One notable success in the effort to convince the people of the Middle East that America is not an evil place.

Year in U.S. shifts Muslim teens' views

"Before, I thought the Americans were like the Europeans - no religion, no moral values, taking drugs, having sex, drinking all the time," said Sirine, an earnest 17-year-old Tunisian who stayed with an Atlanta-area family. "But my opinion changed."

Hey, it's not like we don't have sex....

Seriously, this sounds like a great program. If 300 kids took part, that means a view of the real America will be transmitted to thousands of people in the Muslim world.

The exchange students' view that Americans are ignorant of world affairs doesn't surpise me. I know my in-laws in Argentina have a hard time understanding that nobody here cares about what goes on in Argentina when they care so much about the U.S. attitude towards their own country.