Too Little and Too Late?

[Have heard that he is an Ismaili Muslim - t]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- An American Muslim, appointed new U.S. envoy, headed off Monday with the goal of repairing the battered image of the United States in the Muslim world.

Sada Cumber, special envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Conference, hopes to improve U. S. image.

Sada Cumber, a Pakistani native, is the new special envoy to the Organization of Islamic Conference, a caucus of 57 Muslim nations.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said at a reception for conference countries at the State Department that Cumber will help the United States explain itself to the Muslim world.

Rice said Islam is an important part of the American fabric of life. "Our growing Muslim population is a great and welcome addition to our country," she said at a gathering of diplomats from conference member countries at the State Department.

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