He didn’t seem to realize that the hall had grown heavy with frustration and anger at his words.

The man, who has now been appointed ambassador to a country in the region, tried to argue that the permanent Arab sense of victimization blocks "the American message of good intentions from getting through." He argued that the U.S. was in the region to save the people -- probably from themselves -- and that we have to give Washington a chance.

When I responded that his talk was an insult to our minds since we are at the receiving end of this "goodwill American mission" and that the U.S. should not waste its time and money on sending public relations people to market bad products, most of those present applauded.

I was most surprised when American academics and British journalists thanked me for my response. It shows that sentiment against American policies, or rather against American hegemony, is on the rise. The disconnect between American official rhetoric and the facts on the ground is astounding.

The U.S. government seems to believe that people in our region, and frankly the entire world, should be grateful for its bullying. The most salient message that Washington is sending loud and clear is one not of good will but of threats, implied and explicit, that the world should accept the hegemony of the most powerful empire in history.

President George Bush's constant talk about spreading peace and democracy and defeating dark forces sounds hallow if not downright scary. The only way that his administration knows how to deal with other countries is through coercion, bullying and, when all intimidation fails, the use of its arsenal of destruction.

It will take decades for America to undo the damage done to its reputation. But it has to steer away from public relations wizardry and start to behave as a respectful member of the international community.