The Muslim Conspiracy

I guess Americans are all worried these days because our leaders aren't being arrogant and culturally insensitive enough to the Muslim world.

example 1:
General reading the Quran
http://www.military.com/news/article/mckiernan-afghans-in-pre-surge-talks.html

example 2:
Obama 'bowing' to 80+ yr old Saudi King
http://www.suntimes.com/news/huntley/1520326,CST-EDT-hunt10.article

Call me crazy, but maybe the technique of being an arrogant a%$hole just doesn't work if you want to get things done with the Muslim world.

Here is the 11th rule from TE Lawrence's "27 Articles" and it explains why our leaders are doing what they are doing.

11. The foreigner and Christian is not a popular person in Arabia. However friendly and informal the treatment of yourself may be, remember always that your foundations are very sandy ones. Wave a Sherif in front of you like a banner and hide your own mind and person. If you succeed, you will have hundreds of miles of country and thousands of men under your orders, and for this it is worth bartering the outward show.

...sometimes you gotta "play the game" to get what you want. It may seem cool to be a bully, but eventually nobody on the playground wants to play with the bully.