January 1

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"Those that speak do not know; those who know do not speak."

--a 1,600-year-old aphorism from the "Verba Seniorum"

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

What to do in Yemen: Five Basic Suggestions – Gregory, Waq Al-Waq: “Go on the Offensive: The US must be much more active in presenting its views to the Yemeni public. This does not mean giving interviews to the Yemen Observer or the Yemen Times or even al-Hurra, which is at least in Arabic. It means writing and placing op-eds in Arabic in widely read Yemeni newspapers like al-Thawra. I detailed a golden opportunity that the US missed with the Shaykh Muhammad al-Mu’ayyad case in August in a report I wrote for the CTC Sentinel (which is available on the sidebar). This also means allowing US diplomats to go to qat chews in Yemen – and even, perish the thought, chew qat with Yemenis.

The US should be honest about what qat is and what it does and not hide behind antiquated rules that penalize a version of the stimulant that does not exist in Yemen. Whether or not the US knows it, it is engaged in a propaganda war with al-Qaeda in Yemen and it is losing and losing badly. US public diplomacy is all defense and no offense in Yemen, this has to change or the results of the past few years will remain the roadmap for the future. And that future will witness an increasingly strong al-Qaeda presence in Yemen.” Qat image from

VOL. V NO. 27, December 18-December 31, 2009 - The Layalina Review on Public Diplomacy and Arab Media:

"US Public Diplomacy in the Middle East on a New Course US public diplomacy underwent significant changes in 2009. More than ever, experts recommend a comprehensive interagency strategy that integrates specific foreign policy objectives with overall communications with foreign publics while consolidating and elevating government leadership for public diplomacy and strategic communication.
Great Strides for Social Media If the hallmark of the closing decade is the expansion of the internet to nearly all corners of the world and sectors of society, 2009 will be remembered as the year social media came into its own. Users in the Middle East from the Palestinian Territories to Tehran were able to access information, voice their opinions and communicate to a greater extent than ever before.
Congress Satellite Law May Affect Al-Hurra and Other Channels A bill by the House of Representatives that blames owners of communications satellites, not just TV networks, for spreading world terror and acting against the United States, has provoked anger in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Congress hopes the new legislation, which requires the President to issue an annual report on anti-American sentiments in broadcasting, will create more equitable television viewing.
Obama and the Middle East: A Year of Ebb and Flows 2009 has been a year of highs and lows for President Obama in the Arab world, from his first interview with Al-Arabiya to an unprecedented overture in Cairo that brought a rapprochement between America and the region, followed by a series of missed opportunities and less popular decision toward the end of the year. Below image from


A New Dawn for US-Muslim Relations Following the electoral victory of Barack Obama, one of the primary concerns for many observers was the restoration of America's image, particularly in the Arab and Muslim worlds. Yet, at the end of 2009, a series of what are perceived as missed opportunities have further entrenched a rift between the US and the Arab world.
Conservative Wing Takes Lead of Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt The conservatives won the recent elections within the main Egyptian opposition party, the Muslim Brotherhood, which could possibly sideline the reformists within the party, revealing a battle between two competing poles in the party: the younger reformists and more moderate ones against the more conservative older generation.
Pakistan: A Sore Point of American Diplomacy in 2009 2009 has been a difficult year in US-Pakistani relations between the rejection of the Kerry-Lugar bill and to rid the country of Al-Qaeda. Eventually both countries are heading towards a common ground despite differences.
Goldstone: Two Narratives The 22 day Israeli operation on Gaza that started on December 27, 2008, led to the establishment of the Goldstone commission, a United Nations fact-finding mission investigating the three-week war in Gaza, which created a rift in the international community and further complicated US-Arab relations.
Hassan and the Issue of Radicalism in the US The recent failed terrorist attack by a Nigerian man and the massacre at Fort Hood in November launched new debates on the real threat that terrorism in the US poses, while prompting discussion on anti-Muslim backlashes."

Barack to the Drawing Board - Liz Losh, Virtualpolitik: "Obama’s direct address to the YouTube viewer references the rhetorics of many other U.S. presidents. A montage of clips from the White House official YouTube channel shows several allusions to his historical predecessors. Like Franklin Roosevelt Obama uses the pedagogical pose of the 'fireside chat,' like Kennedy he attempts to conduct public diplomacy efforts and speak to citizens abroad in their own languages, and like Reagan he consoles the nation in times of tragedy. … Yet there was some irony this September when Obama created a YouTube back-to-school message intended for children in public school classrooms to inspire them to work hard and show respect for the institutions of learning, because most schools in the United States block YouTube,

and even teachers cannot access such video-sharing sites on school networks when needed for obvious pedagogical uses. As privacy advocate Christopher Soghoian points out, what is most disturbing about the official sanctioning of YouTube by the White House is that it subjects citizens who visit the website of a public institution to YouTube’s surveillance, tracking, and data mining without their knowledge or explicit consent.” Image from

Radek Sikorski's Pointless Patriots - Karl Naylor, easterneuropewatch.blogspot.com: “The fact that Sikorski's Public Diplomacy with regards the Patriot Missiles is about maintaining face after Obama pulled the plug on the Missile Shield inherited from the Bush administration is even admitted by an article in the U.S. semi-official military newspaper Stars and Stripes.”

