April 3

"It's almost a peculiarly American version of Christianity that says that to be a Christian you have to believe in the Bible.

It's actually a modern invention, located in America and wherever American missionaries have gone out."

--Scholar Bart Ehrman; Ehrman image from

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

Obama in Turkey: Enticing Ankara Westward - Soner Cagaptay, Doc’s Talk: "Presidential efforts at strong public diplomacy, such as Bill Clinton's 1999 trip to Turkey, have positively affected Turkish attitudes toward the United States. Although the Obama visit has plenty of public diplomacy appeal, including a proposed town-hall-style meeting, the president will encounter one particularly sensitive subject, the Armenian question, during the visit."

US promotes new counter-terror strategy to EU - EurActiv: "A former FBI official, currently director of an influential Washington-based think tank, presented in Brussels what appears to be the Obama administration's revised strategy for countering radical Islam and terrorism.

Dr. Matthew Levitt, director of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy's programme on terrorism, intelligence and policy, gave details of the new policy at the Transatlantic Institute in Brussels yesterday (2 April). … Levitt's presentation appears to mark a shift in the US public diplomacy. He was critical of the previous administration's communication, which was aimed at 'convincing people to like America,' he quipped. He called this 'a colossal [waste] of time'. Instead, he wants to expand the debate by empowering people to provide alternative views in radicalised societies. 'Don't ban - compete,' he repeated several times, conveying the message that radical organisations are better countered by competing messages, rather than prohibition." Image from "Countering Terrorism through Information and Privacy Protection Technologies" by Robert Popp and John Poindexter.

Exum’s Overlooked Point - rawilliams, The 19th Hole: An American International Relations Student in Scotland: "As my good friend Chris Mewett points out, leaving Afghanistan now 'would be a perfect public diplomacy storm of military failure, sacrificed international goodwill, and eroded American credibility.'”

The Audacity to Change: Reframing American Policy on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict - Marda Dunsky, Faisal Kutty.com: "For decades, American policy has framed the overarching Israeli-Arab conflict in terms of twentieth-century national interests: containing Soviet encroachment in the oil-rich region and maintaining American hegemony there. At the beginning of the twenty-first century and the dawn of the Obama era, however, the United States - as the sole superpower - still pursues a largely unchanged policy on the conflict that has begun to double back on American interests, while at the same time engaging in everything from hearts-and-minds public diplomacy to nation building to a 'war on terror' throughout the region. The policy does not only need to be rejuvenated with the fresh energy and good intentions of a new administration. More than that, the very premises on which American policy is based need to be reconsidered, reframed, and reformed." Image from

A Necessary Engagement – Fauzi A Muda, View Islam Tomorrow: “A Necessary Engagement Reinventing America’s Relations with the Muslim World Emile Nakhleh [.] In A Necessary Engagement, the CIA’s former point man on Islam makes a vigorous case for a renewal of American public diplomacy in the Muslim world. Offering a unique balance between in-depth analysis, personal memoir, and foreign policy remedies, the book injects much-needed wisdom into the public discussion of long-term U.S.-Muslim relations.”

Howcast Partners with the U.S. Department of State to Host Pilot Filmmaker Workshops Pilot Filmmaker Workshops hosted by Howcast in conjunction with the U.S. Department of State held for Palestinian Youth in the West Bank - Press Release, PRLog: “Howcast Media announced today the completion of its pilot Emerging Filmmakers Program (EFP) for Palestinian youth, conducted with funding from the Office of the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs of the U.S. Department of State. Designed to introduce Palestinian youth to professional filmmaking techniques, the EFP Workshops, led by local members of the Howcast team, provided Palestinian youth with both creative and highly marketable skills.” Image from

Is Germany ready for the new Tarantino movie? – Nina, Perspectives on Public Diplomacy: “From a public diplomacy perspective, I think that Hollywood movies, no matter how praised the directors are, definitely impact the way foreign audiences think about the US. … [T]he images remain in the heads of the public – at least for a short period of time.”

