September 26

"Just wing it!”

--William J. Hybl, Chairman, Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy, on what, in effect, the State Department tells Public Diplomacy officers when they go serve overseas



“If money isn’t loosened up, this sucker could go down.”

--President George W. Bush, regarding the US economy

SATIRE

Advice to a Young Diplomat Assigned to the USA

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

Answers to FAQs about "Getting the People Part Right: A Report on the Human Resources Dimension of U.S. Public Diplomacy" - William J. Hybl, Chairman, Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy, September 2008 Testimony, U.S. Department of State

Restoring Effectiveness of U.S. Public Diplomacy and International Broadcasting – Federalist No 1, via Free Media Online Blog: The legislation introduced by Senator Sam Brownback is an acknowledgement that US international broadcasting is broken and needs to be fixed and in a dramatic fashion. The senator’s legislation would dramatically reshape how the US Government goes about the business of public diplomacy. Not only does the legislation eliminate the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG); it also eliminates the position of undersecretary of state for public diplomacy. The former has been a hotbed of sometimes vicious partisan bickering and the latter a steady succession of appointees who have searched in vain for an answer, almost any answer, to the woeful state of American prestige abroad.

Public Diplomacy and the 2008 Election - William C. Vocke Jr., Carnegie Council Resources: “Today's candidates say we need mutual understanding and respect. Still, how will America renew a lost love affair with the rest of the world? How will administrations and Americans learn to listen? How can the moral authority of a ‘beacon on a hill’ be rekindled? The rhetoric is easy, but there is no easy answer, especially given the current application of public diplomacy as sales, as spin doctoring. … Several core American ideas are central to a new public diplomacy … these ideas would be the basis for extensive public diplomacy activities, for rekindling America's moral authority.”

President George W. Bush, Personnel Announcement Wednesday, September 24, 2008 - AmericasNewsToday.Org: The President intends to nominate Michael S. Doran, of New Jersey, to be Assistant Secretary of State (International Information Programs). Dr. Doran currently serves as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Support to Public Diplomacy.

Blogging on Public Diplomacy: the UK in the USA – MountainRunner: “Andy Pryce, First Secretary Public Affairs Washington (gasp, Public Affairs is Public Diplomacy??), drew my attention to a plethora of FCO blogs in the U.S. and worldwide. … I think Nick Cull’s seven steps are missing a tremendously important step ... . Yes, you must listen, pay attention to the implications of a “say-do” gap, realize you’re operating in a global information environment, etc. But unless you understand what you’re hearing when you listen and ... what the target and non-target audiences are hearing when you speak and act, everything else crumbles. This is perhaps the greatest vector that public diplomacy is 'not about you' but about them. Especially today, it is not 'us versus them' but 'them versus them.'”

US group for ‘rethink’ in approach to Islamabad - Qudssia Akhlaque, The News: A key Washington-based ‘Pakistan Policy Working Group’ comprising independent and prominent American experts on Pakistan-US relations, while predicting that Pakistan may be the single greatest challenge facing the next American President, has called for a “rethink” in the administration’s approach to Islamabad. The Group counsels more patience with Pakistan’s new democratically elected leaders and greater public diplomacy through expansion of US missions in Pakistan.

Ritual Ramadan Dinner Becomes an Opportunity for Muslims to Reach Out - Nathan Guttman, Forward: An increasing number of official Iftar dinners held by government agencies, local communities, universities and interfaith groups. “It’s a growing trend, but it hasn’t gotten out of hand,” said David Pollock, a former State Department official who dealt with public diplomacy in the Arab world. Pollock was among those advocating more engagement with the Muslim world and participated in planning Iftar events at the State Department.

My Endors[e]ment for 2008: Barack Obama - Fear and Loathing in the Blogosphere: In Pursuit of Theoretical Wisdom: “While I do endorse Barack Obama for President I continue to endorse Republicans in every other race. Like Clinton, President Obama would perform best with a divided government, which would allow the U.S. to gain all the public diplomacy benefits of an Obama presidency while constraining the lesser of angels of the Democratic Party.”

