September 22

"He can send more troops and it will be a disaster and he will destroy the Democratic Party. Or he can send no more troops and it will be a disaster and the Republicans will say he lost the war."

--One observer, characterizing the American president's dilemma, at its most extreme, regarding Afghanistan; image from

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

The right move in Europe: Improved opportunities with NATO, Russia - Christopher S. Chivvis, Washington Times: "The challenge will lie in determining the minimum NATO must do to reassure Eastern European states about NATO's commitment to their security. This will be tricky, but doing any more than the minimum will play into Russian attempts to portray reassurance as a sign of NATO hostility.

At the same time, it will be necessary to convince Germany that beefing up security for Eastern Europe will actually improve NATO-Russian relations in the long run. This, in turn, will require effective and proactive public diplomacy. Whether the shift in missile defense strategy will lead to greater Russian cooperation on Iran, as some hope, remains to be seen. But it is the right thing to do if it removes a major bone of contention within NATO itself." Image from

Tom Jocelyn & the Fallacy of Foreign-Policy Egocentrism - The Gormogons: "Obama’s popularity abroad can be a useful tool for public diplomacy in democratic countries—or perhaps to inspire oppressed populaces like Iran’s. It cannot, however, be relied upon as a diplomatic asset, especially when dealing with countries which have chosen for their own reasons to regard us—the sole, massively militarily superior superpower—as their enemy. As we’ve said again and again, this appeal—essentially, 'like us!'—is read as weakness, and (even good-faith) supplication gets slapped down."

Pakistan's Foreign Minister One-on-One: Mahkdoom Qureshi Talks Exclusively with Katie Couric; Says That Despite Strong Ties, U.S. Has "Failed In Public Diplomacy" - Katie Couric, CBS News: "Couric: How is anti-American sentiment right now in Pakistan? Qureshi: I think you have failed in public diplomacy. You have not reaped - sort of the - the rewards of what you have given.

Couric: Isn't sending billions of dollars in aid to Pakistan, though, a pretty powerful message to the Pakistani people? Qureshi: You see, giving money is one thing. But cultivating the people is something totally different. President Obama is now reaching out to the Muslim world. Why is he doing that? Because he realizes that the strategy of the past was not working." Qureshi image from article.

Obama’s Mideast Strategy: Useless if Not Harmful - Eric Trager, NewMajority.com: "[B]y reinforcing Islamists’ version of history and calling it 'public diplomacy,' Obama has systematically alienated the Israeli people, who have increasingly backed Netanyahu’s more skeptical approach to both U.S. policy and peace making. Polls currently show that Netanyahu’s approval rating among Israelis is at 65% – staggeringly high, especially by the standards of Israel’s fractious political system – while only 4% of Israeli Jews see Obama as pro-Israel."

Occupation in Iraq a partnership of forces: Deployed troops: Plan is to enable Iraqis until U.S. can fade to background - Scott Fontaine, The News Tribune:

"A provincial reconstruction team is a State Department-run effort that combines military and civilian workers to help improve governance, economics, infrastructure, rule of law and public diplomacy." Image: "Provincial Reconstruction Team - Iraq - Baghdad #E05050View detailsPrice: $15.95"

This Week in Congress - David Waldman, Congress Matters (blog) - "On Wednesday and Thursday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for legislative business. On Friday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business. 1. Suspensions (13 Bills) … H.R. 3593 - To amend the United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 to extend by one year the operation of Radio Free Asia (Rep. Royce - Foreign Affairs) … H.R. 2131 - To amend the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998 to reauthorize the United States Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy (Rep. Watson - Foreign Affairs)"

Leadership Award - Laura, U.S./Middle East Relations: "The Institute for International Education (IIE) will award three Iranian-American women at its 90th anniversay gala with the first-ever Women's Global Leadership Award.

