January 16-17

"It would become increasingly apparent to the discerning listener that U.S. Government controlled broadcasts were telling no more than a carefully selected part of the truth."

--Robert Sherwood, one of the directors of the Office of War Information, writing in a 1944 memo; cited in Holly Cowan Shulman, The Voice of America: Propaganda and Democracy, 1941-1945 (1990), p. 181; Sherwood image from

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

Hillary Clinton's First Year Report Card: The Good, the Bad and the Undecided - Politics Daily (blog):

"Clinton's first year as secretary of state was marked with high-profile international trips, including several tours through Asia and a seven-nation tour in Africa -- a new, but perhaps not unfamiliar, task. James Lindsay, vice president for the Council of Foreign Relations, noted to Politics Daily that 'she's a former presidential candidate, and far more comfortable with the public side of the job [than her predecessors]. If you look at her trips abroad, she has a lot of enthusiasm for the public diplomacy side of the job.' ... Clinton also faces unique challenges, including a spiraling and stubborn economic crisis that serves as a sobering backdrop for two lingering wars, nuclear tensions in the Far East and Middle East, and now a devastating catastrophe in Haiti. All in all, the secretary of state's plate is full, if not overloaded. The only thing certain for the year ahead is that the challenges will not get any easier." Image from

U.S.-funded Pashto radio a new weapon in war against Taliban - Sonia Verma, Globe and Mail: "Funded by U.S. Congress, Radio Mashaal represents a first salvo in a new war of words against the Taliban that the West acknowledges it has been losing. As Washington steps up drone attacks in northwest Pakistan, another equally important battle is being waged on the airwaves for hearts and minds of Pashtuns living in the border region, traditionally a Taliban stronghold. … Last summer, Washington established a new unit within the State Department to counter militant propaganda in Afghanistan and Pakistan, spending up to $150-million (U.S.) a year to fund a range of efforts including new radio stations, expanded cellphone service and journalists' training. NATO officials deny they are dealing in propaganda and are wary of the appearance of such: 'We are simply offering people another option to be open to a different kind of news and entertainment,' said Rear Admiral Gregory Smith, NATO's director of communication in Kabul."

Alhurra's (compared to Al Jazeera's) coverage of the conflict in Yemen - Kim Andrew Elliott Reporting on International Broadcasting

Is al-Qaeda winning? - Marwan Bishara Chemtrail Pictures & Information: "The more Washington used its military force, the less it won the minds of those it needs most to defeat al-Qaeda: Americans, Arabs and Muslims. Likewise, US military actions are harming its intelligence and law enforcement work that over the last decade have dealt the greatest blow to al-Qaeda’s leadership and organisation. ... As military adventures kill, maim and destroy lives, they create, nurture and build animosities and 'alliances' among most unlikely allies, such as a young rich Nigerian that studies in London, a Jordanian doctor that studies in Turkey and an Arab-American soldier trained by the Pentagon, all whom were ready to die to hurt America.

And likewise, counter terror tactics and intelligence work has made it ever more difficult for public diplomacy to 'win hearts and minds'. Instead of listening to people of the region, it has been spying on them and instead of reading them their rights, it has tortured them in far-away prisons. And instead of hearing out their concerns and fears, Washington has underlined its own above all others. In that limited and limiting spirit, for example, mostly impoverished Yemenis that suffer from war in the north, intensive conflict in the south and three decade autocratic regime, must now worry about US fears, and cater to US interests above their own. Which brings us back to our initial question: al- Qaeda is winning only as far as Washington is running a self-defeating war." Image from

Today's Insight News: “WHY” query on anti-Muslim WARs … - Bennett's Study: “The purpose of U.S. ‘public diplomacy,’ seems designed to offer feel-good palliatives about beneficence in U.S. actions more than to shine the light of truth for Americans on unpleasant realities. American journalists and politicians, fearing [McCarthyism] smears of un-patriotism or ‘sympathizing with the enemy’ join the charade.”

Contingency Planning: Terrorism and Indo-Pakistani Escalation - IntelliBriefs "Source: Council on Foreign Relations // Center for Preventive Action Date Added: 15-Jan-2010 ... . The United States could try to reduce the overarching threat posed by extremism in Pakistan, but its efforts are unlikely to pay off in the near term.

