October 21

“If he looks like me, I bet he can sell me."

--Political strategist David Axelrod (left), according to Dennis Archer, a Detroit mayor.

“If we are sensible people, we shall see that the question is not so much whether they are guilty as whether we are making the right decision for ourselves."

--Diodotus, who opposed the proposal of Cleon in 427 BC to kill all adult Mytilenean males and to enslave their women and children after the defeat of Mytilene

VIDEO: Russian-American relations

“vlad and friend boris presents 'Song for Sarah' for mrs. Palin.”

Courtesy Mitch Polman

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

Foreign poll favours Democrat but shows hostility to US - Julian Glover, Guardian: "People around the world are pinning their hopes on Barack Obama in next month's presidential election, according to an international survey published today. It shows that America can no longer count on the friendship even of its closest neighbours and allies after eight years of the Bush presidency. Only a minority in the countries surveyed describe relations with the US as friendly."

STATE DEPARTMENT, Public Law 402 80th Congress (VOICE OF AMERICA) – Matt Armstrong, MountainRunner: "Today, we are far removed understanding the importance of information as a tool of national security. We forgot the first decades of the Cold War and have become too reliant on 'hard power' as a result of the last forty years of the Cold War."

Public Diplomacy in Europe - Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, U.S. State Department (July 2008 [evidently latest edition]). Cited at

Obama's presidential staff if elected – Hosseleini, Politics 3311: On national security, Obama has sought out advisors who, like him, believe in robust public diplomacy.

They are listening to what he said – Wing Tips on the Ground Blog: “It would be impolitic of me, as a career member of the U.S. Foreign Service, to express support for either candidate in this blog. Iraqis have often asked me how I will vote — even once when the cameras were rolling — and I have always politely declined to answer. However, I often tell my Iraqi friends and counterparts how excited I am to participate in the democratic process, and that voting will be the most important thing I do this year. I say that as a Public Diplomacy Officer, but more so, because it's true.”

UN had not observed justice regarding Iran, Zarif - Mathaba.Net, UK: Former ambassador of Iran to United Nations and International relations professor at the International Relations College of the IRI Ministry of Foreign Affairs Javad Zarif referred to the significance of public diplomacy as the most beneficial topic at academic centers, arguing, "The significance of mastering public diplomacy is so high that a US soldier, parallel to learning military skills, needs to learn the mother language of the country where he fights."

VSO makes music - and history - in China - Aileen McCabe, Canwest News Service, Vancouver Sun: “Thirty years after the last Canadian orchestra performed in China, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra delighted and moved a sold-out audience at the prestigious Beijing Music Festival Friday night. … [C]onductor Bramwell Tovey … [said] ‘[i]t's through cultural organizations, whether it is orchestras, operas, ballets, theatre, or whatever, that we can shake hands across the Pacific Ocean.’… To press home his point, he used the example of how far U.S. relations with North Korea have progressed since the New York Philharmonic's breakthrough concert in Pyongyang in February."

KMU hits ‘citation’ of Dole Phils for corporate excellence - GMA news.tv, Philippines: Chris Agosto, executive director of Mindanao Workers Resource Center: "There are no positive changes or 'innovations' in Dole Philippines policy towards workers rights, unless one considers the donation of recycled classroom chairs and the annual town fiesta jogging with Manager Mr. Kevin Davis as the epitome of glorified Corporate Social Responsibility. Where is their 'public diplomacy and community long-term investment' when they could not even find an innovative ecological way to neutralize the daily stench of their far-reaching foul-smelling waste catch basin.”

RELATED ITEMS

Bush Decides to Keep Guantánamo Open - Steven Lee Myers, New York Times: Despite his stated desire to close the American prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, President Bush has decided not to do so, and never considered proposals drafted in the State Department and the Pentagon that outlined options for transferring the detainees elsewhere, according to senior administration officials.

Jaw, Jaw or War, War: The Afghanistan Advantage - William S. Lind, Counterpunch: An Afghan coalition government that includes the Taliban could give the U.S. and NATO what they need, an opportunity to get out.

McCain on the Record: Exclusive interview: John McCain talks about the economy and the Bush administration's foreign policy failures - Stephen F. Hayes, Weekly Standard

Call to adopt a new policy - Gulf Times: The next American President should travel to the Muslim world early in his term, meeting not only with leaders, but also visiting mosques and engaging in dialogue with ordinary people, ‘The Doha Compact’ released by the Saban Center at Brookings has recommended. “Too often, anti-Americanism has been used as an excuse by weak regimes to maintain their hold on power, while postponing much needed political and economic reforms. If relations between the US and the Muslim world are to improve, this anti-American propaganda needs to stop,” the report suggests.