The gala will take place in New York on Wednesday, September 23. Laya Khadjavi, Roya Khadjavi-Heidari, and Nazgol Saati Shahbazi are being honored for their efforts in setting up the Iran Opportunities Fund, a unique private-public partnership that enables international scholarly exchanges. Thirty Iranian graduate students have arrived in the United States over the past three years to teach Persian at American colleges and universities. Congratulations to these three enterprising, deserving women for enabling improved relations through public diplomacy." Image from

Mideast Awaits Fireworks and Surprises from Manhattan - Benjamin Joffe-Walt, The Media Line: "'I don't expect any breakthrough in relations between Iran and the United States and I would be very surprised if Obama and Ahmadinejad met,' Dr Seyyed Mohammad Marandi, a lecturer in North American Studies at the University of Tehran told The Media Line. 'I think that's highly unlikely.' … Dr Marandi argued Ahmadinejad would likely use the U.N. as a platform to reach out to his global supporters, rather than as a place for engagement with Western powers. 'I think Ahmadinejad will be using the U.N. as a public diplomacy tool, as his audience is not so much the U.N. and the U.S. but the developing world and the Islamic world,' he said. 'That's the audience Ahmadinejad tends to focus on.'" See also.

When in New York? The American people must understand that Libya has also been a victim of Lockerbie and it is interested in finding out the truth as much as every other party, says Mustafa Fetouri – Middle East Online: "Libya must present its opinion openly and welcome any dissent at the UN as what is important is our point of view getting cross. This could be the first ever opportunity we speak publically about Lockerbie in the United States; a country lost the most in the Lockerbie tragedy.

PR efforts should not be discounted either. The US public opinion is media driven and can only hear us if we manage our PR professionally. This is where skillful and professional public diplomacy comes in and could be very effective. The American people must understand that Libya has also been a victim of Lockerbie and it is interested in finding out the truth as much as every other party." Lockerbie image from

Canada should Invite more International Students to boost the Economy- suggests a Report - Angad Info Immigration Consultants: "Mr. R.M. Touhey … published a study … titled, 'A New Direction for the Canada – India Relationship' [which] analysed that Canada is lagging behind in taking sufficient number of international students than other developed countries. The report outlines three such areas that should be emphasized to develop an underdeveloped and under-articulated relationship: Canada must strengthen its meagre public diplomacy/advocacy efforts in India. A Canada-India Council that will work to enhance the flow of knowledge and people between Canada and India needs to be created. Such an organization would facilitate advocacy and Track Two efforts with other interested organizations. Post-secondary linkages with Indian students, universities and colleges must be strengthened. … Canada and India should bolster their nascent science and technology (S&T) linkages."

International Peace Day: FoxNews ignores the Most Successful Social Networking Awarenss Campaign - Col. David J. Wright, Globcal, Goodwill and Diplomacy Online: "It is not spam if it is International Peace Day. The entire Internet has been fired up by Peace and Goodwill from everyone.

There is nothing more important or nothing more popular ever discussed within social network platforms globally and probably nothing more important in our world today. The 'People's Democratic Public Diplomacy Movement' has won over the attention of the entire globe, it is democracy pure and simple, people want peace and they will have it this day. Thinking about it a little more, it is very clear to see that diplomacy and progress cannot occur with dis-accord, war, famine and injustice, we need to find common ground to establish equality and harmony on the planet, what a great start to unite all people and start a global conversation. Peace it is so simple and so pure and a common need of mankind." Image from

Rock Star in Dhaka: Beijing bound! – sshah, Beijing Travel - Culture and Recreation: "Today I got my assignment for Beijing. I won’t be there until July 2011, but it’s still exciting. I’m slated for a year of consular work and a year as Assistant Cultural Affairs Officer–one of, like, six or something… it will be a huge change from being captain, first mate, and chief bottle washer of the Cultural Affairs ship here in Dhaka. But it will be a great chance to see the workings of a larger section and embassy, drill down into one specific area in depth, and learn from some more seasoned public diplomacy hands."

RELATED ITEMS

Kremlin Spin Machine Goes into Overdrive - Nathan Hodge, Wired: We can’t help but marvel at the Kremlin’s new-’n'-improved spin machine. Last week, President Barack Obama announced a major shift in missile-defense strategy, scrapping the previous administration’s plans to station missile interceptors and radars in Eastern Europe.

