MUSLIMS WASHINGTON, MARCH 28, SPA -- U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY DONALD RUMSFELD SAID MONDAY THAT THE UNITED STATES IS DOING POORLY IN THE 'BATTLE OF IDEAS' WITH MUSLIM EXTREMISTS. SPEAKING AT THE U.S. ARMY WAR COLLEGE IN CARLISLE, PENNSYLVANIA, RUMSFELD SAID THE POOR U.S. IMAGE IN THE MUSLIM WORLD WAS 'UNFORTUNATE' AND MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR WASHINGTON TO PREVAIL. 'I AM NOT GOING TO SUGGEST IT IS EASY. BUT WE HAVE NOT FOUND THE FORMULA AS A COUNTRY,' RUMSFELD SAID IN RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS FROM MID-CAREER OFFICERS AND FACULTY AFTER A SPEECH ON 'THE NATURE OF THE ENEMY.' RUMSFELD ADMITTED THAT THE UNTIED STATES HAS FALLEN SHORT IN THE IDEOLOGICAL CONTEST. 'WE ARE FAR FROM PERFECT. BUT THE IMAGE THE UNITED STATES HAS IN THE WORLD AS A RESULT OF THE CHARACTERIZATION BY OTHERS FREQUENTLY IS UNFORTUNATE,' HE SAID. 'WHEN PEOPLE ARE LEANING TOWARD YOU, THINGS ARE EASY. WHEN PEOPLE ARE LEANING AWAY FROM YOU, THINGS ARE MUCH MORE DIFFICULT.' THE DEFENSE SECRETARY SUGGESTED THAT PART OF THE DIFFICULTY WAS BECAUSE THE MAIN STRUGGLE HAS BEEN WITHIN THE MUSLIM FAITH. 'WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE THOSE MODERATE VOICES BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONES WHO ARE IN THE STRUGGLE,' HE SAID. --SPA 12 58 LOCAL TIME 09 58 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/349088