April 29

“To say nothing, especially when speaking, is half the art of diplomacy.”

--Will Durant; image from

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

Morning Bell: The Ahmadinejad Victory Tour‎ - Conn Carroll, Heritage.org:

“'Bizarre and unsafe' is a generous assessment of the Obama administration’s efforts to protect America from Iran’s nuclear ambitions so far. The Obama administration must change course. The United States should impose and enforce the strongest possible sanctions, even if doing so requires action outside of the U.N. framework, and step up public diplomacy efforts to discredit the regime’s legitimacy and offer support to opposition groups, such as the Green Movement. Most importantly the Obama administration must make the commitment to create and sustain a layered missile defense system, designed to counter every range of Iranian missiles in all stages of flight, including those that threaten the territory of the United States and its allies." Image from

Getting the Message Across: Better Broadcasting to Iran - Mehdi Khalaji, PolicyWatch #1651, Washington Insittute for Near East Policy: "Persian-language radio and television broadcasts are among the main tools of U.S. public diplomacy toward Iran. Yet both of Washington's primary outlets for such broadcasting -- Radio Farda (RF) and the Persian News Network (PNN), an arm of Voice of America (VOA) television -- have been harshly criticized since their inception. ...[T]he best way to ensure strong and effective public diplomacy toward Iran is first to depoliticize U.S. government-funded Persian-language media, and second to continue raising standards, making the news organizations more professional, objective, balanced, and technologically savvy."

The Hill writer writes VOA broadcasts to Iran "to no avail," but spokespersons cite 30% audience – Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting

A mostly positive assessment of VOA Persian News Network and RFE/RL's Radio Farda - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting

Confirmation of the new BBG members: indecision and uncertainty - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting

Religion and U.S. foreign policy‎ - Leonard Leo, Washington Post: "Congress created USCIRF [U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom] in 1998 as an independent and bipartisan commission to make freedom of religion abroad a key aspect of our nation's public diplomacy, national security and economic development objectives.

USCIRF was created to monitor religious freedom in the international community based on international standards, and to advise the President, Secretary of State and Congress on the facts and circumstances of religious freedom globally, and provide specific policy recommendations for strengthening freedom of religion for all faiths." Image from

New US Ambassador to S'pore wants to advance trade with region‎ - Imelda Saad, Channel News Asia: "The new US Ambassador to Singapore presented his credentials to President S R Nathan on Thursday, about a month after the US Senate confirmed his nomination. But even before he stepped on Singapore soil, Mr Adelman sparked controversy last month, saying that he would use 'public diplomacy' to promote greater press and political freedom in Singapore. A few weeks later he clarified that statement saying domestic politics is 'something for Singaporeans to decide for themselves.'"

America for Americans, Zimbabwe for Zimbabweans - Philip Murombedzi, The Zimbabwe Guardian: "America's public diplomacy is in tatters. The US can no longer be viewed as the leader in human rights.

With China and Asian giants taking centre stage, that country can no longer claim economic superiority. Mr Obama can no longer claim to represent an administration that is different from George W Bush's. In fact, with Mr Bush you knew what to expect, but with Mr Obama the rhetoric is different from the action. Who is the hypocrite?" Image from

We can't return to our special relationship with the United States - Brian Bow, Globe and Mail: "The White House can only do so much to 'manage' the bilateral relationship, even at the best of times, and these are very challenging times for Mr. Obama’s administration. While seeking stronger ties at the top, Canada must continue to invest in the kinds of diplomatic coping strategies that it struggled to develop in the 1980s and 1990s: building networks and transnational alliances, lobbying Congress, engaging in public diplomacy, grappling with the U.S. legal system, trying to contain American power through formal institutions. That’s a lot to ask of a shaky, shortsighted minority government, but there really is no alternative, and the stakes couldn’t be higher."

