February 18

--Bookseller Stuart Manley with the folded propaganda poster in a box of books he bought at auction in 2000; eight years on the ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ message – printed on the eve of the Second World War but never displayed – has become a symbol of the 21st Century.

SECRETARY OF STATE CLINTON IN ASIA

As top U.S. envoy, Hillary Clinton thrills Japanese - Paul Richter, Hartford Courant: “In a 45-minute ‘town hall’ meeting at the [Tokyo] university, [Clinton] ranged across such topics as the tough choices facing women, the need for healthy habits among the elderly, and of course, baseball. It was soon clear that her celebrity will be useful in her new campaign of public diplomacy. ‘Glorious to meet you!’ gasped one engineering student at the university.”

Dividends of Hillary's travels - Nehginpao Kipgen, Washington Times: “Hillary Clinton began her first overseas trip to Asia this week as the 67th secretary of state of the United States.

The weeklong trip that started Monday includes stops in Japan, Indonesia, South Korea and China. [Among] fundamental issues … expected to dominate the visit: (1) Reshaping America's image in the Muslim world. … The visit to Indonesia is a step in President Obama's vision for a new way forward with the Muslim world. After his election on Nov. 4, the first African-American president promised to deliver a major speech in a Muslim capital. Mrs. Clinton's visit to Jakarta beginning today is largely viewed as laying the groundwork for Mr. Obama's visit to that country. Five days after his Inauguration, Mr. Obama sat down with the Dubai-based Al Arabiya television network and said: 'I have Muslim members of my family. I have lived in Muslim countries. My job to the Muslim world is to communicate that the Americans are not your enemy.'"

Peace Corps on Clinton's Indonesia agenda – UPI: “One of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's goals on a visit to Indonesia this week is to persuade the government to accept Peace Corps volunteers. The country, which has the world's largest Muslim population, had a Peace Corps program briefly in the 1960s. The volunteers were assigned to train athletes for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, which Indonesia eventually boycotted. Theodore Friend, author of ‘Indonesian Destinies,’ told The Los Angeles Times one volunteer was assigned to edit the English versions of anti-U.S. propaganda.”

Clinton must press China on rights: A stable, open China is in America's best interests - William F. Schulz, Sarah Dreier and Winny Chen, Christian Science Monitor: "No one is better placed than Clinton with her international reputation for hard-headedness and high ideals to help China make the connection between greater freedom and respect for the rule of law and more effective government and less civil unrest. Her message should be straightforward: It's a new day in America and can be a new day in US-China relations, but bilateral relations will never be fully harmonious without real progress on human rights."

Hillary Clinton's North Korea naivete: The secretary of State doesn't seem to grasp the scope of the threat posed by Pyongyang's nuclear program. Perhaps her trip to Asia will change that - John R. Bolton, Los Angeles Times:

“[H] er repeated references to ‘smart power,’ [are] presumably meant to distinguish the brainy Obama team from its predecessor. Like Justice Potter Stewart's definition of pornography, we are apparently meant to know smart power when we see it.”

Clinton Signals Possible Shift in U.S. Policy on Burma - Glenn Kessler, Washington Post: “JAKARTA, Feb. 18. Clinton, at a news conference here, did not deny that easing sanctions [on Burma] was one of the ideas under consideration by the Obama administration as part of a major review.”

MORE ON PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

A Post-"Muslim World", Muslim World - M. Zuhdi Jasser, Huffington Post: “It seems that the President is doing his own Public diplomacy continuing where Karen Hughes [former Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs] left off. Terror is a means to an ends for groups who share a vision of an Islamic state poised against the West. Whether violent or nonviolent, the goal of the Islamic state is shared by all Islamists. Unless the President can articulate the harm of the Islamist movement distinct from the ability of Muslims to practice their faith of Islam in freedom, he cannot make any progress in this war. Surely, a 'post-racial', 'post-partisan' Presidential candidate can come up with an articulate way to talk to Muslims about the dangers of Islamism without insulting their personal faith practice of spiritual Islam. … Sadly, if there is ever going to be a post-despotism, post-Islamism, post-'Muslim world'-Muslim world, it will probably happen in spite of American diplomacy not because of our diplomacy.”

Time to be a good neighbour - Suzalie Mohamad, Malaysia Star: “US President Barack Obama seems to be trying his best to re-chart US foreign policy towards a gentler power and public diplomacy. … Obama’s recent interview with the Arabic-language news channel Al-Arabiya addressing the Muslim world, stressed the need for a respectful dialogue. Does this indicate that the United States is willing to listen first instead of hearing what they want to hear and subsequently acting irrationally?”

Hillary's State: Huge expectations, big egos, turf wars: Is Clinton's State Department just like her campaign?
Michael Crowley - New Republic: "What she doesn't have is foreign policy experience--a reminder of how alien Hillary's hard-edged political machine is to the diplomatic realm of the State Department. … Fortunately, there are signs that Hillary is paying better attention to management principles than she did when running for president."

