Q. "So when do you think we'll be at a point where Guantanamo could be responsibly shut down?"
Cheney: "Well, I think that would come with the end of the war on terror."
Q. "When's that going to be?"Cheney: "Well, nobody knows.”
--From Vice President Richard Cheney’s recent ABC interview
PUBLIC DIPLOMACY
US bases in Gulf not especially popular, except with Americans – Marc Lynch, Abu Aardvark: “The Project on International Policy Attitudes just released an intriguing result from its multi-national surveys of international public opinion: outside of the United States, there isn't a lot of support for U.S. bases in the Gulf.
PUBLIC DIPLOMACY
US bases in Gulf not especially popular, except with Americans – Marc Lynch, Abu Aardvark: “The Project on International Policy Attitudes just released an intriguing result from its multi-national surveys of international public opinion: outside of the United States, there isn't a lot of support for U.S. bases in the Gulf.
… Americans generally believe that their military presence in the Gulf represents an ‘international public good’, protecting energy supplies and global stability, and consider their military hegemony to be cushioned by ‘soft power’ through which American leadership is perceived as benevolent and desirable. Most of the world's publics, especially Arab and Muslim publics, don't seem to agree. Public diplomacy -- and grand strategy -- need to take such findings a bit more seriously.”
Missteps by Iraqi Spokesman and Commanding U.S. General On SOFA - Michael Gaubinger, The Ground Truth in Iraq: “On December 14 President Bush on his last trip to Iraq as leader of the United States met with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to sign the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). As reported earlier, after the SOFA goes into affect on January 1, 2009, there will be a referendum on it in July of that year. That means the U.S. and Iraqi governments need to prove their sincerity in limiting the role of American forces in the country to the Iraqi public so that they will confirm it. Recent statements by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh and the U.S. commander in Iraq, General Ray Odierno have already jeopardized this public diplomacy effort.”
And a suitable televised debut for "the new Iraq" (with an Update) – badger, Missing Link:News Items From The Arabic-Language Press To Help Fill In The Gaps: “We do politics with military force and ‘human-terrain’ technology, manipulation of public opinion (‘public diplomacy’), and the other tools of modern social science. UPDATE: For instance, here's ‘how we do politics’ (from the Egyptian paper alMesryoun this morning, h/t RoadstoIraq):
It was learned that the American embassy in Cairo asked the Egyptian Minister of Information to close the office of the satellite channel AlBaghdadiya [in Cairo]... and to make them halt the broadcast of clips of Bush being attacked with the shoe on the TV screens of Egypt and in other places where they broadcast from Egypt. And they justified the request on the basis that the repeated broadcast of the clip triggers hatred for the United States on the Egyptian and Arab street, and encourages Arab youths to imitate this with their own heads [of state] and their own rulers...”
Giving Information Ministers a Bad Rep - Avuncular American: An expatriate view of America and the world from Europe by former diplomat Gerald Loftus: "During the two World Wars, Britain had a Ministry of Information, which, according to the UK National Archives, was ‘the central government department responsible for publicity and propaganda.’ The United States has no such ‘central government department,’ though some would argue that it needs one. Public Diplomacy, the responsibility of the State Department, vies with ‘Strategic Communication,’ which increasingly has a military accent. In such quality blogs as ‘Mountain Runner,’ observers like Matt Armstrong engage readers to ponder what institutional and legislative arrangements best suit the U.S. Ex-USIA officers Patricia Kushlis and Patricia Lee Sharpe in Whirled View show how much of the experience acquired under the defunct United States Information Agency has been lost after its forced absorption into the State Department almost a decade ago. This post is not really intended to give proper treatment to a very weighty subject (Matt is doing that in a big way next month in a conference in Washington).”
Comments worth reading – Matt Armstrong, MountainRunner: “The post on the next Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy sparked comments by some very informed readers. Read and contribute your thoughts.”
The Obama Administration Has No Need for Private U.S. Propaganda Radio and TV - Ted Lipien, FreeMediaOnline.org & Free Media Online Blog: “Many independent experts and organizations, including the Public Diplomacy Council, have called for a major reform of U.S. public diplomacy. The Obama Administration should show that it wants U.S. public diplomacy to have a fresh start by abolishing the Broadcasting Board of Governors and un-privatizing Alhurra Television.
The new Administration has no need for private U.S. propaganda radio and TV operating without proper supervision and accountability.”