World Expo a Launch Pad for ‘New Public Diplomacy’ - Antoaneta Bezlova, IPS:

"Shanghai is playing host to the most ambitious World Expo ever, designed to demonstrate that the country’s communist party leaders are fully in control and the conductors of a carefully scripted ascent to global authority. ... Officially, Beijing intends to use Shanghai for the formal launch of its 'public diplomacy' and the Expo as a showcase of the country’s soft power – its culture, design, tourism and hospitality. 'Public diplomacy is a new concept for us,' said Tang Xiaosun, international relations expert with the Foreign Languages and Trade University in Guangzhou. 'China is now so much the focus of international attention that we need to make sure we have the means to influence public perceptions abroad ourselves.' ... Speaking to the press in March, foreign minister Yang Jiechi said the Expo would be the launch pad for China’s new 'public diplomacy'. 'Public diplomacy emerges with the requirements of the time and now it is just the right moment for China,' he said at a press conference during the annual session of the parliament. 'We are full of optimism that it can accomplish great things.'" Image from

Thimphu Silver Jubilee Declaration - press release, Press Information Bureau: "The President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, His Excellency Mr. Hamid Karzai; the Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Her Excellency Sheikh Hasina; the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bhutan, His Excellency Lyonchhen Jigmi Yoeser Thinley; the Prime Minister of the Republic of India, His Excellency Dr. Manmohan Singh; the President of the Republic of Maldives, His Excellency Mr. Mohamed Nasheed; the Prime Minister of Nepal, His Excellency Mr. Madhav Kumar Nepal; the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, His Excellency Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani; and the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, His Excellency Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa, met in Thimphu, Bhutan, on 28-29 April 2010 for the Sixteenth Summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). ... ‎In order to commemorate the 25th anniversary [of SAARC] , the Leaders laid emphasis on effective communications and public diplomacy. They drew attention in this regard to the need to reach out to different sections of the South Asian community, particularly its students and youth, private media, private sector, think tanks, civil society, and institutions of economic development."

His Excellency Muhammad Saleh Bin Bduwah Al Darmaki Inagurates American University in The Emirates Masters Degree In Diplomacy - dubaiphotomedia.com:

"Chairman of the Board of trustees at American University in the Emirates (AUE) His Excellency Muhammad Saleh Bin Bduway Al Darmaki inaugurated the gulf regions first degree in diplomacy during a reception on the AUE campus. The Master degree program is a two year degree in diplomacy based on the American style curriculum with courses in areas such as negotiation, conflict resolution, international relations, world religion, protocol, and etiquette. ... Razzaq, President of AUE stated I believe, increasingly all of us are becoming aware of the challenges we face today that require a complex, multidimensional approach to public diplomacy at the backdrop of the international relations and diplomacy we study." Image from

State Department's Judith A. McHale to Speak at 189th Commencement - colbymagazine: "Judith A. McHale, under secretary for public diplomacy and public affairs at the State Department and former president of Discovery Communications, will deliver Colby’s 189th commencement address Sunday, May 23."

Ciolek Named to Presidential Fellows Program - USC News: "Public diplomacy graduate student Melanie Ciolek

earned USC's only spot in the Presidential Fellows Program — run through the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress — and will travel twice to Washington, D.C., to explore the connections between the presidency and the development of American public diplomacy strategy." Ciolek image from article

Importance of public diplomacy in the contemporary world - Joe, The New Diplomacy 2010 E: "In the present contemporary world with the spread of democracy has created a new environment in the international system to win hearts and minds of people by governments. This is what public diplomacy does by trying to influence foreign nationals and the public with values, policies and actions of their governments to be supported. Public diplomacy can be defined as the efforts of one nation to influence public or elites of the next nation for the purpose of using foreign policy to its target."

How has my opinion about the role of diplomacy in world politics changed since the start of the module? - Natalia, The New Diplomacy 2010 D: "I am impressed by the power of public diplomacy in world politics, as well as how strong the role diplomacy itself possesses in the international arena."

My Understanding Of Diplomacy Today - Camara, The New Diplomacy 2010 A: "In the start of this module, I thought diplomacy was all about cooperation between two states which have their embassies in each other’s country. However, since this module has come to nearly its end, I have learnt a lot of things. These lies particularly from the important role played by Foreign Ministry, multilateral and public diplomacy, not to mention the great work played by NGOs in contemporary diplomatic world."

RELATED ITEMS

Obama’s Entrepreneurship Summit: Propaganda or Progress? - Devon Pendleton, trueslant.com:

Despite the fluff, spin and potential futility surrounding the whole gathering, Obama should still be lauded for holding it. Image from

War propaganda from Afghanistan – Glen Greewald, Salon: The Government and media follow through and declare the war effort broken and the strategy a failure? No; they just pretend it never happened and declare the next, latest, glorious Battle the real "make-or-break decisive test" -- until that one fails and the next one is portrayed that way, in an endless tidal wave of war propaganda intended to justify our staying for as long as we want, no matter how pointless and counter-productive it is. Apparently, if the U.S. Army invades a foreign country, anyone who fights against that invading force -- including a 15-year-old boy -- is a "war criminal" and a "Terrorist," even the Worst of The Worst, which is, of course, all that we're currently holding at Guantanamo. Now that's some robust propaganda.

