West Point was shrouded in winter mist that afternoon. But the atmosphere in the campus of social sciences, Lincoln Hall Building 607, US Army Military Academy, was congenial. Amir Bagherpour, a West Point cadet, warmly welcomed a dozen Indonesian journalists. "I'm a Muslim at heart, but defending my country is just as important," said Bagherpour.

There was no doubt in his tone. The 21-year-old from Iran—who emigrated to the