Thoughts on the so-called "War of Ideas" [Revised] - John Brown, Notes and Essays
Government Should Act Openly And Honestly - Armenian News, A1+ Armenia: “Colleen Graffy, Deputy Assistant for Public Diplomacy Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, is much impressed by the brilliant history of Armenia, its cuisine, culture and warm reception. At the same time she is concerned over freedom of expression, numerous detentions following the February 19 presidential elections, the state of embattled A1+ and many other issues.”
'Secretary Of State' Hillary Clinton To Face High Challenges At State Department - Gloria Sawyer, seattlemedium.com: ”Established in 1789, headquartered in Washington D.C. and employing over 28,000 people, the U.S. State Department is the oldest U.S. Executive department with approximately 42 departments and bureaus, 260 U.S. embassies and consulates in various countries. This hierarchical structure runs the spectrum of Arms Control, African issues, refugee, immigration, Eastern, Pacific and South Asian Affairs as well as interventionism, foreign aid, sanctions, public diplomacy..." IMAGE: The State Department in 1866.
Exclusive: War Toys – Playing to Win - William R. Hawkins, Family Security Matters: “Code Pink calls itself a ‘social justice movement working to end the war in Iraq, stop new wars, and redirect our resources into healthcare, education and other life-affirming activities.’ … One of its founders, Jodie Evans, traces her activism back to supporting the Soviet-backed Sandinista regime in Nicaragua in the 1980s. That legacy of aiding America’s foreign enemies continues with Code Pink’s ‘Friends of Iran’ initiative with its ‘public diplomacy’ trips to Tehran.”
Japan quietly seeks global leadership niches: The island nation seeks to carve out a bigger role in world affairs as a 'soft power' - Amelia Newcomb, Christian Science Monitor: “Kenjiro Monji … Japan's director general of public diplomacy … points to polls by the BBC this year that gave Japan the No. 2 slot in terms of positive image among global respondents.
Missteps by Iraqi Spokesman and Commanding U.S. General On SOFA - Michael Gaubinger, The Ground Truth in Iraq: “On December 14 President Bush on his last trip to Iraq as leader of the United States met with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to sign the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). As reported earlier, after the SOFA goes into affect on January 1, 2009, there will be a referendum on it in July of that year. That means the U.S. and Iraqi governments need to prove their sincerity in limiting the role of American forces in the country to the Iraqi public so that they will confirm it. Recent statements by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh and the U.S. commander in Iraq, General Ray Odierno have already jeopardized this public diplomacy effort.”And a suitable televised debut for "the new Iraq" (with an Update) – badger, Missing Link:News Items From The Arabic-Language Press To Help Fill In The Gaps: “We do politics with military force and ‘human-terrain’ technology, manipulation of public opinion (‘public diplomacy’), and the other tools of modern social science. UPDATE: For instance, here's ‘how we do politics’ (from the Egyptian paper alMesryoun this morning, h/t RoadstoIraq):
It was learned that the American embassy in Cairo asked the Egyptian Minister of Information to close the office of the satellite channel AlBaghdadiya [in Cairo]... and to make them halt the broadcast of clips of Bush being attacked with the shoe on the TV screens of Egypt and in other places where they broadcast from Egypt. And they justified the request on the basis that the repeated broadcast of the clip triggers hatred for the United States on the Egyptian and Arab street, and encourages Arab youths to imitate this with their own heads [of state] and their own rulers...”Giving Information Ministers a Bad Rep - Avuncular American: An expatriate view of America and the world from Europe by former diplomat Gerald Loftus: "During the two World Wars, Britain had a Ministry of Information, which, according to the UK National Archives, was ‘the central government department responsible for publicity and propaganda.’ The United States has no such ‘central government department,’ though some would argue that it needs one. Public Diplomacy, the responsibility of the State Department, vies with ‘Strategic Communication,’ which increasingly has a military accent. In such quality blogs as ‘Mountain Runner,’ observers like Matt Armstrong engage readers to ponder what institutional and legislative arrangements best suit the U.S. Ex-USIA officers Patricia Kushlis and Patricia Lee Sharpe in Whirled View show how much of the experience acquired under the defunct United States Information Agency has been lost after its forced absorption into the State Department almost a decade ago. This post is not really intended to give proper treatment to a very weighty subject (Matt is doing that in a big way next month in a conference in Washington).”