“Still waiting on public diplomacy – Marc Lynch, Foreign Policy: "I've been one of the people arguing for months now in favor of locating the coordinator of the inter-agency process on strategic communications in the NSC rather than the State Department. It will always be difficult for a State Department official -- even an Under-Secretary -- to effectively balance the Pentagon, given the extreme imbalance of resources."

Public Diplomacy – Mehdi, The POMED Wire, Project on Middle East Democracy: ”With President Obama making his first interview as President to Al-Arabiya, and Secretary Clinton vowing to reach out to the Islamic world, many people have been speculating who will be named Under Secretary of Public Diplomacy and what will America’s outreach look like.”

Make Knowledge about America Accessible: Move the Libraries Outside the Walls – Matt Armstrong, MountainRunner: “American Centers, now Information Resource Centers, or IRC, drops substantially when hidden under protective layers. … Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) understands the need to change the status quo to fully and properly re-engage global populations. This week he introduced a Sense of the Senate resolution recommending (and provide political cover for) waiving requirements of the Secure Embassy Construction and Counterterrorism Act of 1999 that made the Centers far less effective in today’s struggle for minds and wills. It is important the Administration take the opportunity to move the IRCs back into the ‘open’ so they are accessible.”

Stability Operations and Development in a New Era: Making the Whole of Government Approach Work - The Devil and Development: "It's not enough to argue that effective foreign assistance is important 1) for effective public diplomacy or 2) addressing underlying grievances that anger foreign populations or 3) building indigenous state capacity to address internal threats. The conversation needs to move beyond these truisms and begin to address what these intermediate goals mean for the 'how' of foreign assistance.”

Guest Post: Fine Public Diplomacy from a Surprising Quarter: Guest post by Mitchell Polman – Matt Armstrong, MountainRunner: “When I was invited to a videoconference at the Washington offices of the Russian Information Agency/Novosti on ‘What President Obama Signifies to Russia’ I was somewhat skeptical of whether the event would be a good use of my time. … Most surprising of all was the large amount of time devoted to the topic of public diplomacy and what it is all about.”

Documentary on Cal’s trip to China complete – Jackie Sauter, On the Record: “Hunt Valley production company Renegade has finished editing and packaging its film 'A Shortstop in China,' and it is finally ready to roll on the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network this spring. When I wrote about the company last year, I mentioned at that time they were in the post production stages of the film, a documentary that follows Cal Ripken Jr. on his first trip as an American Public Diplomacy Envoy for the U.S. State Department.”

2009 World Conference: “The New Dynamics of Higher Education” - John Daly, UNESCO in the Spotlight: Science and Communication: “The 2009 World Conference to be held from 5 to 8 July 2009 at UNESCO, Paris. The last World Conference

on Higher Education was held in 1998 and this year's Conference will provide a forum for review of the changes in higher education that have occurred since that time. The participants will also consider the strategic agenda for the development of higher education policies and institutions in the foreseeable future. … The 2009 Conference should be of great interest to universities, community colleges and other institutions of higher education in the United States. Moreover, given the strength and prestige of the U.S. higher education system, the Conference should provide an important opportunity for the Obama administration to make an initiative in public diplomacy.”

Seeds of Peace wins World Affairs Council award - Portland Press Herald:: “The Seeds of Peace has been selected for the 2009 International Leadership Award by ther World Affairs Council of Maine. … ‘Seeds of Peace is an outstanding public diplomacy organization that has been focused on the peaceful resolution of conflict for over a decade and their model should be emulated and celebrated,’ John LaBrie, executive director of the World Affairs Council of Maine, said in a statement. ‘For Maine, this is yet another amazing example of how our state has a disproportionate influence on a global map.’"

Tehran monitoring US developments: Qashqavi – ISNA: “Tehran is monitoring the US developments and thinks inside the framework of mutual respect and fair engagement, said Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hassan Qashqavi on Tuesday among and audience of university students. Over ties with the US and that Tehran’s policy towards Obama administration seems compromising he emphasized on the importance of public diplomacy and said Tehran is monitoring the country’s developments.”

Dialogue is only way to resolve conflicts in South Caucasus: Turkey -TREND news Agency: “Turkey believes that dialogue is the only way to resolve conflicts in the South Caucasus. Turkish political analyst Mahmud Kocak made the statement at a conference in Tbilisi on Feb. 17. … Kocak said the South Caucasus has several hotbeds that must be settled through diplomacy.”

Public Diplomacy – shuma, Salon des Cent - Mentions public diplomacy.

Professor Naren Chitty Awarded High Honor of AM
- Wasana Ekanayake, Sri Lanka Foundation News: “One of Australia’s highest honors was bestowed upon Professor Naren Chitty of Macquarie University in Australia.

The Member of the Order of Australia (AM) was awarded to Professor Chitty on Australia Day 2009 for ‘services to education, particularly in the field of international communications as a researcher and academic and to a range of professional associations.’… Professor Chitty’s research involves international political communication, international public relations, and public diplomacy.”