Guest Post: Renewing America's Global Leadership - Ursula Oaks, NAFSA: Association of International Educators, MountainRunner: "When President Obama stood before students and service members at the National Defense University in early March and committed the resources of his administration to 'renewing diplomacy as a tool of American power' he rightly said that we cannot 'leave dormant any aspect of the full arsenal of American capability.' … A proven way to accomplish this is to make international education a national priority." Image from

NATO PR Push Targets Journalists, Youth - Diane Farsetta, prwatch.org, Center for Media and Democracy: "'NATO Public Diplomacy Division has developed a comprehensive strategy to engage with young audiences,' according to the NATO / NewsMarket press release."

Voice of Russia expands to 40 languages, but 12 will be internet only - Kim Andrew Elliott Discussing International Broadcasting and Public Diplomacy

‘Slap in face’ for US from Israel’s new government - Vita Bekker, The National: “In comments that angered Palestinians and may prompt friction with the Obama administration, Avigdor Lieberman, Israel’s hawkish new foreign minister, renounced negotiations on a Palestinian state that were started by the previous government at the US-backed Annapolis conference in 2007.

He also rejected making concessions for peace, including giving up the strategic Golan Heights territory to Syria. 'It was a slap in the face to the Americans,' said Tamir Shaefar, a professor of political science at Jerusalem’s Hebrew University, referring to the Annapolis comment. 'The Americans worked very hard to bring Israelis and Palestinians together at Annapolis. In terms of Israeli public diplomacy, his statement was a big mistake. After the Gaza attacks, it further portrays Israel as an extremist country that is unwilling to compromise.'” Image from

Mark Regev to stay on as PMO spokesman - Herb Keinon, Jerusalem Post: "Mark Regev, who served as former prime minister Ehud Olmert's spokesman for the international media, will continue in this capacity for Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. Regev will be working under Ron Dermer, a close Netanyahu confidante who is in charge of communications for the new prime minister and hopes to carry out an overhaul of the country's public diplomacy apparatus. Regev will be working alongside Netanyahu's spokesman, Yossi Levy."

Haifa high schoolers boost Israel's image in US: As part of 'Young Ambassadors' program, students from Reali School in Haifa trained by UN Ambassador Shalev, consulate in New York ahead of meetings at public schools and Jewish communities in Boston area - Ynetnews: "Twenty-three 10th grade students from the Hebrew Reali School in Haifa joined Israel’s public diplomacy efforts last week as part of the 'Young Ambassadors' program. … At the end of last week, the students landed in the United States and underwent a quick workshop in diplomacy at the United Nations with Israeli ambassador Gavriela Shalev. They continued to a media workshop with David Saranga, consul for media and public relations in New York, where they learned about the Brand Israel project, which aims to remind the world that Israel 'is more than just about conflict.' Armed with this newly-acquired information, the students will go to public schools and Jewish communities in the Boston area, where each is slated to give a number of speeches." Image of Reali School logo from

FODP experts appreciate Pakistan’s approach for promoting development and countering terrorism - Associated Press of Pakistan: "Experts meeting of Friends of Democratic Pakistan appreciated Pakistan’s comprehensive approach and the identification of priorities for promoting development and security as well as countering the challenges of terrorism and extremism. … The Experts took note of the interest to evolve Pakistan’s strategy for effective communications and public diplomacy by reaching out to the business community and media to positively project the FODP initiative."

Impressions of the 'old diplomacy' - Suely Castro, The New Diplomacy: The Reflective Blogs of the Students on the New Diplomacy Module at London Metropolitan University: “The growing concern and interest among the public with diplomatic relations made credibility crucial to the sustainability of the power of soft influence. Non-governmental organizations are usually seen as credible institutions, therefore are becoming increasingly active player in public diplomacy. Nevertheless, not everyone sees relevance in the non-governmental organization’s role.”

