May 10

“[T]he war of ideas efforts I led at State.”

--Former Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs James Glassman; see also John Brown, "Thoughts on the So-Called War of Ideas"; left image from

"[W]e see ourselves as facilitators of a grand conversation."

--James Glassman; right image from

"If they want to discipline me, let them discipline me, but I think the option would be better and healthier."

--Rev. Albert Cutié, a few days before he was caught indulging himself with an attractive woman on a South Florida beach, telling a TV interviewer that he thinks all Catholic priests should have the option to marry.

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

The US Expo 2010 Pavilion Totters - Shanghai Scrap: Observations on Asia and the world by Adam Minter, an American writer in Shanghai: "[T]he United States … along with Andorra and Columbia, is the only country with Chinese diplomatic relations that has not confirmed for the [Shangai] Expo - and perhaps the only nation to have missed multiple fundraising and construction deadlines (set by itself, no less). …The hope among many Americans that the US pavilion would be financed by Americans is now unlikely to be fulfilled."

Pebble in the Ocean – James K. Glassman: Economics, Investing, Public Diplomacy, and More - “What I tried to do was s[hift] the emphasis of our activities in the direction of anti-terror activity. I did not curtail any traditional, long-term public diplomacy programs. I have always admired these effort. What we did was to drop a pebble into the ocean of public diplomacy. It’s surprising how many waves were created."

Glassman and "beyond violent extremism" – Marc Lynch, Foreign Policy: "I'm a fan of traditional public diplom[a]cy as well, and I've often expressed my admiration for Glassman's efforts to expand such activities into the new media realm and to adapt to the new information environment. But on this specific, very important, point.... why might I think that Glassman intended to shift the focus of the war of ideas on combatting violent extremism? …


Jim Glassman, December 1, 2008: ['In the war of ideas, our core task in 2008 is to create an environment hostile to violent extremism. We do that in two ways: by undermining extremist ideologies and by encouraging young people to follow productive paths that lead away from terrorism[']" Image from

VOA and Tiananmen, 20 years ago – Kim Andrew Eilliott Discussing International Broadcasting and Public Diplomacy

America’s Answer to China’s 50 Cents Party: K Street Lobbyists - Gauravonomics Blog Gaurav Mishra’s Weblog on Social Media & Social Change: "We know … that the Bush government used both mainstream media and the internet for domestic and foreign propaganda during the Iraq war. In another context, we also know that public relations agencies and lobbyists in the US regularly use the internet to spin misinformation and promote their self-serving agendas. Now, the same people are beginning to work closely with the State Department and the Department of Defense to use the internet for public diplomacy. With the boundaries between public/ private, defense/ diplomacy and domestic/ foreign becoming blurred, there are serious concerns about whether public diplomacy 2.0 is merely propaganda 2.0, meant to misinform and mystify both domestic and foreign audiences."

Brigade, PRT relationship creates opportunity in Salah ad-Din - Multi-National Division - North PAO: "Many civilian and military members … described the recent successes in assisting the [Iraqi] provincial government in areas including rule of law, health, public diplomacy, economics and governance."

Grammy award-winning band awaits permit to rock Vietnam: Grammy award-winning band Ozomatli is set to add Vietnam to their Southeast Asian itinerary that will also include Yangon, Myanmar and Bangkok, Thailand - Thanh Nien Daily: "The longstanding tradition of US cultural diplomacy has previously included participation of such music legends as Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, and Louis Armstrong."

Britain goes to Moscow for AngloMockba: It was to be a meeting of Russian and British artistic minds but AngloMockba threw up some bizarre cultural differences – Hugo Rifkind, Times, London: "I’m here with the AngloMockba festival, which is best described as a cultural mission, or a one-sided foreign exchange.

A handful of British cultural figures, possibly picked at random, scooped up out of London by an impresario called Pablo Ganguli, and plonked down in another city. Why? Why not? … The point, Ganguli says, is 'cultural diplomacy'. AngloMockba is his fifth similar festival, with others having taken place in Marrakesh, Delhi, Mumbai (twice) and St Petersburg." Image from article

From Russia with love – Cultural Diplomacy News:

"Russia Haus - facilitating friendship and cultural exchange This year will mark the 25th anniversary of the Russia Haus in Berlin. Essentially the Haus is an institute for cultural exchange, scientific and academic research, and an outlet for the Russian community living in the German capital. Russia Haus has a vital role to play in cementing a renewed friendship between two of the world’s major nations." Image from article.

Final Finale – Paul Rockower, Levantine: "Today I had a meeting with Dean Abby Kaun and the head of Annenberg's Public Affairs regarding my Public Diplomacy Photo proposal. I'm in the running to exhibit my work at Annenberg, in a major public space. So far, I am the first proposal submitted and I am in the thick of the race."

RELATED ITEMS

Islamophobia [review of Engaging the Muslim World By Juan Cole] – David E. Sanger, New York Times: Cole is at his most effective in making the case that Western politicians who talk of Islamofascists not only insult an entire religion, they also misidentify the enemy.

'It's Time for the Iraqis to Step Up' Local Forces' Conduct During Mission to Help Disabled Children Raises Questions About Future After U.S. Withdrawal - Ernesto Londoño, Washington Post:

East is Red is the siren song of China's new generation: The East is Red, a bombastic hymn glorifying Chairman Mao Tse-tung and the Chinese Communist revolution, is topping a Chinese-government run internet poll to find the nation's favourite patriotic song - Peter Foster, Telegraph.co.uk:

Nostalgia for the era of Chairman Mao has renewed its popularity in a modern China where lives have been transformed by economic and social but not political reforms. An internet poll conducted across several leading Chinese websites as part of a propaganda campaign to mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the People's Republic has drawn a patriotic response. " Image from