RELATED ITEMS

Pentagon news equals propaganda – [Editorial], Muskogee Daily Phoenix, OK: The U.S. military has no business being in the media business, most importantly, because it borders on and leads easily to propaganda. Our country is not run by the military, and the government was set up to be completely disassociated from military rule to prevent military or police control. Propaganda, and even military news stories, can sway public opinion and hide military excesses.

What This Endless War Needs Is Better Propaganda
- Casey Rae-Hunter, Contrarian: Calling all graphic designers and n’er-do-well artists:

Uncle Sam wants YOU to do your part to defeat the agents of radical Islam! This is no time to shirk your patriotic responsibilities! ABOVE IMAGE FROM CITED BLOG

"War Crimes" Propaganda Against Israel - Rachel Neuwirth, OpEdNews: Israel took great care to avoid hurting innocent people, while Hamas deliberately tried to cause as many casualties among the Gazan people as possible.

Israeli Propaganda And American Suckers - Black Invention Myths

Jihad TV in Europe: It's time to shut down Hezbollah and Hamas broadcasts to the Continent - Mark Dubowitz and Roberta Bonazzi, Wall Street Journal

Charlie Savage on Obama's Embrace of Bush/Cheney "Terrorism Policies" - Glenn Greenwald, Salon/Common Dreams

Don't Bleed Resources in Afghanistan - Katrina vanden Heuvel, Nation/Common Dreams: In light of the consequences that have flowed from the US presence in Afghanistan, who would advise an escalation?

The Afghan dilemma: President Obama should stake out U.S. goals in the war in Afghanistan; plunging in more deeply without clear plans and adequate resources could be disastrous – Our View, Baltimore Sun

To Fix Afghanistan, Obama Should Talk to the European Masses - Jim Arkedis, Huffington Post: The biggest impact Obama could have is to make a pointed appeal for European support to NATO's Afghanistan mission. Just imagine an open-air speaking tour of London, Paris, Rome, Madrid and Berlin where hundreds of thousands gather in places like Trafalgar Square and the Champs de Mars to hear America's new star explain why it's in Europe's strategic interest to contribute more.

Lessons from Soviets in Afghanistan – Editorial, Washington Times:

The road to quagmire leads through Kabul; if the U.S. seeks to make Hamid Karzai or his successor into an Afghan bureaucratic potentate, we will find ourselves in the same situation the Soviet Union faced, a never-ending struggle against a determined people defending nothing less than their freedom.

Obama Orders 17,000 US Troops to Afghanistan - Juan Cole, Informed Comment: Thoughts on the Middle East, History, and Religion: “What we saw in Iraq was that the sheer number of troops did not matter so much as how they are deployed and for what purpose. I hope that these troops are used well.”

Pakistan's dangerous decision – Editorial, San Francisco Chronicle: Unfortunately, the Pakistani government's decision to concede part of its country to Taliban fighters threatens all of us. The Obama administration must urge Pakistan to reverse its dangerous course.

A Russian answer to Iran's threat; Moscow can bring Tehran to heel, if the US price is right. Is Obama ready to give up missile defense to make that happen? - John Hughes, Christian Science Monitor

Reading Khamenei in Tehran - Roger Cohen, International Herald Tribune: The United States must embark on a visionary change of direction. Obama must assure Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader who sets Iran’s direction, that not only has America abandoned the goal of regime change, it sees Iran as a central player in regional stability.

Iran's hope for change – Editorial, William Pfaff, Truthdig: Exactly what do we think we are doing in Afghanistan and Pakistan?

This war is our war: Democrats fought the surge and the surge -- sort of -- won. Now what do we do in Iraq? - Joan Walsh, Salon:

It's clear that the single biggest innovation the surge introduced was not American soldiers respecting, and living alongside, Iraqi civilians and military troops, although that was important. It was the decision to ally with and arm Iraqi tribal leaders and even militias, Sunni and Shia alike.

Avoiding Another Cold War - Scott Ritter, Truthdig: While Washington has limited influence over Venezuela's internal political affairs, the Obama administration should work with Latin American democracies and launch a multilateral diplomatic campaign to pressure the Chávez regime on human rights.

Is Hugo Chávez the Future? Let’s hope the would-be president for life isn’t a sign of what’s to come - Mona Charen, National Review: A decade ago Venezuela was a thriving and free (if somewhat corrupt) ally of the United States. Today, it is a bitter enemy, and its domestic corruption is infinitely worse.

Letter from Europe: French defense hopes lie in rejoining NATO - Judy Dempsey, International Herald Tribune: Sarkozy has been trying to convince skeptical Gaullists that France would retain an independent defense policy and that it would not automatically be aligning itself with the United States.

Out with Condi, In with Hillary: Out with the Matching Armchairs, In with the Matching People - Princess Sparkle Pony's Photo Blog I STILL keep track of Condoleezza's hairdo so you don't have to: PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is pictured with shrine maidens during her visit to Meiji Shrine in Tokyo February 17, 2009.

REUTERS/Pool. COMMENT: "Such a cute idea! From now on, when Hillary travels to a foreign land, instead of being presented with matching armchairs for photo-ops, she'll be presented with adorable matching locals in quaint native garb. The Condi years really are over!Ha, ha, I'm just kidding."