Even so, U.S. public diplomacy, ideally backed by influential Muslim voices from the region, could be targeted at reducing the popular Pakistani view that waging jihad through terrorism is a religiously or socially justifiable activity." Image from

Radek Sikorski, the USA and the "Shock Doctrine" - Karl Naylor, Central-Eastern Europe Watch: "[T]he Heritage Foundation ... has tried to score crude propagand[a] points by claiming ... [‘]The U.S. should implement a strong and vigorous public diplomacy effort to counter the negative propaganda certain to emanate from the Castro-Chavez camp [.’] This exploitation of a humanitarian crisis to score political points is both vulgar and unbecoming of decent people."

ESU, PRT, US forces meet with KU students - Jessica Luhrs, WTOC: Image from article:

Stacy Barrios, a Public Diplomacy Officer with the Kirkuk PRT of the U.S. Embassy along with members of the U.S. Forces answer questions from the students of the University of Kirkuk.

USIB officials, present and past, in print and on television - Kim Andrew Elliott Reporting on International Broadcasting

An authentic & complete record please - PE, Pragmatic Euphony: "The very basic tenet of public diplomacy demands transparency and accuracy of all information issued by the government. This can be best done by ensuring that the original transcript of all statements made by senior military functionaries — which can act as an authenticated primary source of information — are placed in the public domain by the government. The Pentagon website,

which contains all the statements made by the Defense Secretary and the Chairman Joint Chiefs, among others, is an example that can be emulated by the websites of army headquarters and the ministry of defence in India. While leveraging the power of blogs, facebook and twitter might be too much to ask of India’s generals and bureaucrats, uploading the complete transcripts of any media interaction by them on MoD websites should not be a big deal in today’s times. Can we start with meeting the very basic minimum requirements of public diplomacy in this country?" Image from

Robert Sterling Clark Foundation's new initiative on International Cultural Engagement - posted by Todd Lester, freedimensional.ning.com: "OVERVIEW OF INITIATIVE In late summer of 2007, amidst the continued decline of America's image abroad, the Robert Sterling Clark Foundation commissioned research on U.S.-based cultural diplomacy and cultural exchange after 9-11 to prompt an anticipated new incoming administration to create a proactive program in support of international cultural exchange. This research brings together data on public and private support for cultural exchange as well as research on the challenges, successes, smart practices and trends of engagement by participating arts and cultural organizations. Additionally, it examines the history of public-private partnerships and new technologies being used in the promotion of cultural content for public diplomacy purposes. We hope to promote support for international arts and cultural exchange by providing information that can make the case with public and private funders to invest in such exchanges. We believe that such investments will advance a more consultative American public diplomacy effort in reaching global understanding.--You can read the following two documents by clicking here: 1. The Art of Engagement: Timeline of U.S. Public and Cultural Diplomacy 1999-2009 2. The Art of Engagement: Trends in U.S. Cultural Exchange and International Programming."

'Amerikaku' Shows the Stories of Indonesian Students in the USA - Armando Siahaan, ‎Jakarta Globe: "Indonesian students are increasingly traveling to the United States to expand their educational horizons, often as part of exchange programs or to attain a college degree, and camera crews are now accompanying them of the voyage. Running exclusively on O Channel as a six-part series, 'Amerikaku' ('My America') documents the story of four Indonesian high school students,

selected from among thousands of applicants, who are studying in the US as part of the US State Department’s Youth Exchange and Study program. 'Amerikaku' tells the tales of Indonesian students (Photo courtesy of the US and their new friends and families in the US. Embassy.) Established in 2002, with about 100 Indonesian participants every year, the scholarship program is awarded to students in 'countries with significant Muslim populations to spend up to one academic year in the US,' said Tristram Perry, who, as the public diplomacy officer at the US Embassy in Indonesia, is in charge of the program." Image from article: "Amerikaku" tells the tales of Indonesian students and their new friends and families in the US. (Photo courtesy of the US Embassy.)

"Conservative" silence on the British Council may undermine their value promoting credentials - Daniel Korski, Spectator.co.uk: "The Conservative party’s security proposals have sparked a bit of debate, with many on the right concerned that democracy-promotion is getting short shrift. ... But if the Tories want to underline that the party remains committed to promoting democratic values and engaging Al Qaeda’s 'narrative' in the Islamic world, it ought to have said more about the role of the British Council. As things stand, the Conservative documents mention the 75-year-old institution only once – and though it is in positive terms, the reader is left none the wiser about how it would be operate differently under a Tory administration. ... But questions still remain about the council’s remit and organisation. Since in 1997, the quasi-governmental organisation seems to have internalised two Labour propositions: that the age of the nation state is over; and that national interests have been replaced by 'global values'. Its programmes are accordingly global in scope. ... Five years after the last review of the British Council, as part of a review of the Britain’s public diplomacy by Lord Carter of Coles, it is probably time for another assessment."