Getting the Hill Experience and Powell’s Leadership Principles - Donald's Space: “Secretary Gates is correct in his statement broadcasted at Kansas State University there is an extreme need for public diplomacy. Strategic Communications (Strat Comm), foreign assistance, civic action, economic development and reconstruction is what's needed to diffuse a crisis before using kinetic means of the military to forcefully counter specific enemy actions.

I believe DODs use of Strat Comm is directed at a specific audience using information operations--psyops, public affairs; military support to public diplomacy, theater security cooperation, visual information, and operations is what's needed before kinetic means are executed. Currently, this process is the most important process of the day. Without it extremism grows stronger.” Image from

2009–An Early Review - The World According to Me: ”So far the acrimony with the rest of the planet caused by our support of … undemocractically elected … has remained low, but we are steadily chipping away at the foundation of our image. Perhaps we could never live up to it. But so far what is only a public diplomacy nightmare will spread into real diplomacy.”

Best in Global Beats 2009 - Bob’s Blog: "Gnawledge Granada Doaba Country: U.S.A./Spain Free Download My favorite thing about this album

is that is was produced by an American dj with the help of a Fulbright scholarship from the U.S. Department of State. Now that’s public diplomacy. It doesn’t hurt that the record is a beautiful fusion of flamenco and hip-hop break beats. And it’s free. What’s not to love? Track Selection on Mix: 'La Senda de Abuelo.” Image from article

Introducing Public Diplomacy Officer Sue Harville - Donna, Welcome to BeaniesForBaghdad.com: "Sue Harville of PRT in Baghdad recently received boxes from Beanies for Baghdad and is now has been added to receive beanies on a regular basis.Sue shares, 'we go out to meet the Iraqi public all the time and having a few trinkets to pass out really breaks the ice. The children love it and their parents glow when they see their children’s smiles…not to mention how good it makes us feel, too!!' 'Thank you so much for your contribution. The smiles on the children’s faces as we gave them the Beanies warmed our hearts. It was an experience none of us will soon forget.' Bless you! Sue Susan R. Harville Public Diplomacy Officer."

Address: Conference on The 20th Anniversary of the Liberated and Reunited Europe Timbro & Institute for Information on the Crimes of Communism, Stockholm, Sweden 9.18.09 - Clark S. Judge, Clark S. Judge: Archives: "The President [Reagan] used public opinion as a bargaining lever, also like a labor leader. Just as he appealed to the nation to back his tax cuts, he appealed to the people of Europe to stand up to the Soviets. Finally, standing before the bust of Lenin at Moscow State University,

he appealed to the Soviet people to join the community of normal nations. His public-diplomacy campaign included broadcasts directly to Europe as well as the now widely replayed pair of Normandy speeches in 1984." Image from

American Public Diplomacy: Engaging Middle Eastern Audiences - Monthly Highlights, The Fletcher School, Tufts University: February 3, 05:30 PM Part of the Fares Lecture Series Spring 2010 Speaker: Evelyn Early, Air University Senior State Department Advisor; Air War College Deputy Commandant for International Affairs Location: Cabot Intercultural Center Room 702170 Packard Avenue Medford, MA 02155 Website:
http://farescenter.tufts.edu/events/

Daily International Jobs In East Africa: Job Opportunities at Albany Associates - Yona Fares Maro, Daily International Jobs In East Africa: “Albany Associates is a UK-based, internationally-focussed company with a strong track record in delivering communications and public diplomacy strategies;

consulting on media and telecommunications law and regulatory frameworks; advising on media infrastructure development including assisting the development of public service broadcasting and providing professional training and institutional capacity building. ... We are always interested in hearing from experienced individuals or keen graduates interested in joining an internationally focused company.” Image from

CULTURAL DIPLOMACY

Monster Mash: 'Addams Family' trouble; 'Ragtime' to close on Broadway; Simon Cowell's present* - Los Angeles Times (blog): “Cultural diplomacy: There's been an increase in cultural exchange between the U.S. and Cuba since President Obama took office. (The New York Times)”

StandWithUs takes pro-Israel show to China - Cnaan Liphshiz, Ha'aretz – “Thousands of Chinese art lovers will experience a first encounter with Israeli public diplomacy next week, when StandWithUs,

one of the world's prominent Israel-advocacy groups, takes a photo exhibition of Israel to Harbin in the Asian giant's northeast. StandWithUs, which focuses on advocating Israel's position in campuses in the West, will send a group of seven delegates to Harbin to showcase Israel through an exhibition entitled ‘Inside Israel,’ comprising works from 50 of Israel's leading artists, of landscapes, nature, urban life, Judaism, ethnic groups and architecture.” Image from