Pentagon Detonates Afghan Propaganda Bomb – James Gundun, The Trench: From what we can tell the Taliban is getting stronger and the US strategy is in serious jeopardy.

We’ve outlined why at the city level in Marja, regional level in Kandahar, and at the national level. The Taliban’s resiliency would also better explain why the Pentagon is engaged in a psy-ops campaign that centers around US Special-Forces and dead Taliban commanders. Image from

Ron Paul: Iran Sanctions and War Propaganda - David Kretzmann, Freedom Chatter: Great discussion on the House floor from Ron Paul, one of the few members of Congress who understands the flawed logic of sanctions and the false accusations against Iran. Sanctions do not come instead of war, they merely open the door for war and violence. If the U.S. really thinks that blocking free trade in numerous countries around the world will lead to peace, we are in trouble.

Taliban Propaganda Watch (Rc South) – 290115utc Apr 10 - Milnewsca. Contains items dated April 28.

The Abysmal Failure of Tariq Ramadan's Propaganda Tour – Pamela geller, Atlas Shrugs: Stealth jhadist nonpareil Tariq Ramadan's books are not selling at all, despite the onslaught of press he's been getting -- coupled with the extra PR support from a freelance publicist that the ACLU hired for him on his whirlwind tour of America. Not to mention the tacit support of the jihadist in the White House. His publisher seems to think that this is all well and good and that Oxford should continue to shell out money to schlep him across the US. I think they are fools. He's a subversive scumbag who seeks to destroy all that is good in the West. Remember, he despises you.

Iraq: detainees testify of systemic torture at secret prison - Xeni Jardin, Boing Boing: Human Rights Watch has released a report detailing the systematic torture and abuse of detainees at the Iraqi-run secret prison at Muthanna airport in Baghdad. The organization interviewed 42 of the 300 detainees recently transferred from the clandestine prison to another prison facility.

Could drone pilots be tried for war crimes? - Xeni Jardin, Boing Boing: Pilots waging America's undeclared drone war in Pakistan could be liable to criminal prosecution for "war crimes," a prominent law professor told a Congressional panel today.

China – Propaganda Department sets rule for covering Shanghai Expo and Qinghai earthquake - Reporters Sans Frontières

Yiyi Lu: Soft Power Lessons for Beijing from a Chinese Petitioner – Wall Street Journal: In terms of China’s soft power in the West, Beijing does not seem to be in a much stronger position than the petitioner who attempts to make officials listen to her and support her claims. It is a similar uphill battle for Beijing to try to influence Western perceptions and opinions. The difference is that, while the petitioner understands the importance of remaining calm, Beijing seems to lose its temper and get personal all too easily. Beijing is clearly aware of its soft power deficiency in the West. That is why it has invested heavily in projects from Confucius Institutes to new foreign-language newspapers and television channels in an effort to boost its image and influence. However, Beijing’s liability to get angry and personal whenever confronted by perceived Western bias and unfair criticisms suggests that it hasn’t fully appreciated the extent of its soft power deficit.

No matter how much injustice Beijing may feel it has suffered and how unfairly it has been treated, it must recognise that it is in a very weak and disadvantaged position with regard to soft power. To overcome the perceived mountain of western prejudice, distrust and hostility, it has no choice but to show the same self-control and forbearance of a petitioner. Image from

New Arabic news channel to compete with Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya? - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting

Al Jazeera English recalls the conversation that led to the channel's creation - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting

Kadyrov: Extremist distortions of Islam must be countered - Interfax: Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov said propaganda work must be stepped up to counter the militants' ideology. "A propaganda campaign must embrace the whole of Russia. Bandits sit on the Internet, interpreting the Koran and the Hadith of their own free will. They misinform and manipulate the younger generation," Kadyrov told foreign reporters.

AMERICANA


Cream of Wheat 1956 ad: breakfast is better with ice-cream! – Boing Boing. Image from article