September 30

"Propaganda leaflets kill Afghan girl: A box of information leaflets dropped by an RAF transport aircraft over Helmand province killed a young Afghan girl after it landed on top of her."

--Headline in telegraph.co.uk; image from Propaganda Leaflets from the Second World War

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

USIA: Gone but not Forgotten – Nicholas Cull, Layalina Productions: "Ten years on from the demolition of USIA we need to do more than commemorate or mourn. The think-tanks have reported.

The authors have published and the analysts have spoken. Now is the time to act to rebuild America's capacity in the field of public diplomacy so that the future of America's foreign policy will be more closely attuned to the currents of international opinion than its past. There is a world to gain. There is a world to lose." On USIA, see. Image: 21st Century United States U.S. Information Agency (USIA) Archive, USIA 1953-1999 Commemoration, Clinton Administration Foreign Policy, Terrorism Policy, ... Albright, Hillary Rodham Clinton (CD-ROM) (CD-ROM)by U.S. Government (Author)

Fall of the Wall: 20 Years Later - Helle Dale, Heritage Foundation: "The value of providing information to parts of the world where censorship was the rule was ... clear to both Democratic and Republican administrations. John F. Kennedy was keenly aware of its importance and made Edward R. Murrow director of USIA, giving him direct access to the Oval Office and a seat at the National Security Council. However, it was Ronald Reagan, who had the clearest vision of the potential of public diplomacy as an instrument of national power, combining a clear ideological, anti-communist vision and talents as a 'great communicator.' Reagan brought a new infusion of resources and intiative to the ideological struggle with the Soviets, revitalizing the USIA, and providing it with a new clear mandate and strategy."

The Place of Exchange in Public Diplomacy – Melany, Exchange This! Thoughts From a J-1 Visa Sponsor, Global Current: "Exchange holds an important place in our hearts, and we are very excited to see it take a central role in U.S. public diplomacy.

As a J-1 sponsor we have been able to witness the tremendous impact of J-1 exchange programs on the lives of thousands of people and we are confident that these programs will not dissappoint as a tool to promote international understanding and cooperation. … Global Current is proud to be a part of the movement to promote exchange and we encourage all J-1 participants and host companies to recognize their integral role in making exchange programs happen and how these exchange programs fit into a larger effort to facilitate international understanding and cooperation." Image from article

26 Foiled Terror Plots Show Success of Information Sharing - Jena Baker McNeill, WebMemo #2634, Heritage Foundation: "President Barack Obama pledged that his Administration would continue to increase U.S. capacity and international partnerships to track down, capture, and kill terrorists around the world. Congress and the Obama Administration can work together to fulfill this promise by [inter alia]: … Expanding the VWP [Visa Waiver Program]. VWP allows pre-approved travelers from member countries to visit the U.S. for 90 days without a visa. Since the program underwent extensive security upgrades in 2007, it has become a valuable security device and a useful tool for public diplomacy and economic expansion. By continuing to add VWP countries, the U.S. can develop even more valuable information-sharing frameworks with countries around the globe."

Muscatatuck Urban Training Center: Indiana Guard helps prepare federal employees bound for Afghanistan - Nicole Gaudiano, indystar.com: "As the role of civilians becomes more important in Afghanistan, the Obama administration is stepping up the frequency of a training course at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center that lets federal employees work alongside service members before they go overseas.

'If it works in the military, it should work on the civilian side, too,' said Sen. Ted Kaufman , D-Del., who spoke with more than 30 trainees during a 'town hall' meeting Monday. … This week's trainees will leave for Afghanistan on Saturday. President Barack Obama announced in March that an increased civilian presence would be part of the comprehensive strategy for Afghanistan. The idea is to use agriculture specialists, teachers and lawyers to help promote a more effective Afghan government . … Kaufman said more time, money and effort need to be put into public diplomacy." Image from

Interview with Radio Martí "probable reason" for Cuban blogger's arrest (updated) - Kim Andrew Elliott discussing International Broadcasting and Public Diplomacy

Kosovo, South Ossetia, and the Rhetoric of Self-Determination - Chris Borgen, opiniojuris.org: "I am especially interested in how Russia, in particular, has used the language of international law as a tool of public diplomacy in an attempt to spin the perceptions or 'control the narratives' related to both Kosovo and South Ossetia."