Diplomacy enhances nation's status - VOVNews.vn - ‎"Cultural diplomacy [:] In 2009, Vietnam made many breakthroughs in terms of culture such as gaining UNESCO recognition of some of its natural and cultural heritage sites and launching a wide range of ‘resounding’ cultural events inside and outside the country, which assisted greatly in promoting the image and potential of the Vietnamese land and people. Besides, the country has made great progress in devising policies regarding the practical interests of overseas Vietnamese and in educating this community on its patriotic duties. Vietnam successfully hosted the first conference for overseas Vietnamese worldwide and another for overseas Vietnamese entrepreneurs.” See also (1)(2)(3)

Oh, for art's sake - Christine Lindey, Morning Star Online:

"Increasing dependence on media partners, multinational and national corporations raises the issue of self-censorship or of international cultural diplomacy in curatorial policies. ...

The temptation to steer clear of contentious political implications may underlie the often bland or thin political contexts provided by major exhibitions.” Top image from; other image from

RELATED ITEMS

A terrorist war Obama has denied - Charles Krauthammer, Washington Post: Obama sends 30,000 troops to fight terror overseas, yet if any terrorists come to attack us here, they are magically transformed from enemy into defendant. Below image from


Thinking Realistically About Terrorism – Philip Seib, Huffington Post: The response to the attempted firebombing of a Detroit-bound aircraft shows that the American government, news media, and public have yet to develop an understanding of how terrorism works and where the greatest terrorist threats are to be found.

Terror Attempt May Hinder Plans to Close Guantánamo - Peter Baker and Charlie Savage, New York Times: Ben LaBolt, a White House spokesman, said Mr. Obama remained “as committed to closing the detention facility at Guantánamo” as he was a year ago, in part because it is a magnet for anti-American propaganda. “That facility has been used as a rallying cry and recruiting tool by Al Qaeda and its affiliates, including Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula,” Mr. LaBolt said.

The U.N. in Afghanistan - Editorial, New York Times: Americans don’t hear a lot about the top United Nations representative in Afghanistan, but the job is a critically important one.

The mission’s responsibilities include strengthening governance, combating corruption, monitoring and protecting human rights and assuring fair and independently supervised elections. Securing and rebuilding Afghanistan is an international, not just an American, responsibility. Image from

U.S. should stand up to China's hard-liners: Activist Liu Xiaobo's harsh sentence despite Western pleas for leniency underscores China's authoritarian arrogance. If the U.S. doesn't push back, China's hard-liners will push on - Wei Jingsheng, Los Angeles Times: The United States may owe a great deal of debt to China, but it owes a greater debt to its founding principles of freedom and human rights. If the West, led by the United States, does not counterbalance China's new might in the world order, who will?

China says 5,394 arrested in Internet porn crackdown - Reuters, Washington Post

As 2010 begins, can we keep faith in our great American ideals? – Editorial, Washington Post:

In reality, of course, conflict never goes away in this world. It can be contained, channeled, its causes alleviated, but there will always be grievances and hatreds. The old powers of Europe ran out of ideas and energy for dealing with them. The pattern set by post-World War II America was a new and different one. It included worldwide engagement, aid to devastated countries, free trade, open societies and human rights, tolerance, democracy tempered by constitutional protections for all, and freedom to travel. These things have served us and the world well. Whether we can maintain our belief in them, even as our economy faces troubling uncertainty, our national resources are stretched, and some of our finest young people suffer death and injury every day in distant places -- that's the great question for the next 10 years and beyond. Image from

Izgad: Avatar is Not Liberal Propaganda (It is Something Far More Pernicious) - Benzion Chinn, Izgad: When Cameron and other members of the Hollywood left attack free enterprise corporations and venerate hunter gatherer cultures, they are not being liberal. On the contrary, they set the stage for the destruction of liberalism, for fascism.

Orwell Birthplace to Be Restored - Julie Bloom, New York Times: George Orwell has long been admired by readers the world over and now, after many years of neglect, his hometown plans to recognize him, too. The colonial-style home where the author of “Animal Farm” and “1984” was born in Motihari, a small town in the eastern Indian state of Bihar near the border with Nepal, will be restored, Agence France-Presse reported.

Book Review: 'Defend the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5' by Christopher Andrew: This gives a fascinating and instructive account of the history of the British Security Service by a noted Cambridge historian - Tim Rutten, latimes.com: The Soviets appear to have had the best of the British and the Americans on the Cold War's secret front. That may have been the case because, while the English have a talent for deception and the Americans for technology, the Russians have a genuine genius for conspiracy -- and the patience to play it out. Thus, they recruited Americans who, first, spied for politics and later for money. In Britain they sought out the Cambridge aesthetes, who appear to have sold out their country because they'd made an aesthetic of betrayal. Their friends never seemed to notice, because they were amusing and had the right school ties. Images from