Entry #3, Hady Amr "Kidnapped in Pakistan: The End of American Ideals?"

"Something ...has got to change" - I think this is the main slogan of this essay.
Hady Amr in his essay "Kidnapped in Pakistan: The End of American Ideals?" tells us a story about an American citizen by the name Imran. He was abducted in Northwest Pakistan. Imran was murdered shortly after he was kidnapped. Imran’s sister Ayesha lived in America and worked on projects funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development. Later Ayesha moved back to Pakistan to pursue her dream of working to improve the state of education for the children of Pakistan. Ayesha’s close friend suggested his help getting the U.S. Government involved in trying to free her brother, but Ayesha felt that the chances of negotiating with criminals and terrorists were greater.
The author emphasizes: "My government has conducted itself in such a manner that in places where we were once admired for our ideals, we are so loathed for our hypocrisy that our own citizens, when their lives are on the line, feel it safer to engage the help of local officials instead of the mighty U.S. government." I feel the reason why our citizens turn to local officials is because very often our government decisions lack of efficiency.
Amr appeals to the society: "I can only blame myself, my fellow citizens, and our elected representatives in Washington for conducting ourselves in such a way - voting to go to war in Iraq,..Abu Ghraib prison abuses, .. detention of prisoners without charge in Guantanamo Bay. Our reputation is severely damaged, and our ability to defend our citizens is non-existent." The only way for him to change something in this country is to attract our attention to the above listed problems, just to make us think what is going on and how we can possibly change this situation.
Amr clearly states his own position on attitudes in the Muslim world toward the United States. When he was born "America was admired across the Muslim world as the shining light on the hill, breathing hope for a positive future. Today, we are loathed and distrusted by huge majorities from the eastern shores of the Atlantic to the western shores of the Pacific, from sea to shining sea."
I think the author wants changes for better and safe world, without bureaucratic governments and unfair wars, corruption, kidnapping and terrorism, and welcomes wise political decisions and happy nations.