This weekend marks the anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. King opened this historic speech with a ringing definition of the values Americans aspire to: "When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir." The vicious anti-Islamic rhetoric of recent weeks has raised damaging questions in the U.S. and abroad about whether some political leaders remain committed to those values for all Americans, regardless of race, creed or origin. A long list of national security experts has joined religious and legal experts in expressing concern that this rhetoric is counter to American values, social cohesion and constitutional principles - as well as to our national security interests. Yet, extreme conservatives - most notably Newt Gingrich - have continued to use fear mongering and Islam-bashing as a political tool. But a strategy of fear is a political loser. In fact the strength and resilience of the American people is one of America's greatest weapons in the face of actual threats, and holding true to American values is the foundation of that.

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This week, with news about China's growing economic and military strength and the Iraq War coming to a symbolic end, the American political debate focused on one issue: the "Ground Zero Mosque."  This debate has resulted in inflammatory and extreme rhetoric from the far right that many have rightfully called "Islam-bashing."  This hate-filled rhetoric has been answered by moderate and principled conservatives - including Grover Norquist, Kathleen Parker and Joe Scarborough - who all came to the defense of American values and ideals.   National security experts spoke out this week with another message:  anti-Islamic rhetoric is not only against American values but against our security interests.  From helping extremist groups recruit, to pushing away our most important allies, to hurting America's image, phrases like "unhelpful to the American fighting men and women," "like offering your opponent two or three whips with which to beat you," and "may contribute to the next homegrown terrorist attack" underscore the depth of their concern. 

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As President Obama's weekend remarks about freedom of religion unleashed a new storm of commentary over the Cordoba House - the proposed Islamic community center in lower Manhattan - another audience was listening.  National security and terrorism experts point to specific efforts by al Qaeda propagandists to seize on hostile commentary and undermine American Muslims' feelings of safety and welcome in this country.  The president's remarks drew an outpouring of support from mainstream centrist and conservative commentators. Yet, despite the warnings from our security professionals, some conservatives see a political advantage to this sort of divisive and damaging rhetoric. But at what cost in frayed social cohesion at home, and propaganda victory for our opponents abroad, does this come?  Political commentator Mark Halperin writes today that the cost "is not worth whatever political gain your party might achieve."

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