Bertha's Bolsheviks - Matthew Vadum, Spectator: "The despot [Chavez] sends the equivalent of millions of dollars to the U.S. every year as part of his public diplomacy campaign aimed at getting the American public to warm up to his government.

Venezuelan oil flows to Citizens Energy Corp., a nonprofit headed by former Rep. Joe Kennedy II (D-Mass.) that gives some of the home heating oil away and sells some at a discount to poor people." Chavez image from

Senior Vice President for Middle East Operations and Development – Zawya: "Khalid Latif has been named Senior Vice President, Middle East Operations and New Business Development, of J/Brice Design International, Inc. … Latif brings tremendous intellectual depth to the post. His scholarly work includes a wealth of research and position papers such as, Enhancing US-Saudi Relations, Public Diplomacy in Saudi Arabia: Suggestions for New Strategies, US-Saudi Relations: Rebuilding the Strategic Consensus and Investor Perceptions and Establishment of Image-Building Objectives."

My contributions to Communication Scholarship: The journey of a journalist (Part 8) - Shelton A. Gunaratne, Sri Lankan Guardian: "I consider the following publications to be the best of my modest scholarly contributions to communication studies through 2000: …

'Public diplomacy, global communication, and world order: An analysis based on theory of living systems' (2005). Current Sociology, 53 (5), 749-772." Image from

Choosing an Embassy/Consulate for the Summer internship - Ren's Micro Diplomacy: "Last night, I started the application for the DoS summer internship. If I wanted to be in DC, the decision would be easy, but choosing an overseas embassy has me at a standstill. Do I choose the location I’ve always dreamed of…or the place that most fits my skills…or a country that probably won’t be in high demand? It’s too bad there isn’t more information available online that describes the type of public diplomacy projects each embassy and consulate are undertaking. I’d like to be able to see which PD offices are the busiest and make my decion accordingly. Any suggestions?"

Second Posting Assignment – “Say Everything” - Jenalysis, Jen's Analysis: "Before beginning my Masters studies I worked for a foreign Embassy in Washington, D.C. in the Public Affairs Department.

It was my role to engage and teach the public about the policies of the goverment through all sorts of medium including lectures and newsletters. During my time at the Embassy my department experimented with using Social Media for our public diplomacy efforts." Image (not related to article) from

RELATED ITEMS

Success Against al-Qaeda Cited: Infiltration of Network Is a Factor as Administration Debates Afghanistan Policy - Karen DeYoung and Walter Pincus, Washington Post: Those within the administration who have suggested limiting large-scale U.S. ground combat in Afghanistan, including Vice President Biden, have pointed to an improved counterterrorism effort as evidence that Obama's principal objective -- destroying al-Qaeda -- can be achieved without an expanded troop presence.

Decision Time for Obama - Michael Gerson, Washington Post: If General McChrystal is to be believed, America is not merely failing to win in Afghanistan; it is losing.

It may require a jolt of resources to revive the patient and convince a skeptical American public that progress is possible. An incremental approach may simply bring defeat more slowly. Image from

Obama's war-plan do-over - Monica Crowley, Washington Times: The Afghanistan war, like the Iraq war, cannot be done on the cheap. In order to press an effective counterterrorism strategy, the military needs its requested resources, a clear, definable mission and a united front of unwavering support from the commander in chief and his administration. Below image from


Advice From NATO: The alliance's chief doesn't believe in an Afghan 'exit strategy' – Editorial, Washington Post: If Mr. Obama decides to abandon or scale back the fight against the Taliban, not only U.S. and Afghan interests will be affected; the Atlantic alliance will suffer its own strategic setback.

Forget the Nukes: The Most Fruitful Target Is Iran's Weakening Regime - Robert Kagan, Washington Post: Sanctions will not persuade the present Iranian government to give up its nuclear weapons program. Ahmadinejad and Khamenei see the nuclear program and their own survival as intimately linked. But the right kinds of sanctions could help the Iranian opposition topple these still-vulnerable rulers.

A Human Rights Lever for Iran - Andrew Albertson and Ali G. Scotten, Washington Post: Washington has been unable to force concessions from the Iranian regime on its own. By broadening our support for the aspirations of ordinary Iranians, the Obama administration can continue to tilt the balance of power in its favor. Below image from


Obama's Iran talks will fail - Editorial, Washington Times: When the G5+1 talks fail to change Tehran's mind about pursuing nuclear weapons, Mr. Obama will have to choose between allowing Iran to gain nuclear weapons or rethinking his aversion to the use of American force. If long-term U.S. interests matter, that's not a hard choice.