Reframing the Nation: Media Publics and Strategic Narratives - CALL FOR PAPERS - cb3blog: “INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP: Reframing the Nation: Media Publics and Strategic Narratives DATE: 18-19 May 2009 VENUE: The Open University, Hawley Crescent, Camden Town, London. … Nation states have always used the media to project strategic national narratives on the world stage. But recent shifts in geopolitical and diplomatic imperatives, especially the ‘war on terror’, and the changing digital media ecology, have generated new kinds of public diplomacy initiatives. For example, the BBC World Service, funded by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, has recently cut radio services in Eastern Europe to make way for BBC Arabic and Persian TV channels, with accompanying tri-platform online services (text, audio and video). These initiatives place high value on interactive debate, citizen journalism, and user generated content. But does such interactivity really contribute to the BBC’s declared aim of fostering a ‘global conversation’, i.e. democratic debate in the Muslim world in particular?” Image from

Duke Conference To Focus On National Security - Press Release, Duke News: “A conference at Duke University April 16-17 will bring together diverse experts to explore strategies the Obama administration can employ in addressing significant national security challenges. … Participants will engage in a series of roundtable discussions to address topics such as surveillance and intelligence gathering, strategic change in Afghanistan and Iraq, the impact of immigration policy on national security, detaining and prosecuting terrorists, public diplomacy, and the relationship of the U.S. to the International Criminal Court.”

Government 2.0 Un-Conference, Un-packed – Amanda E, Government Social Media: “The first-ever government 2.0 un-conference was impressive and invigorating. …

On the use of social media in public diplomacy and foreign affairs, Lovisa Williams was everywhere.” Image from

Asia Pacific Democracy & Human Rights Seminar - Democracy, Diplomacy, and Transformation in Indonesia, East-West Center: "Where: Washington D.C.: East-West Center in Washington Conference Room, 12:30-2:00 PM When: April 14, 2009 [Among the participants]: Mr. Umar Hadi Director for Public Diplomacy, Department of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Indonesia."

April Folly + Celeb Diplo – Paul Rockower, Levantine: “I got fooled bad by John Brown on his public diplomacy blog. See the first post about Sec. Clinton rejecting 'public diplomacy.' … I just barely survived the Ides of March- if Julius Caesar couldn't survive March, what chance did I have? But April is off to a far better start. I like April's spring humour over the wintery discontent left over in March. My quest to find funding for the Rising Sun conference is slowly getting off the ground, and I may end up studying to be a public diplomacy samurai this summer.” Image from

Powell on Obama's Foreign Policy - abu muqawama: Comment by reader ajay: “In 2003, he [Powell] either lied deliberately to the UNGA or displayed culpable stupidity and negligence. His tenure as Secretary of State saw the collapse of the US' relations with many of its traditional allies, a complete failure of its efforts at public diplomacy, and the sidelining of the State Department's efforts to reconstruct Iraq after the invasion. If this is one of the greatest living Americans, God help America.”

MSU celebrates international reach and efforts with annual awards – MSU [Michigan State University] News: “Colleen Pero, a lawyer and community activist in Michigan, was awarded the first Charles A. Gliozzo International Award for Public Diplomacy.” Image of Ms. Pero from

RELATED ITEMS

Give Obama a break on the gifts: It may not be exactly what she wanted, but the president's present to the queen was thoughtful. But maybe next time a gift card would be safer – Editorial, Los Angeles Times

On the World Stage, Obama Issues an Overture - Helene Cooper, New York Times: In his debut on the international stage, President Obama presented himself as the leader of an America that can no longer go it alone, and as abiding by the protocol of a global new deal. Obama:

“Unless we are concerned about the education of all children and not just our children, not only may we be depriving ourselves of the next great scientist who’s going to find the next new energy source that saves the planet, but we also may make people around the world much more vulnerable to anti-American propaganda.” Image from

The Economic Summit - Editorial, New York Times: After years of watching former President George W. Bush hector and alienate this country’s closest friends, we were relieved to see Mr. Obama in full diplomatic mode. We fear, however, that this is not the time or the issue on which to hold back. If world growth continues to decline -- and all signs suggest that it will -- the president will have to take on this fight soon.