Foreign Ministry readying to adopt new foreign policy vision - Minhac Çelik, Today's Zaman: "The Turkish Foreign Ministry has taken significant steps to meet the requirements of the new era in foreign policy that started with the strategic vision of Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu. ...

The ministry also decided to establish a department that will be responsible for working on developing public diplomacy tools that will strengthen Turkey’s hand and provide it the ability to shape world public opinion in favor of Turkey." Ahmet Davutoğlu image from

'A TV series i- s not only a TV series,' diplomatic crisis show - Fatma Dişli Zibak, Sunday's Zaman: ‎"Stressing that the role of public diplomacy is rising with every passing day in this multi-polar world, Turkish-Asian Center for Strategic Studies (TASAM) President Süleyman Şensoy said TV series were important tools of this sort of diplomacy. He said TV series made by Turkish producers were making important contributions to Turkey’s perception in many parts of the world; however, producers should pay attention and pursue this goal with common sense. 'I respect their commercial concerns, but producers should pay attention and not include scenes that may provoke other countries,' said Şensoy, underlining the difficulty of establishing friendly relations with a country and the easiness of shaking ties."

Politicians discover the power of a photograph - Süleyman Kurt, Today's Zaman: "Diplomats in Turkey learn about etiquette and body language in protocol classes and relevant books they must read when stepping foot into their career; however, press relations and proper posing are fairly new factors for Turkish diplomats, who until now had not focused too much on public diplomacy. Until recently, politicians acted any way they wanted. With the experiences of the recent past and the professionals standing beside them, leaders are looking more powerful in photographs. The image that left an impression on the week recalled the relationship between a photograph and politician and brought to mind the image of Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit talking to US President Bill Clinton in the Oval Office in 1999.

In this unforgettable pose, the US president was relaxed and sitting on the edge of a sofa in the Oval Office and dangling one foot while Ecevit was standing in a 'respectable' fashion. Some people interpreted that photo as a “statement of the relations between the two countries” at the time. As for those who criticized Ecevit, they rebuked him, saying 'Stand up straight.'" Images from article

60 years, viva la fiesta - Korea Herald: "A 60th anniversary is not a small milestone, in fact it is so important that it is been coined the diamond jubilee. This anniversary to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and Spain does not mean everyone will receive a diamond; instead they will be treated to a wealth of cultural events that will entertain, inform and amaze the general public. ... Meanwhile, in Spain later this week is the Spain-Korea Forum which will mark the beginning of the 60th anniversary. This event, co-organized by Casa Asia and the Korea Foundation, brings together government officials and civil society groups to discuss issues of mutual interest and set goals for bilateral cooperation at all levels. In this year's edition, a special focus will be put on gender equality, innovation, science and technology, public diplomacy and politics, and security issues."

“Extremely ridiculous”: The Copenhagen blame game continues ...- shanghaigreengang:

"When the public diplomacy of the big powers moves on from apportioning blame for Copenhagen, recommitment to action on climate change will become easier." Image from

Spring 2010: Week One - Ren's Micro Diplomacy: "While one class didn’t quite work out, my other two seem like they will be fantastic. Public Diplomacy Evaluation is the first course of its kind to examine how we determine whether or not our Public Diplomacy efforts are working. According to the syllabus, 'we will look at the special challenges posed by PD assessment, the tools, terminology and mechanics of evaluation, the measurement community and varying approaches to PD evaluation.' It’s taught by our Diplomat-in-Residence, so there will be plenty of real-world examples and know-how. The other class I’m excited about is Corporate Diplomacy. The professor has a lot of experience in, both, the Department of State and the private sector, and is very enthusiastic. My Foreign Service Mentor specifically recommended this course when I asked him for help choosing classes. He said that partnerships with businesses are becoming increasingly important, especially for posts with limited budgets."

From Double-Consciousness to Public Diplomacy: the changing value value of African-American culture – "London School of Economics and Political Science: Sociology Department public lecture This lecture will explore the arguments outlined in Paul Gilroy’s new book Darker Than Blue: on the moral economies of black Atlantic culture.