It was supposed to be all about making sensible decisions about technology — and confronting the threat from Iran. But in Russia, the whole episode has been portrayed rather triumphantly as a climbdown by the Americans. Image: Russian Spinning: Flax Held on Frame, Leaving Both Hands Free to Manage the Thread and Spindle. From Hull House Museum.

UNESCO's book burner – Editorial, The Washington Times: UNESCO's stated mission is to serve as a "laboratory of ideas" while promoting education and "working to create the conditions for genuine dialogue based upon respect for shared values and the dignity of each civilization and culture." In yesterday's fourth round of voting, Egypt's Faruq Hosni earned an exact 29-29 tie with Bulgaria's Irina Bokova, a long-respected diplomat and scholar. Mr. Hosni has rightly drawn widespread criticism for his association with censorship and extreme cultural bias rather than openness.

AP sources: Obama may change Afghanistan course againAP, USA TODAY: — President Obama may change course again as the war worsens in Afghanistan, steering away from the comprehensive counterinsurgency strategy he laid out this spring and toward a narrower focus on counterterror operations aimed at al-Qaeda.

U.S. Commanders Told to Shift Focus to More Populated Areas - Greg Jaffe, Washington Post: Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the top military officer in Afghanistan, has told his commanders to pull forces out of sparsely populated areas where U.S. troops have fought bloody battles with the Taliban for several years and focus them on protecting major Afghan population centers.

But the changes, which amount to a retreat from some areas, have already begun to draw resistance from senior Afghan officials who worry that any pullback from Taliban-held territory will make the weak Afghan government appear even more powerless in the eyes of its people. Image from

General's Review Creates Rupture: As Military Backs Call for More Troops In Afghanistan, Civilian Advisers Balk - Karen DeYoung, Washington Post: Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal's grim assessment of the Afghanistan war has opened a divide between the military, which is pushing for an early decision to send more troops, and civilian policymakers who are increasingly doubtful of an escalating nation-building effort.

The Hard and Bitter Truth - Bob Herbert, New York Times:


As President Obama tries to decide what to do about Afghanistan, reality is insisting that he take into account the worn-down condition of our military after so many years of fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the soaring budget deficits and sky-high unemployment numbers here at home in a country that is hurting badly and could use its own dose of nation-building. Mr. Obama, in the face of these daunting realities, is said to be re-thinking his plans to ratchet up American involvement in Afghanistan. One can only hope. Image from

More Than a Numbers Game in Afghanistan - Eugene Robinson, Washington Post: What Obama needs to do is downsize the mission. Our only goals should be to satisfy ourselves that Afghanistan will not again be a terrorist haven and to leave as quickly as possible. We need to use not just force but also diplomacy -- which means, yes, talking to the Taliban.

Wavering on Afghanistan? President Obama seems to have forgotten his own arguments for a counterinsurgency campaign – Editorial, Washington Post

Obama goes wobbly on Afghanistan: The White House leans toward cutting and running – Editorial, Washington Times

Obama's Befuddling Afghan Policy: Why is the president hesitating on more troops to fight his 'war of necessity'?- Leslie H. Gelb, Wall Street Journal: Defeat for America in Afghanistan and Pakistan can be avoided only if Democrats acknowledge that the Afghans need major help for two to three more years, and Republicans admit that the political clock at home won't give them much more time than that.

Letting Europe Drift - Anne Applebaum, Washington Post: In Europe, President Obama is still the most popular American leader in recent memory.

Yet he has failed to capitalize on this popularity, in part because he has failed to use it. His only message in Europe so far -- "send more troops to Afghanistan" -- has been clouded by his own ambivalence about the Afghan mission. Image from

Is the U.S. Losing the Pacific? The trend isn't America's friend - Mary Kissel, Wall Street Journal

The Obama Show – Stanley Fish, New York Times:

"I’m sure that Hilary [sic] Clinton is doing important work as secretary of state, but the only time she’s been in the news beyond a single cycle was when she bridled at a question about her husband." Image from