In Iraq, a Monastery Rediscovered: Near Mosul, War Has Helped and Hindered Efforts to Excavate the 1,400-Year-Old Dair Mar Elia Monastery - James Foley, Smithsonian.com: The archaeology students from the University of Mosul were invited inside the secure U.S. base to work on the monastery excavation, says Diane Crow, a public diplomacy officer in Mosul.

RELATED ITEMS

Guns and Buttering Them Up, in Iraq - Spin of the Day, Center for Media and Democracy: The U.S. Defense Department has awarded its up to three-year, $300 million contract for "information operations" in Iraq and possibly Afghanistan.

RP-US military uses movie propaganda vs Abu Sayyaf - Bong Garcia, Sun.Star, Philippines: “The Philippine and US military have initiated a program that instills patriotism thereby dissuading children from joining terror groups like the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group in the island province of Sulu. The program dubbed as Movie Night highlights the learning of right values while having fun.”

A reason to bring US troops home - Doug Bandow, Asia Times: Downplaying America's military role would improve overall US relations with other countries. The continuing presence of bases and troops creates endless local grievances. Part of that reflects nationalist frustrations with the foreign control that inevitably accompanies foreign garrisons. There are also the inevitable problems that come from putting a large number of young American males in the middle of a foreign country and culture.

Security First in dealing with Russia - Amitai Etzioni, TMP café: As today's headlines show yet again, the Bush Administration is falling victim to its own propaganda. It is endangering vital U.S. interests in order to continue pretending that it is promoting democratization.

To Compete Locally, Global Brands Must Adapt - Andrew McMains, Adweek: The success of a global brand in a local market hinges largely on the brand's ability to adapt to local needs and tastes, according to Millward Brown Group CEO Eileen Campbell, who spoke today during an Advertising Week panel discussion on global branding. "Cultural relevance is important," said Campbell. "You need to respect local culture and become part of it."

Cultural Differences, East & West - Paul Boshears, Okinawa City

Pakistan and Afghanistan Unite Against Terrorism - Husain Haqqani and Said T. Jawad, Wall Street Journal: Prosperity is one of the most important predictors of political stability, which in turn is the single most critical element in the containment of fanaticism and terrorism. One innovative idea now before the U.S. Congress does exactly that -- the creation of Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZ) in Afghanistan and Pakistan's border region with Afghanistan, including the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). Mr. Haqqani is Pakistan's ambassador to the U.S. Mr. Jawad is Afghanistan's ambassador to the U.S.

A trade-first Pakistan policy: Instead of more aid increases, U.S. should drop high tariffs on clothing, leather and textile industries - Robert M. Hathaway and Edward Gresser, Baltimore Sun

Victory over jihadists: Rooting out the real strategic threat around the globe - Bernard I. Finel, Washington Times: We need better tools to pressure the Pakistani government to live up to its obligations to control its territory, and ultimately there will need to be a political process in Afghanistan that somehow blunts the momentum of the Taliban.

Iraq Political Progress - Review and Outlook, Wall Street Journal: Whoever wins the White House next year would imperil the recent gains by drawing down American forces before Iraq holds provincial and national elections. They're needed to ensure security and guard against sectarian backsliding.

Poisonous Patriotism - David Satter, Forbes: The official Russian media today is saturated with anti-Western propaganda. Targets include plans for NATO membership for Georgia and Ukraine and the placement of anti-ballistic missiles in Eastern Europe. Photo from Juan Cole’s Informed Comment
Thoughts on the Middle East, History, and Religion

Burma's unfinished revolution – Editorial, Boston Globe: President Bush, encouraged by Laura Bush, who met recently with refugees on the Thailand side of the Burmese border, has said all the right things about Burma. The next president will have to persuade China, India, and Thailand to join in pressuring the junta permit a genuine transition to democracy.