Bush and his 'exit strategy' – Editorial, San Francisco Chronicle: A final departure date after a disastrous war is a prize to be wished for. But a hurry-up conclusion reached by the discredited Bush team would be wrong.

Troops reportedly popping more painkillers - Gregg Zoroya, USA TODAY: Narcotic pain-relief prescriptions for injured U.S. troops have jumped from 30,000 a month to 50,000 since the Iraq war began, raising concerns about the drugs' potential abuse and addiction, says a leading Army pain expert.

Ending the Free Ride - Douglas Stone, FrontPageMagazine.com: Now is the time to make real changes by demanding that our NATO allies be as aggressive in confronting Islamofascism as they have been in their anti-Americanism. Otherwise, we need to disband it and start fresh with countries that are serious about our collective security.

Clearing the path toward a nuclear renaissance - Richard K. Lester, Boston Globe: In an era of global terror, much more must be done to make the world safe for activities like nuclear power. But more should also be done to make nuclear power safe for the world, and the United States should lead the way.

Russia Steps Up to Plate As Global Crisis-Solver - Vladimir Frolov, Moscow Times: The United States and the European Union shirked their responsibility as global leaders for taking collective action to deal with the world financial crisis. The Group of Seven finance ministers, who only gathered last week in Washington, were only able to issue a toothless declaration. In a twist of fate, Russia is now emerging as a country that is ready and willing to assume the responsibilities of global leadership.

India Looks East and discovers Tokyo - Harsh V Pant, Rediff News: While the two main political parties in India remain well disposed towards Japan, their allies have often taken stridently anti-American postures largely for domestic political consumption. This reflexive anti-Americanism still retains its hold in a substantial part of Indian political establishment and can also hamper India's ties with Japan, especially if they are viewed as following too closely the pattern of Indo-US ties.

The grand illusion of American power - H.D.S. Greeway, Boston Globe: Much of the world now looks on the Bush administration's resurrection of Woodrow Wilson's ideals and the expansion of democracy as a cover for coercion and bare-knuckle dominance. As Andrew Bacevich, author of "The Limits of Power: The End of American Exceptionalism," says, Bush always confused strategy with ideology.

The Dangers of a Diminished America: In the 1930s, isolationism and protectionism spurred the rise of fascism - Aaron Friedberg and Gabriel Schoenfeld, Wall Street Journal: If America now tries to pull back from the world stage, it will leave a dangerous power vacuum. The stabilizing effects of our presence in Asia, our continuing commitment to Europe, and our position as defender of last resort for Middle East energy sources and supply lines could all be placed at risk. There is no substitute for America on the world stage. The choice we have before us is between the potentially disastrous effects of disengagement and the stiff price tag of continued American leadership.

Churchill's Wizards: The British Genius for Deception 1914-1945 by Nicholas Rankin - Max Hastings, Sunday Times: Nicholas Rankin is a former BBC correspondent who has now turned his attention to deception in the two world wars. His thesis is that the British possess a genius in this field, in which he includes camouflage, propaganda, intelligence and special forces.

Thandie Nails Condi - Patricia J. Williams, Daily Beast: “For my money, the most interesting portrayal in [the film by Oliver Stone] W. is that of Condoleezza Rice, as played by Thandie Newton. On one hand she's a pitch-perfect automaton; indeed, her longest speaking part is half a sentence in Russian. … On the other hand, Newton's interpretation of Rice embodies a subtle hinge between the vulgar and the refined, the yes and the no; she performs the threshold force between heaven and hell.”

Iraqis Stage Special Puppet Show in Honor of George 'n' Condi! - Princess Sparkle Pony's Photo Blog: I keep track of Condoleezza's hairdo so you don't have to: "Oh, hey, what's this? al-Sadr is going to stage some special show in honor of Condi? Neat! That's so totally nice! I assume they're going to totally greet Pantomime George and Pantomime Condi as liberators 'n' stuff. Uh, oh! Hey, you crazy kids, keep those things away from the fire."

Propaganda - corine, Hidden in France: “I was trying to find a fitting image and it came via Simplemente Maravillosa. She posted images of Chinese propaganda posters produced by the Chinese Communist party. They are unsettling, depicting idyllic settings, perfect little colorful worlds filled with well-fed cherubs, and smiles, lots of smiles, all to convey happiness and abundance during years of regime that had little to offer beside poverty, terror and despair.”

PLATON PHOTOGRAPH, NEW YORKER


SPC Bobby Russell of the First Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, from Ft. Wainwright, Alaska.