Talking With Myanmar – Editorial, New York Times: Change is unlikely to come quickly to Myanmar. But President Obama is right to try to nudge the process forward with limited engagement.

Twilight of Pax Americana: Since the end of WWII, the world has depended on the United States for stability. But with American military and economic dominance waning, capitalism and global security are threatened - Christopher Layne and Benjamin Schwarz - latimes.com: The coming era of de-globalization will be defined by rising nationalism and mercantilism, geopolitical instability and great power competition.

In other words, having enjoyed a long holiday from history under the Pax Americana, international politics will be headed back to the future. Image from

Israel's propagandists shoot themselves in the foot as they shoot off their mouths - Greg Felton, Media monitors Network

IMAGE
Courtesy JM

Video: Making a Difference - American High School Kids From Chicago Helping Casablanca Poor

From Denny: This is a wonderful story about people helping other people clear across the world. Chicago's sister city is Casablanca in Morocco and has been for over 25 years. These are high school kids who want to work against poverty.

They visited Casablanca and met an astounding local man who is revered by many for his work among the poor. What is most impressive is how much support he has given to young women to get educated and succeed. Now that's not something you expect out of an Islamic culture. As it stands now, the most recent stats have just been released, regardless of religion, that 30% of women worldwide are abused. That's billions of people suffering. The figures are much higher in Islamic countries. To see a man devote so much of his life and resources to helping young women develop warms the heart.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Video: American Diplomatic Mistake Goes Viral

From Denny: Well, it was understandable but some aide deserves an a$$ chewing for not bothering to investigate the obvious about the preferences of the Spanish First Family's position on whether to allow public photos of their children. Answer: they do not. It was too late, the photos were posted up on the White House's flickr site where they make public many of their own family photos. They did obscure the faces of the daughters, then took down the photo. Good move, guys. Keep up the a$$ chewing for that aide. Oh, well, nothing like your worst mistakes going viral on the internet!

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

3 Videos: Free Health Clinics Serving Middle Class America Now, Republicans Party of No Answers

From Denny: This is a disturbing report. As foolish Republican strategists, conservative media and everyday citizen political hacks continue to fight the President on health care reform because their incomes are paid for by the insurance industry, middle class people with jobs have to resort to free health clinics for basic needs.

Free clinics were once the last resort of the poorest of the poor in America. Today, people call their local fire department and 911 calls for free help as much as overwhelming the emergency rooms of hospitals. Now the new trend is free clinics. Has America become a third world nation? We are a nation in distress and Big Business and the Repubican Party doesn't give a damn.

Americans are dropping their health insurance premiums in droves. No one can afford the $15,000 a year premiums just to own basic coverage. That doesn't even address catastrophic coverage if they were to experience a cancer diagnosis.

Nor does the health insurance industry any longer guarantee, even if rated up to higher premiums, that a person can get coverage because of pre-existing conditions, some as easy to treat as Type 2 Diabetes.

Doctors and nurses are already overworked across America from a stressed out medical system. Yet, here they are, a number of hardy loving souls, volunteering their "free" time to help offer health care to folks who can no longer afford health care premiums. Those $100,000 a year jobs are now only paying $30,000. With a 70% cut in pay across America (because of Big Business still continuing to outsource our jobs as no one has stopped the so-called "work visa" program), no one can any longer afford what they used to pay, yet the insurance industry keeps rocking along gouging the American consumer.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

September 29

"It's not appropriate for me, as American ambassador, to say the people I work for didn't do something appropriately. And I'm not going to say that. What happened happened."