He will consider the transformation of a freedom culture rooted in slavery and ask how the pursuit of human and civil rights came to be annexed by corporate multiculturalism. Paul Gilroy is the first holder of the Anthony Giddens Professorship in Social Theory at LSE." Gilroy image from

RELATED ITEMS

Anti-Americanism Hampers Our Efforts to Help Haiti - The Chinese Capitalist: So if we try and help Haiti, even with just advice, that act would be seen as propaganda and an attempt to brainwash the Haitians, no doubt so that we can exploit their natural resources later. Any trade thereafter would be viewed as exploitation, and whichever company engaged in trading would be the evil benefactor, the reason that we started the brainwashing/propaganda program in the first place.

Brazil: Second Largest User of Twitter - Joshua S. Fouts, The Imagination Age: "An ongoing interest of mine for the past almost 20 years has been Brazil's understated role as early adopter of new media technologies. I blogged before about Brazil's early adoption of Blogger before it took off, of Orkut before Google purchased it, of Second Life and the recently closed Metaplace. It came as no real surprise to learn today that Brazilians are the second largest user group of Twitter. The challenge Brazil faces is harnessing the power of a globally engaged, technologically innovative culture and nation and leveraging it.

From a cultural relations perspective, Brazil has an incredibly participatory community of civil societies who play an activist role in the social media sphere." Image from

From Russia with news:The arrival of RT means that state-sponsored channels from Moscow, Beijing and even Tehran are now beamed directly into our homes. Should we be worried, asks Ian Burrell – Independent: Russia Today, in particular, has been raising its profile in recent weeks by being deliberately contentious. Traffic-bound British commuters have found themselves stuck in front of giant billboard posters showing American President Barack Obama morphing into Mahmoud Ahmedinajad, the Iranian leader, and the provocative question: “Who poses the greatest nuclear threat?”

The ad is part of a campaign being run by Russia Today and banned by American airports. Another ad in the series shows a Western soldier merging with a Taliban fighter and asks: “Is Terror Only Inflicted by Terrorists?” Russia Today, an English language service, was set up in 2005 to present a perspective from Vladimir Putin’s government as a counterbalance to Western global news organisations such as CNN and the BBC. Its editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan claims that the Russian state “doesn’t at all” interfere with the output of the network’s journalists. Image from article: One of RT News' provocative billboards in south London

The insidious Indian propaganda - Dr S.m. Rahman, nation.com.pk: The internet has become a vehicle to fan preposterous propaganda by the agencies in India, in order to promote ‘Hindutva’ sensibility to raise scare and trepidation among the Hindus that Pakistan in collusion with Bangladesh and Indian Muslim are now planning for a second partition of the subcontinent to carve our a much bigger chunk of territory out of India, which they have named as ‘Mughalstan’ that will comprise Pakistan, Bangladesh, including all of North and Eastern India.

Outsider Images in the Soviet Twilight - Benjamin Genocchio, New York Times: American visitors to “Four Perspectives Through the Lens: Soviet Art Photography in the 1970s-1980s,” an exhibition at the Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum, may be surprised to discover that photography was not officially considered art in the former Soviet Union. It was regarded as a documentary tool at the service of Communist Party propaganda. Oddly, because of its outsider status, photography remained largely unregulated and uncensored, or at least less so than painting and sculpture.

Soviet nonconformist artists made extremely clever, inventive use of the medium, crafting images that were formally experimental and socially aware. The Zimmerli exhibition, organized by Julia Tulovsky, presents a selection of about 70 images by four important artists working in photography, among other media, in the two decades before the fall of Communism. They come from the museum’s Norton and Nancy Dodge Collection of Nonconformist Art From the Soviet Union (1956-1986), one of the largest and best such holdings in the world. Image from article: A layered image from Boris Mikhailov's "Nalozhenia (Superimpositions)" series, done in the 1970s.

AMERICANA

'Super snake' fears on the rise in Florida: 5 African rock pythons, which in their homeland are known to eat goats, are seen during a 3-day search in Miami-Dade County. Officials worry that the rock python could breed with the Burmese python

- Andy Reid, Los Angeles Times. Image from article: Kitty, a Burmese python, appeared in "Snakes on a Plane." (James Dittiger/ Associated Press)