Karen Hughes, Under Secretary, Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, U.S. Department of State, offered some very encouraging and positive remarks at the annual meeting of the Islamic Society of North America, "one of the largest gatherings of its type in the United States attended by up to 40,000 Muslims." Her comments included:

We have a common interest in confronting terror and violence and crime and hate that is committed in the name of any religion.

[W]e want Muslim voices to speak out against terror and violence and extremism, it is equally important that we be mindful of speaking out against all voices of hate and incitement including those raised against Muslims themselves.