Comments worth reading – Matt Armstrong, MountainRunner: “The post on the next Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy sparked comments by some very informed readers. Read and contribute your thoughts.”The Obama Administration Has No Need for Private U.S. Propaganda Radio and TV - Ted Lipien, FreeMediaOnline.org & Free Media Online Blog: “Many independent experts and organizations, including the Public Diplomacy Council, have called for a major reform of U.S. public diplomacy. The Obama Administration should show that it wants U.S. public diplomacy to have a fresh start by abolishing the Broadcasting Board of Governors and un-privatizing Alhurra Television.
The new Administration has no need for private U.S. propaganda radio and TV operating without proper supervision and accountability.”Thoughts on the so-called "War of Ideas" [Revised] - John Brown, Notes and Essays
Government Should Act Openly And Honestly - Armenian News, A1+ Armenia: “Colleen Graffy, Deputy Assistant for Public Diplomacy Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, is much impressed by the brilliant history of Armenia, its cuisine, culture and warm reception. At the same time she is concerned over freedom of expression, numerous detentions following the February 19 presidential elections, the state of embattled A1+ and many other issues.”
'Secretary Of State' Hillary Clinton To Face High Challenges At State Department - Gloria Sawyer, seattlemedium.com: ”Established in 1789, headquartered in Washington D.C. and employing over 28,000 people, the U.S. State Department is the oldest U.S. Executive department with approximately 42 departments and bureaus, 260 U.S. embassies and consulates in various countries. This hierarchical structure runs the spectrum of Arms Control, African issues, refugee, immigration, Eastern, Pacific and South Asian Affairs as well as interventionism, foreign aid, sanctions, public diplomacy..." IMAGE: The State Department in 1866.Exclusive: War Toys – Playing to Win - William R. Hawkins, Family Security Matters: “Code Pink calls itself a ‘social justice movement working to end the war in Iraq, stop new wars, and redirect our resources into healthcare, education and other life-affirming activities.’ … One of its founders, Jodie Evans, traces her activism back to supporting the Soviet-backed Sandinista regime in Nicaragua in the 1980s. That legacy of aiding America’s foreign enemies continues with Code Pink’s ‘Friends of Iran’ initiative with its ‘public diplomacy’ trips to Tehran.”
Japan quietly seeks global leadership niches: The island nation seeks to carve out a bigger role in world affairs as a 'soft power' - Amelia Newcomb, Christian Science Monitor: “Kenjiro Monji … Japan's director general of public diplomacy … points to polls by the BBC this year that gave Japan the No. 2 slot in terms of positive image among global respondents.
‘The image of Japan is very good, and not just in cultural areas. It is seen as contributing to stability as well,’ he says. Still, Mr. Monji says Japan could do far more to capitalize on its deft touch with practical and whimsical technology alike as well as popular culture. He is enthusiastic about the startup of an English language TV broadcast – a BBC-like program by Japan International Broadcasting – that aims to reach most corners of the globe by March 2009. Plans are also in the works to open more than 100 language centers around the world to spread the study of Japanese, an effort funded by the Japan Foundation. Cultural grant aid is another target.”Diplomacy Expert's Book Translated Into Korean - Kim Se-jeong, Korea Times: ”A Korean translation of 'New Public Diplomacy: Soft Power in International Relations’ by Jan Melissen, an expert on theoretical and practical diplomacy, was published in Seoul on Monday.
The publication defines public diplomacy anew. It uses a few countries to exemplify good practice regarding public diplomacy. During a book launching ceremony at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul, the author said that public diplomacy is about influencing ordinary people in the outside world. He urged diplomats in the field to break out of the box of traditional diplomacy in order to reach out to the general public of whatever country they are posted in.”
The new buzz: Tel Aviv - We need to ensure that Tel Aviv will gradually turn into tourism, culture brand name - David Saranga, Ynetnews, Israel: “Those of us responsible for promoting Israel’s image currently face a dilemma: Do we invest our limited financial resources in improving American public opinion, which already recognizes and values Israeli culture and lifestyle? Or, are we better off devoting these resources to locales where our national image takes a beating on a daily basis? This dilemma takes on greater significance during a period like the present economic downturn. Many of the organizations that have helped us previously are themselves facing a crisis and have cut back on their contributions until the storm passes. These organizations allowed us to work not only in the field of public diplomacy, but also in promoting topics that portray Israel as a normal, vibrant, and modern society.”An accord with the entire Arab world would be a prize worth Israel’s effort - Jonathan Freedland, StillRed: “The Arab peace initiative of 2002, which offered full normalisation of relations in return for Israel's withdrawal to its 1967 borders, is still on the table. Indeed the Arab League wrote to Barack Obama just last week, urging him to work for Middle East peace, with their initiative as the basis. There are problems with the Arab plan. For one thing, there has been no public diplomacy for it, no public face for it - no equivalent of Anwar Sadat's breakthrough visit to Israel, proving the sincerity of his desire for peace.”