--Outgoing Bush-appointed U.S. ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe, a former mayor of Knoxville, Tennessee, regarding Washington's decision -- announced on September 17, the date when the Soviet Union invaded Poland in 1939 -- to back out of the missile shield agreement forged by the Bush administration -- and opposed by Russia -- which has evoked memories among Poles of Cold War helplessness, of being brushed aside as casualties of great power politics. Image from

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

US Embassy Warsaw sees insensitive timing of Obama’s - Ted [Lipien], Blogger News Network: "Displaying unprecedented boldness for a US diplomatic mission, the US Embassy in Warsaw conceded on its official public website that Poles believe that the 'insensitive timing' — as the Embassy put it — of the Obama administration announcement on canceling the US missile shield system in Central Europe 'shows that Obama does not understand Poland.' In what may be a deliberate US public diplomacy effort to repair the public relations damage in Poland, a news item on the embassy website, posted in both English and Polish, acknowledged that 'the timing of Obama’s announcement upset Poland and Polish Americans because it came on Sept. 17, the 70th anniversary of the Russian invasion of Poland at the beginning of World War II.' …

The fear in Poland that history may repeat itself may explain, according to a former US official, the unprecedented frankness of the news item placed by American diplomats in Warsaw on the US Embassy website. Another explanation may be the absence of a US ambassador in Poland, the lack of usual bureaucratic supervision and the desire of the embassy staff to redeem themselves after failing to get the attention of the Obama White House that making the missile announcement on September 17 would be seen as a major offense in Poland. ... It is not clear whether the news on the US embassy website is a purely local initiative of American diplomats in Warsaw or represents a major effort approved in Washington to repair the public relations damage from President Obama’s decision. A former employee of the now defunct US Information Agency, which was once responsible for conducting public diplomacy, said that in any case it was a commendable display of diplomatic frankness and courage." See also Megan K. Stack, “Poles indignant that U.S. altered missile-shield plans,” Los Angeles Times. Image from

The Bear Still Has Teeth - Robert D. Kaplan, The Atlantic: "[T]he the Obama Administration’s decision, earlier this month, to scrap America’s Poland-and Czech Republic -based missile defense plans in favor of a sea-based approach makes eminent sense.

The new system will better protect America’s allies against Iranian missiles. Moreover, we need Russia’s cooperation on matters of geopolitical importance right now, and can’t afford to antagonize the country with new military bases in the midst of its perceived sphere of influence. But announcing our decision on the 70th anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Poland was a strategic communications failure—suggesting to Eastern Europe that it is once again being deserted by its allies and left to the mercies of the Russian bear." Image: Black bear teeth

The September 17 missile announcement: A speculation regarding this public-diplomacy disaster - John Brown, Notes and Essays: "The Russians knew full well the announcement would be a PD disaster for the U.S. in Poland."

Persistent 'Foreign Language Gap' Compromises Diplomatic efforts in Afghanistan, GAO Report Says - Karen Schuberg, cnsnews.com: "State Department press officer Fred Lash told CNSNews.com that finding language-proficient employees 'has probably been a problem for years' because many of the positions are in spots that 'are difficult to fill--they’re hazardous and they’re at hardship posts, things like that.' …


When asked about potential difficulties in conducting diplomatic negotiations given the dearth of language-proficient [diplomatic] personnel, Lash said the State Department has been training some military personnel in language and cultural sensitivity. 'We have a military unit somewhere (that)has been undergoing cultural and language training but there’s just not as much of it. There needs to be more of that, too,' Lash said. 'Along the public diplomacy line we’re kind of far behind largely because of staffing and budget, but I think there are people that are working on bringing us up to par,' Lash said. Image from

Waiting for 'smart power' – Marc Lynch, Foreign Policy: "The Obama administration came in with a unique promise to transform America's public diplomacy and global engagement. Obama himself captivated international attention and created a fresh start to reconfigure American relationships. His conception of a global engagement rooted in 'mutual interest and mutual respect' beautifully captured this potential. The people around Obama really seemed to understand the appropriate role of public diplomacy and strategic communications -- from Hillary Clinton's 'smart power'

and Robert Gates's call to build State Department capacity to key actors at the NSC. Obama's personal interventions have been fantastic -- the interviews, the speeches, the key symbolic gestures (such as promising to end torture and close Gitmo). But this makes it all the more baffling that the government as a whole has so often failed to capitalize on the openings these moves have created. … I don't know why it has proven so difficult for the U.S. government to mount public diplomacy and strategic communications campaigns in support of key administration policy goals. Is it something about the organization of the government, leadership, or the allocation of the resources? Is it that deeds have not kept up with words, harming the credibility of such communications campaigns? Is it the cultural clash between traditional public diplomacy and the demands of goal-oriented strategic communications? Is it that the State Department hasn't stepped up as the Pentagon's strategic communications operations have been scaled back? Is it a backlash against the over-selling of stratetic communications in recent years? Or is it something else?" See also. Image from

