu/~ccps/securityfirst.html. He can be reached at icps@gwu.edu