The U.S. is not known for having a good relationship with the Muslim world in general, and certainly not with the Muslim extremist world. One of President Obama’s foreign relations initiatives has been to try and improve those relations, both with visits from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and with policy changes. While the difference between Muslim world governments and extremist groups is wide, the hope is that improved relations with Muslim world governments could lead to improved relations overall and an improvement of international perception of the U.S. and of a reduction in terrorism and the motivation of those in the Muslim world to join terrorist groups. Hopeful? Yes. Will it work? There’s only one way to find out, and Obama is going for it.

Just this week he announced a new “special envoy” to one of the main Islamic groups in a move to improve diplomatic relations and increase cooperation between the U.S. and the Muslim world. Obama announced to the U.S.-Islamic World Forum that he is naming Rashad Hussain as special envoy to the 56-member Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC).

"As an accomplished lawyer and a close and trusted member of my White House staff, Rashad has played a key role in developing the partnerships I called for in Cairo," said Obama.

The move is part of Obama’s “new beginning” in relations between the U.S. and the Muslim world, something looking to mend ties that had been stressed by the policies and wars instituted by former President Bush.

"Since then, my administration has made a sustained effort to listen. We've held thousands of events and town halls ...in the United States and around the world ... And I look forward to continuing the dialogue during my visit to Indonesia next month," said Obama.

I appreciate that President Obama is focusing on the idea of “listening” and that he has recognized the importance of something like the Organization of the Islamic Conference. Especially in a time when the U.S. is continuing to figure out how to deal with terrorism, Obama is keeping his promise of approaching both through dialogue as well as violence. He is keen to teach that the relationship between the U.S. and Muslim governments is not the relationship between the U.S. and terrorists.

"…as a hafiz of the Koran, [Hussain] is a respected member of the American Muslim community, and I thank him for carrying forward this important work," said Obama. A hafiz is someone who has mastered and memorized the Koran. To be fair, President Bush also named an envoy to the OIC.

"We have an unprecedented opportunity, through the framework laid in Cairo, for a comprehensive engagement with the Muslim world. I look forward to deepening those partnerships. The president has made it clear that we will be judged on our actions, on results," said Hussain.

While this appointment will not garner the headlines that the war in Afghanistan will, it is an equally important front line move in the redefinition of the U.S.’s relationship with the Muslim world. Cheers, Obama, for making a high-profile and meaningful appointment at a time of crisis.

Photo Credit: jmtimages (via Flickr under CCL)