VIOLENT ATTACKS BY MUSLIMS AGAINST THE UNITED STATES HAVE GROWN MARKEDLY IN RECENT YEARS, BOTH IN NUMBER AND LETHALITY. EXPLORING THE ROOT CAUSES OF THIS VIOLENCE ILLUSTRATES THE NEED TO CORRECT UNITED STATES POLICIES THAT ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT OF DEMOCRACIES ABROAD. RECOGNIZING THE STABILIZING INFLUENCE OF DEMOCRACY AND THE FUNDAMENTAL LACK OF TRULY DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENTS IN THE ISLAMIC WORLD OFFERS NEW REASON FOR THE U.S. TO REDOUBLE EFFORTS TO ENCOURAGE SUCH CHANGE. WHILE U.S. POLICY GENERALLY SUPPORTS THE DEMOCRATIZATION OF FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS, TWO FACTORS APPEAR TO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO A LACK OF SUCCESS THUS FAR: CONTINUED U.S. SUPPORT FOR AUTOCRATIC AND REPRESSIVE REGIMES AND A FAILURE TO EXPLORE THE TENETS OF ISLAM AS A VEHICLE FOR DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION. AN EVALUATION OF THE HISTORY OF RADICAL ISLAM AND ASSOCIATED ISSUES TODAY BRINGS TO LIGHT IMPORTANT OPTIONS FOR IMPROVING U.S. FOREIGN POLICY RELATIVE TO THE STRATEGIC GOAL OF EXPORTING LIBERAL DEMOCRACY. BY FOCUSING ON CULTURAL ELEMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH OR DERIVED FROM ISLAM, THE U.S. HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REEVALUATE THE METHODS IT USES TO FOSTER DEMOCRATIZATION IN THE REGION.