Shaping India’s Response To Terror Post 26/11 - Sanjay Mehta, Center for Political, Economic and Social Analysis (C-PESA): "Sanjay Mehta is a Mumbai-based professional with 23 years of specialization in public diplomacy/public affairs, event management, relationship building and maintenance, and promoting understanding through professional dialogues and exchanges between both Indian and foreign delegates in areas of arts, culture, health, education, HIV/AIDS, politics, economics, business and human rights, while working as a senior cultural affairs specialist for a foreign diplomatic mission."
RELATED ITEMS
We, the target audience: When did America become a marketing proposition? - Tom Scocca, Boston Globe: The word for the government's marketing of its own efforts is propaganda.
Everyone knows why propaganda is a bad thing, but alongside the familiar evils of the form -- coercion, deceit, unaccountability -- there is the simple estrangement that comes from treating citizens as consumers. Why is this bluster and flash being used to sell us our own country?The Propaganda of International Comparisons - Clifford Adelman, Inside Higher Ed: International data comparisons on higher education are very slippery territory, and nobody has really mastered them yet. Instead of obsession with ratios, we should look instead to what other countries are doing to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their higher education systems in terms of student learning and enabling their graduates to move across that world.
Torturing the Evidence – Editors, National Review: The torture narrative is at odds with the facts. The U.S. does not have a policy of torturing captives, nor does it fail to abide by its obligations under the Geneva Conventions. When abuse has occurred, steps have been taken to punish the wrongdoers and rectify military practices. Those efforts will continue. A sober study would have made that clear.
As Usual, NYT Ignores Iraqi Opinion: Anecdotes trump polls on withdrawal - Dahr Jamail, Extra! Magazine/Common Dreams: The Times continues to mislead on Iraq, particularly on the issue of whether or not Iraqis want the U.S. military to exit their country.
A Message for Foreign Leaders: Each Shoe Was Worth a Thousand Words - Patrick Cockburn, CounterPunch:
In Baghdad Mr. Bush could see for the first time in five years, in the shape of pair of shoes hurtling towards him, what so many Iraqis really think of him.
George W. Bush Has Been Throwing Shoes at Us - Deepak Chopra, Huffington Post: We continually fail, it seems, to view our Middle Eastern disaster through global eyes. A momentary insult hurled at America -- or at Mr. Bush personally, if that was the primary intent -- is a minuscule rebuke for the countless insults the rest of the world has had to bear.
Shoe-attack reaction reflects tricky U.S. endgame in Iraq - opinion, USA TODAY
Not So Fast: Don't hold your breath waiting for withdrawal from Iraq - Eli Lake, New Republic: For all the talk of withdrawal and timetables, however, nothing like that is likely to happen. American and Iraqi military and diplomatic officials insist that a residual U.S. force of considerable size is likely to remain for the medium to long term, as will the U.S. bases in Iraq that Democrats over the last two years have insisted must not be permanent.
Policing Afghanistan: Too few good men and too many bad ones make for a grueling, uphill struggle 
- Ann Marlowe, Weekly Standard
Playing power politics with Iran - Ray Takeyh, Boston Globe: The Islamic Republic can be offered an opportunity to emerge as a leading regional state so long as it tempers its nuclear ambitions and restrains its destructive regional policies.
America's New Foreign Legions: The U.S. should grant citizenship to foreigners who serve in the military - Stuart Koehl, Weekly Standard
Blundering U.S. Should Spare the World Any More Nation Building - William Pfaff, TruthDig
A Gentler Hegemony - Robert D. Kaplan, Washington Post: Henceforth, we will shape coalitions rather than act on our own. For that, after all, is the essence of a long and elegant decline: to pass responsibility on to like-minded others as their own capacities rise.
Bush Was No Unilateralist : The president's longest-serving senior diplomat says conventional wisdom is wrong 
- Kimberley A. Strassel, Wall Street Journal: Undersecretary for democracy and global affairs Paula Dobriansky's efforts have been focused on what scholars like to term "soft power." Coined by Harvard professor Joseph Nye (one of Ms. Dobriansky's former professors), soft power describes the goal of engaging other countries on issues of culture and ideology.
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