Strategic Communications: The Debate continues – John Brown, Huffington Post: “[T]he ‘Commander's Initial Assessment’ of the situation in Afghanistan, signed by General Stanley A. McChrystal, Commander - Afghanistan/International Security Assistance Force, is now available to the public. …

While in no way does this document make a convincing case that the war in Afghanistan can be 'won' by more 'sensitive' and 'sensible' strategic communications or public diplomacy, it at least reflects an admission of the tremendous difficulties the U.S. faces in reaching and earning the trust of the Afghan population." For the Assessment, see. McChrystal image from

Politics, Terrorism, and the Sunni Divide - Samuel Helfont, FPRI: "By viewing the Muslim Brotherhood and Wahhabism as two separate movements, U.S. policymakers can address each group separately, forming distinct policies for each. Wahhabism presents a unique challenge for U.S. policymakers in that Wahhabists consider any epistemology not rooted entirely in traditional Islamic sources to be invalid. Therefore, it would be very difficult for the United States to engage Wahhabists in direct public diplomacy or a battle of ideas. After all, they do not accept the modern secular premises—whether liberal, realists, Marxist, etc. — that Western arguments rest upon. However, the United States does have a direct interest in limiting the influence of the more violent Wahhabists, and in empowering the most non-political scholars."

U.S. International Broadcasting: Too Bizarre To Be Explained By Political Science - Kim Andrew Elliott, Newswire – CPD Blog & Blogroll, USC Center on Public Diplomacy:

"In the Arab nations, as in much of the rest of the world, audiences for broadcast news have migrated from radio to television. Alhurra provides newscasts for elites and others interested in the news. Many who still listen to radio do so to hear music. [USG-funded] Radio Sawa was designed to follow that audience. Small elite audiences have their uses, but large audiences consisting of people from all strata are even more desirable. In the Jordan survey mentioned above ['In Jordan, Alhurra has a past-week audience of 23%. This is far lower than Al Jazeera’s 92% and Al Arabiya’s 78%. But 23% is a large audience for international broadcasting. Furthermore, Alhurra is (for now) ahead of the new BBC Arabic TV (at 12%) and well ahead of the other Arabic television services from non-Arab nations'], Radio Sawa has a past-week audience of 21%, well ahead of BBC Arabic radio and French-owned Radio Monte Carlo-Middle East, with 9% each.* The Radio Sawa newscasts and features, multiplied by all the people who listen to them, multiplied again by all the times they are heard over the years, result in the neutralization of a great deal of misinformation and disinformation from less salubrious sources. Bizarre? Well, yes, in the sense that U.S. international broadcasting now has double-digit audiences in, of all places, the Arab world, and larger than, of all stations, BBC World Service." Image from

Am I the only one who has an issue with this? - Leah Farrall, Australia, All Things Counter Terrorism: "A blog focussing on all things counter terrorism with an occasional foray into the world of insurgency This is a screen capture of this blog at the NYT…

I note the title 'At War' Then 'From the Arab Press' Then this: A look at discussions inside the Arab world, as played out on the front page of a major Arabic newspaper. Way to help public diplomacy efforts guys. I think I might actually be almost speechless." Image from article

Nigeria, US forms Partnership Drive - Senator Iroegbu, This Day: "Inline with the vision of the Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), and Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation; Nigeria and United States of America (USA) have commenced efforts aimed at promoting sports tourism in the country. Both countries are going to share knowledge and jointly build a mutually beneficial relationship that would see more American tourists coming to Nigeria to watch and participate in traditional and contemporary sports and other related tourism activities in Nigeria. At a recent meeting with the members of the joint action committee of the National Sports Tourism Fiesta, Public Diplomacy Officer at the US Embassy in Nigeria, Mr. Edward Flynn described the idea of sports tourism as an innovative one that deserves all the support it could get."

GNP lawmaker named KOICA honorary envoy – The Korea Herald: "Rep. Hong Jung-wook of the ruling Grand National Party was appointed as an honorary public diplomacy envoy for the Korea International Cooperation Agency yesterday.

Hong, 39, a first-term Harvard-educated legislator, will take part in stressing the necessity and importance of grant-type aid projects with the state-run agency that aims to enhance global ties." Hong Jung-wook image from

RELATED ITEMS

The Neocons Make a Comeback - Bret Stephens, Wall Street Journal: The neocons are back because Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Kim Jong Il and Vladimir Putin never went away. A star may have shone in the east the day Barack Obama became president. But these three kings, at least, have yet to proffer the usual gifts of gold and incense and myrrh.

