TODAY, there are roughly 1.3 billion Muslims in the world. Islam is the fastest growing religion worldwide, both in terms of converts and sheer birth rates among the populations and in the countries where it is most prevalent. In a post-September 11 world that is dependent on fossil fuels, the Middle East -- like the hearts and minds of its overwhelmingly Muslim population -- has become an obvious and invaluable strategic asset, one eagerly sought after by Western powers anxious to ensure their own security through the goodwill of not just Arabs, but all Muslims the world over. This would be a winning strategy