What Real Diplomacy Looks Like - Ilan Goldenberg, Huffington Post: Barack Obama showed up in Europe this week and the world did not simply swoon at his feet. But the administration did show that when the United States is not politically radioactive, thinks seriously about its interests, and takes the time to listen, it can get important things done via diplomacy.

The Return of Statecraft: How Obama proved his mettle at the G20 summit - Fred Kaplan, Slate: Obama seems to be aware of the tension between interests and ideals without letting it paralyze policymaking. In this sense, he is like most presidents in American history -- and his foreign policy, or for the moment his approach to foreign policy, signals a restoration of what was once called statecraft: literally, the art of conducting the affairs of state. Image from

Obama's Domestic Agenda Gains Clarity: A certain grandiosity contrasts with his steady hand on foreign affairs – Peggy Noonan, Wall Street Journal: Obama’s attitude at this week's summit was one of welcome modesty, which might or might not have tipped into a mea culpa (he agreed that America bears great responsibility for the world economic meltdown, and that some previous U.S. foreign policy attitudes have been poor). Or perhaps that's a you-a culpa. In any case, his freshness and persona probably contributed to the fact that the predictable riots, while anticapitalist and antiglobalist, were not in their focus anti-American.

Stimulus left them cold at the G-20 summit: European leaders rejected Obama's spending plans. But they didn't get everything they wanted either – Editorial, Los Angeles Times

Obama and the G-20 - Lincoln Mitchell, Huffington Post: For now, Obama's enormous popularity in most of the world is still a critical asset because foreign leaders will be hesitant to lay the blame on the US while our president is still so popular in their countries. Obama must leverage this renewed goodwill, not to get other countries to fix the economy precisely our way, as this will only accelerate the fading of the global excitement about Obama. Rather, the president should work to bring leaders together to address the broader problems which can only be solved cooperatively.

The G20 Wish List: Finding the gaps between what Obama wanted and what he actually got - Barron YoungSmith, New Republic. Image from

'We Did Okay': The G-20 summit produces a few useful economic steps -- but misses a big opportunity – Editorial, Washington Post: When asked how he thought he did, Mr. Obama said, "I think we did okay." That sounds about right.

G20 Gobbledygook Eclipsed By Obamania? - Marc Ambinder, Atlantic: The U.S. didn't get what it wanted, but I think the national security message shapers here are OK with that. While it's true that the U.S. hoped for some flexibility on spending, it was important not to appear to be seen as bullying Europe into submission.

Working with our friends in Europe - Nicholas Burns, Boston Globe: The reality Europeans must ponder is this: If they do not shoulder more of the burden internationally, and begin to think more globally, conflicts in the volatile and unstable region linking the Middle East and South Asia. threaten not just America but Europe as well.

On eve of NATO summit, Obama's style poses inherent challenge for Europe: As president heads to France, Europeans ask how best to respond to an ally that is suddenly sending all the signals it has hoped for - Robert Marquand, Christian Science Monitor: President Obama, the new US face and policy, represents an inherent challenge to Europe: It is not just that Obama drips soft power from every pore, is a listener, a Democrat, "sympathetique," and a hero for immigrant populations in Europe's suburbs that have yet to achieve political power. What's causing stress in the European Union is not US badgering and unilateralism, but the Obama dynamic of moving toward agreement, concensus, and multilateralism, say some economists and political scientists. Image from

NATO at 60: ready for a new role: If it builds on its adaptability, it could be a vital security broker for members and partners - Bill Huggins, Christian Science Monitor: Mr. Obama could join those who see the alliance as essentially a military bulwark against Russian intimidation and, in so doing, seal NATO's fate with low expectations. What he should do is encourage a new and more versatile role for NATO as a "security broker" among its members and official nonmember partners.

Spain Has No Right to Try U.S. Official: What next? Prosecutions for bad advice on global warming? - Douglas J. Feith, Wall Street Journal

Europeans Reluctant to Follow Obama on Afghan Initiative - Edward Cody, Washington Post

House Members to Obama: Rethink Afghanistan Surge - John Nichols, Nation:

Congressional Democrats and Republicans are signing on to a letter urging President Obama to reconsider his plan to surge tens of thousands of additional U.S. troops into Afghanistan. Image from

Top Ten Ways the US is Turning Afghanistan into Iraq - Juan Cole, Informed Comment: Thoughts on the Middle East, History, and Religion

Saving Obama - Robert C. Koehler, Common Dreams: Take a close look at Obama's most disappointing performance thus far: his speech last week "announcing a comprehensive, new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan."

