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