A conflict of deception - Cal Thomas, Washington Times: Memo to Mr. Obama: Radical, fundamentalist Muslims believe they have a religious duty to lie and deceive "infidels."

Time to Act Like a President - Richard Cohen, Washington Post: At last week's Group of 20 meeting in Pittsburgh the candidate-in-full commandeered the television networks and the leaders of Britain and France to give the Iranians a dramatic warning.

Yet another of their secret nuclear facilities had been revealed and Obama, as anyone could see, was determined to do something about it -- just don't ask what. The supposedly secret installation had been known to Western intelligence agencies -- Britain, France, the United States and undoubtedly Israel -- for several years. Image from

A Big Card To Play in Iran - Anne Applebaum, Washington Post: What do Iran's rulers truly fear? A sustained and well-funded human rights campaign must be a terrifying prospect.

U.S. Envoy's Outreach to Sudan Is Criticized as Naive - Stephanie McCrummen, Washington Post: Top administration officials are scheduled to meet Tuesday to discuss a major review of the United States' Sudan policy. But even as that document is being finalized, U.S. diplomacy has remained mostly in the hands of Obama's special envoy to Sudan, retired Air Force Maj. Gen. J. Scott Gration, who is pushing toward normalized relations with the only country in the world led by a president indicted on war-crimes charges. Although Gration describes the approach as pragmatic and driven by a sense of urgency, his critics here and in the United States say it is dangerously, perhaps willfully, naïve.

Art of Persuasion exhibit in AOK library presents historically pertinent posters from then and now - Samantha Medema, Retriever: The Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery recently unveiled its newest exhibit, entitled "The Art of Persuasion: Poster Design From 1896 through 2008." The exhibit showcases popular and historical posters and silkscreen prints from around the world, and is largely composed of "selections [that] were drawn from UMBC's Special Collections as well as public and private collections," according to the library's website.

The posters in this exhibit are arranged to follow three themes, "Pleasure & Leisure, Politics & Propaganda, and Commercial Advertising." Some of the most familiar works of art are found within the "Politics & Propaganda" section, which includes pieces like the Uncle Sam "want[s] YOU for U.S. Army" poster, as well as a poster depicting U.S. President Barack Obama, with the words "Yes We Did" written in a banner across the top of the image. This group also includes several WWI and II posters, ranging from images promoting the Red Cross to a particularly shocking image of an arm clad in a Nazi uniform holding a knife through a Bible, entitled "This Is The Enemy." Foreign propaganda posters and images from the Vietnam War era are also housed within this group.

September 28

"In many ways, human beings behave like flocks of birds or schools of fish."

--Nicholas Christakis, a physician and Harvard University sociologist who is co-author of a new book, Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives; image from

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

Has the US turned its back on democracy? - Stephen McInerney, The Daily Star, Lebanon: "Overall, the Obama administration has made some strong first steps toward renewing US relations with the Middle East, but its approach to supporting Arab reform is as of yet less clear.

On the one hand, the administration could be following a careful, thoughtful approach in which support for democratic reformers will follow progress on public diplomacy and other diplomatic priorities. Here, restored relationships with Arab governments will pave the way for cooperation on reform. On the other hand, we could instead be witnessing a longer-term downgrading of support for democracy, which would have dire consequences for citizens of Arab states. While the administration’s public rhetoric and its annual budget each offer some potential signs of support for Arab democracy, fears that the United States has abandoned the cause of Arab reformers will persist until US engagement spurs its autocratic allies to undertake visible, substantive steps toward reform." Image from

Let’s Get Real - Art Woodrow, Blogger News Network: "After World War II, the United States became the world policeman and benefactor. These roles have become counterproductive. Let’s get real; it’s time for other nations to take their proportionate share of these responsibilities. … $395 million Influence Foreign Opinion through Public Diplomacy $522 million Engage and Educate through Exchange Programs. … In spite of these huge expenditures, the United States is unloved."