An Obama-Kristol Foreign Policy Alliance? – Barron YoungSmith, New Republic: Although Obama's and Kristol's interests on Afghanistan do seem to align -- and they may continue to -- Kristol’s new organization, the Foreign Policy Initiative (FPI) diverges from Obama on a whole host of issues including missile defense, democratization, Russia, and "rogue regimes" like Iran.

More on Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Kashmir – Steve Coll, New Yorker: The United States is not thinking nearly hard enough about how its counterterrorism policies may be destabilizing mainstream Pakistan.

America’s ‘Long War’ Will Be as Bloody and Pointless as Europe’s - William Pfaff, Truthdig:

George W. Bush’s war on terror was the front door, and Barack Obama now has gone through the waiting room door into what the Pentagon has prepared for him, our very own thirty years’ war: purposeless, neither winnable nor losable short of genocidal measures -- or, as in the 17th century, by laying waste the lands and ruining nations. The only thing that will stop this before it gets worse is simply to stop, or go bankrupt. Image from

The Moscow Delusion: Obama didn’t claim to see Medvedev’s soul, but demonstrates his own form of naïveté - Rich Lowry, National Review: The Russians have a geopolitical goal of establishing dominance again in as much of Eastern Europe and Central Asia as possible, and will do whatever is necessary to achieve it — from cutting off fuel to Ukraine, to invading Georgia, to getting us kicked out of our air base in Kyrgyzstan. They view us as a rival power to be frustrated, and therefore our enemy Iran is -- if not their friend -- their useful foil.

Obama and Medvedev hit 'reset' on arms control: It makes sense to restart relations by cutting nukes - Editorial Board, Christian Science Monitor

‘American salo’ tastes like Russian propaganda lard - Alina Pastukhova, Kyiv Post: A couple of weeks ago, a strange advertisement appeared in Moscow. About 500 billboards on Moscow streets promoted a book by unknown author O. Volia ("freedom" in Ukrainian) called “American salo.” No, it’s not about an American attempt to mass produce and sell salo, a famous Ukrainian dish of salted pork lard. It’s apparently a Russian view of something more sinister. “Food is produced with military techniques of psychological influence and conservation which helps preserving consumer properties without time constraints and guarantees a sense of fullness and pleasure,” the advertisement proclaims. It depicts tin cans painted with the U.S. flag and caption “American salo” on it. Analysts said the ads are a part of anti-Ukrainian propaganda campaign.

A Fresh Start in Georgia - Salomé Zourabichvili, New York Times: “Like many fellow Georgians, I once had such high hopes for my country, as did our friends in the West. It began with the optimism of the Rose Revolution, grew as Georgia was named a “beacon of democracy” by the Bush administration, and solidified as Georgia came to be seen as a strategic partner for stability in its neighborhood. Sadly, this dream has ended. Democracy itself is crumbling in Georgia.”

Don’t Forget National Security: Even in these dire financial straits, we must not ignore North Korea’s missile launch - Eric Cantor, National Review

Bailing Out Nicaragua: Sandinista leader Daniel Ortega turns to the United States, not to Hugo Chávez - Jaime Daremblum, Weekly Standard

Embracing Genocide: The Arab League honors the butcher of Sudan - Joseph Loconte, Weekly Standard: While Sudanese President al-Bashir was being hailed by his Arab "brothers," the new U.S. envoy to Sudan, Scott Gration, was in the country trying to get relief agencies back into Darfur to help keep alive thousands of ordinary villagers who have suffered under his reign.

Is Michelle the New Oprah? - Tina Brown, Daily Beast:

The G-20 trip has kicked Mighty Michelle up to a whole new level. Image from

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