American willingness to engage - The Slovak Spectator:

"The Slovak Spectator spoke to the Charge d’Affaires of the US Embassy in Bratislava [Keith Eddins] not only about press freedom but also about the recently announced change in the US missile defence plans, foreign aid and its outcomes, visa-free travel, and the widely discussed fee for US-bound travellers that the US is considering. [Eddins:] [N]o public anywhere in the world has sufficient understanding of foreign aid. The American public is notorious in having an impression that we spend 25 or even 30 percent of our government budget on foreign aid, when we spend a fraction of that. Governments need to explain through public diplomacy that foreign aid is an important tool to support stability in regions in need." Engagement ring image from

New report recommends improved ties with Cuba - Tracey Eaton, Along the Malecón: "The author of the CSIS report is Peter DeShazo, former director of the State Department's Office of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs."

Guerrilla Diplomacy: Rethinking International Relations [Review of Daryl Copeland, Guerrilla Diplomacy: Rethinking International Relations, Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2009] - Peter R. Beckman, American Diplomacy: "As for GD or guerrilla diplomacy--that turns out to be PD [public diplomacy] kicked up a notch, a 'sharper, faster, lighter' version of PD. … [W]hat Copeland’s analysis

really needs is a presentation of PD and GD at work, with extensive case studies--or if those are too sensitive (or unavailable), then with extensive fictional illustrations of what PD and GD might look like on the ground and how the results might feed into policy formulation and implementation, or into building a persuasive brand." Copeland image from

MDC-T trying to re-write history - Nyasha Marunda, The Zimbabwe Guardian: "The art of public diplomacy goes back a long way, as the old expression 'a wolf in sheep's clothing' shows us. Disguise something bad or give it a cuddly name and by the time people find out it has fangs, it may be too late."

RELATED ITEMS

Borat vs. Murat - Mitchell Polman, Mediaite: "It’s time for those who care about America, especially those who produce documentaries, to turn their talents to making it possible for private sector initiatives to educate and inform overseas audiences about who we really are as a people.

We speak a great deal in this country about the need for people to not always rely on our government. We should not be relying on the American government to do the job of telling our country’s story." Image from

Rank appeasement? 'Diplomatic engagement' is the tack - Arnaud de Borchgrave, Washington Times: Poland and the Czech Republic, some pundits say, feel abandoned by the United States as a result of Mr. Obama's decision. Wrong. Both Prague and Warsaw had been expecting Mr. Obama's decision since he won the presidency. Mr. Obama has opted for diplomatic engagement, so-called smart power, or a blend of soft and hard power. But the ranks of his detractors grow daily.

Obama the Gambler: Betting That Machismo Is Not Foreign Policy - Fareed Zakaria, Washington Post:

Obama's outreach to the world is an experiment, and not merely to see if the world will respond. He wants to demonstrate at home that engagement does not make America weak. Image from

Obama can't downsize to success in Afghanistan: The president appears to be dragging his feet on more troops for the struggle, but that's what an effective counterinsurgency strategy requires - Max Boot, latimes.com: We do not have to create 'Jeffersonian democracy' in Afghanistan. But we do have to keep it from becoming a terrorist haven. The only way to achieve that minimal objective is with a comprehensive counterinsurgency strategy.

How to win: Classic counterinsurgency - Oliver North, Washington Times: Here's the bottom line, based on months in the field with U.S. and NATO troops and Afghanistan's fledgling security forces: This is a fight we can - and must - win. It is a classical counterinsurgency campaign - not rocket science.

Testing Afghanistan Assumptions: The lesson of Vietnam is don't commit troops without a clear strategy - John Kerry, Wall Street Journal:

Mr. Obama promises not to send more troops to Afghanistan until he has absolute clarity on what the strategy will be. He is right to take the time he needs to define the mission. We should all follow his lead and debate all of the options. Image from

A War President? - Ross Douthat, New York Times: If Obama takes us deeper into a conflict for which he doesn’t really have the stomach, then the outcome will almost certainly be tragic — for him, for us, and for Afghanistan.

Keeping Iran honest: Iran's secret nuclear plant will spark a new round of IAEA inspections and lead to a period of even greater transparency - Scott Ritter, guardian.co.uk: When Obama announced that 'Iran is breaking rules that all nations must follow', he is technically and legally wrong.

There Are Only Two Choices Left on Iran: An Israeli or U.S. military strike now, or a nuclear Tehran soon - Eliot A. Cohen, Wall Street Journal:

The U.S. government has hoped for a middle course of sanctions, negotiations and bargaining that would remove the problem without the ugly consequences. This is self-delusion. It is in the American interest to break with past policy and actively seek the overthrow of the Islamic Republic. Not by invasion, which this administration would not contemplate and could not execute, but through every instrument of U.S. power, soft more than hard. Image from

The U.S.-Iranian Triangle - Roger Cohen, New York Times: Isolated, nuclear negotiations will fail. Integrated, they may not. Iran’s sense of humiliation is rooted in its America complex; its nuclear program is above all about the restoration of pride. Settle the complex to contain the program. Triangulate. Think broad. Think E.U., not Versailles.

Propaganda campaign meant to marginalize Iran ahead of nuclear talk - Tehran Times: TEHRAN -- Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani says that the new propaganda campaign about Iran’s nuclear activities was launched by the West to help them impose their will on the Islamic Republic during the upcoming talks between Iran and the 5+1 group.

Burma Review: A new Obama administration policy is promising but incomplete – Editorial, Washington Post

What We Can't Conquer, We Buy - Siv O'Neall, OpEdNews: The policies of the United States from the very beginning of the colonial days down through the centuries of heedless murder and takeover of lands belonging to foreign countries and to native Americans have always been greedy, callous and self-righteous.

The people in power decide that their country has to go to war for conquest and increased power, wars to dominate, to oppress, to minimize people who are different from us. And the ‘enemy', the people who are sacrificed on the altar of greed, are always depicted as inferior, as barely human. The propaganda machine gets turned on and the ‘Gooks', the ‘terrorists' or whatever name they may have been labeled with, are now seen as not really worth humane treatment. The death of a ‘Gook' or the suffering of a ‘terrorist' is of no importance. The term ‘collateral damage' for the deaths of civilians in the enemy country is a clear sign that those uncivilized people are of no importance. Image from

The El Paso Museum of Art announces Recycle/Reuse: WWII Propaganda Prints - Newspaper Tree: Recycle / Reuse: WWII Propaganda Prints examines the vintage concept of recycling as depicted in World War II posters. This exhibition is open to the public September 27, 2009 through March 2, 2010 in the Gateway Gallery at the El Paso Museum of Art. This exhibition is free to the public. Related merchandise is available for purchase in the Museum Store.

ONLY IN BELARUS

“Per person, the world's leading potato eaters are in Belarus.”


-- Associated Press, “International Research Team Cracks Potato Genome,” New York Times; image from

7 Videos: Former President Bill Clinton on Meet The Press

From Denny: This was a great interview. How refreshing to actually hear an intelligent conversation about world issues. Clinton did not upstage the current President either but rather offered agreement or suggestions of how to proceed forward on Iran. He also spoke about the Clinton Global Initiative group's efforts in the world on a variety of social issues.

Engaging Iran:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Clinton on troop surge in Afghanistan and why:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Clinton on the state of America's political discourse and the virulence of the right wing Republicans:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Clinton on health care reform:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Clinton on whether he desires to return to office:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Clinton on his CGI group concerning world poverty, water supply and climate change:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Democratic Senator Webb concerning Afghanistan in the news:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

5 Videos: G20 Conference Highlights, World Sanctions Against Iran, Obamas Vision, Diplomatic Security Story, How Irans People Will Fare Under New Sanctions

From Denny: First up, the G20 took aim at American CEOs ridiculously high compensation bonuses. Isn't it something that it takes outside countries to lobby for the American people when our own representatives in Congress lobby against us? Some seriously screwed up priorities in politics these days. What the G20 did try to address are some better standards for the global economy to keep the chaos down to a minimum.

Of course, Europe isn't exactly the standard bearer to defend the American people. They are really defending their own wallets when their treasuries invest in America. Hey, a left-handed warrior is better than none. The American people will take all the defenders from all quarters at this point: "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" works nicely here.


Watch CBS Videos Online

Here's the beginning coverage of the G20 conference where President Obama set out a sweeping new vision for America's foreign policy.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

This is a bit of a grinner as the delegates gathered:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

This is an exclusive report from CBS News about the United Nations security, where most of the delegates met prior to the G20 conference. Talk about a nightmare! I still remember being in Rome, Italy when the Pope died and observed how the Italians shut down the entire city as diplomats, world leaders and well-wishers began to flood the city:


Watch CBS Videos Online

Here's a good report on what world sanctions could mean for Iran's people. They are already groaning under the weight of a bad economy where everything costs alarmingly more than it did in previous better times.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy