May 12-13

"Yes we scan!"

--The campaign slogan of Stephen Moss, a candidate to be the next Oxford Professor of Poetry; cited in The Times Literary Supplement (May 7, 2010), p. 32; Moss image from

Below images from: Japanese steamship travel posters pinktentacle.com, via Boing Boing

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

Why nobody watches our Arab TV channel: Every year the U.S. government spends over $100 million on Arab broadcasting that Arabs refuse to watch – Joe Conason: "While President Obama’s strenuous, year-plus effort to restore American prestige already has achieved measurable success, most of the Arab world remains suspicious and often hostile. Hurting more than helping is Al-Hurra,

the official Arab-language broadcasting outlet sponsored by the U.S. government -- or at least such is the jaundiced view of the overwhelming majority of the journalists, academics, officials and business executives attending the annual Arab Media Forum in Dubai this week. ... Even President Obama avoided appearing on Al-Hurra when he inaugurated his outreach campaign to the Arab and Muslim world, sidestepping the U.S. network for an interview on Saudi-based Al Arabiya. Yet the network continues to spend well over $100 million annually in taxpayer funding, without any measurable positive effect and much anecdotal evidence that its impact is negative. And rather than correct or scrap the flawed propaganda model, the board that oversees Al-Hurra keeps asking for more money."

I Talk to the Trees...- Laura McGinnis, manIC: "I recognize that there are many reasons for the poor performance of U.S. broadcasters like Al Hurra and Radio Sawa, but I'll focus on one specifically here, namely that broadcasters tend to regard the legitimacy of foreign audiences as an extension of their perceived ability to promote U.S. policy goals. Arab audiences are frequently treated as objects to receive messages, as opposed to independent agents capable of shaping and responding to ideas. This style of broadcasting reinforces existing power dynamics and attitudes, and it's hardly surprising that it's failed to capture a large percentage of the market."

The State Department, Public Diplomacy and the IKEA Factor - Patricia H. Kushlis, Whirled View: "Academia doesn’t and can’t teach hands-on public diplomacy.

It can teach about public diplomacy, its history and why it’s important for nurturing and sustaining America’s image abroad, and it can teach some of the skills needed, but not how to do it in practice. That comes from on-the-job experience and training."

Political Officers in Conflict Zones: Public Diplomacy and Counterinsurgency – Part II – Daryl Copeland: "In earlier posts and elsewhere I have made the case that in the age of globalization, development has in large part become the new security. That is why I advocate the substitution of diplomacy – and especially an extreme form of public diplomacy, with the emphasis on cross-cultural dialogue and meaningful exchange – for defence at the centre of international policy. ... the current emphasis upon so-called smart power, not least through its spin-offs such as human terrain systems, which seeks to harness academic disciplines such as anthropology and ethnology to the ends of war, seems to me highly hazardous, both doctrinally and morally."

NGOs and the News: Civil society's place in the new news ecosystem - Nieman Journalism Lab at Harvard: Toni Horton: “As a student of public diplomacy with an interest in new technology I have watched governments around the world struggle to adapt to new media in a similar process as NGOs and journalists. While they have not become information intermediaries for news, governments continue to push their own agendas and content. Governments can now be found in virtual worlds, on Facebook, YouTube, and Flickr. They can be found twittering and blogging.

They have created entire offices such as the U.S. Bureau International Information Programs’ Office of Innovative Engagement, designed specifically for media outreach to foreign publics through engagement in networked mediums. Spaces like Second Life are at the convergence of these practices as traditional organizations adapt to new technology and create networks. NGOs, news media, and governments are adapting to new technology. NGO media strategies affect journalistic and diplomatic practices, but they are also indicative of changes across industries from a broader perspective. Strict industry lines are blurring, organizational structure is shifting, and transparency is increasing. The consequences will be varied, but connected and engaged citizens from around the world will tap into knowledge networks in ways that have not been possible until now."

Armenia is not willing to live in peace with Azerbaijan‎ - News.Az - "News.Az interviews Dr Fariz Huseynov, Assistant Professor of Finance, North Dakota State University. Do you think that Azerbaijanii Diaspora of US is already strong enough to solve the problems of Azerbaijan in America? First let’s define the problems of Azerbaijan in America. The most important problem has been the lack of awareness about Azerbaijan among Americans. We need to both introduce cultural and historical aspects of our country, as well socio-economic achievements and our problems. Every Azerbaijani living in U.S. must feel obliged to promote our culture and traditions. ... Do you believe that public diplomacy between societies of Azerbaijan and Armenia can be useful in the Karabagh settlement? Truly speaking, at this point I do not believe that we should put public diplomacy efforts forward as 20 percent of our lands are still under occupation. Under these premature circumstances we cannot reach a friendly environment by just bringing some people from these societies together. Armenia has not showed any signs of strong commitment in solution and I have no reason to believe that it is willing to live in peace with Azerbaijan."

We can get there! - Saleha Javaid, Saleha's Blog: Reporting the Facts…: "Pakistan-India relations since independence have revolved around mutual distrust, uncertainty, disappointments, tensions and fear of conflict. ... A few years form now India and Pakistan will regret the cosmetic cooperation which has not helped both countries in seeking durable solutions for lasting peace.

It’s time to invest in public diplomacy, cultivate domestic and international alliances and achieve formal agreements on issues of shared concern."

Fear And Foreboding - K.P. Nayar, Calcutta Telegraph: "If the ICCR or the ministry of human resource development or the MEA’s division dealing with public diplomacy were to organize an event on the Bengali poet, Kazi Nazrul Islam, those coming from Bangladesh too would have to be pre-cleared by the home ministry before an invitation can be extended to them. The choice of words by Ramesh [‘Jairam Ramesh, the minister of state with independent charge of environment and forests’] — 'alarmist, paranoid' — are understatements when the home secretary, G.K. Pillai, pompously claims, as he did on Monday, that 'our interests, our policy is to ensure that national security is protected' considering what such mindless vetting of some Bangladeshi scholar may reveal about Nazrul Islam’s poetry."

Diplomats are learning to do more with less - Hamish McDonald, Sydney Morning Herald:

"Foreign Affairs itself has made some savings from internal efficiencies and the strong Australian dollar, but has pared back funding for consular and passport services for Australian travellers, and made a savage cut to public diplomacy."

We can't ALL be anti-semites, can we? - Elle Flanders, rabble.ca: "Canadian Parliamentary Coalition to Combat Antisemitism ... and the Israel lobby groups that surround it have taken the charge of anti-semitism to new and exaggerated heights, inventing what has been termed: 'the new anti-semitism.' Aside from the fact that it sounds like a new and better hair product, its roots can be located in the Brand Israel campaign launched by the Israeli government's Hasbara department, that is, the foreign ministry's public diplomacy department. The modern incarnation of Hasbara, which literally translates as 'information,' came out of the 1992 Israel government's sweeping changes to the foreign ministry's publicity department, when it was merged with the press department. Hasbara's main focus was now on media communications and on presenting positive images of Israel abroad. This also parlayed its way into the creation of organizations such as 'Hasbara Fellowships' which have sent thousands of American university students to Israel to learn how to become effective pro-Israel activists back on their home campuses. But what is the message of Hasbara, hence that of Israel's foreign ministry, and of all Israel lobby groups, including those here in Canada such as the B'nai Brith, the Canadian Jewish Congress, Hillel chapters (on college and university campuses), etc.? At its core, Hasbara functions from an ideology rooted in the right wing of the Israeli government. As Susan Hattis Rolef, editor of the Knesset website, wrote after the 1992 elections: 'The Likud regards the world as hostile by definition, and when our few proven friends in the worst of times happened to criticize Israel, the Likud was inclined to react by saying that they too must be ‘closet anti-semites.' ' [A]nti-semitism, which is at the centre of the Israeli foreign ministry's ideology, is what forms Jewish identity abroad and has become the raison-d'être of Jewish nationalism. If you aren't for Israel and everything it does, you are clearly against it, so the tautology goes. By circular logic, if the State was formed as a response to Jewish hatred (post WW II), and if you are critical of the State, then you must be for Jewish hatred. ... Elle Flanders is a Canadian filmmaker and a driving force behind Queers Against Israeli Apartheid."

Libya, the next Dubai? - Arts and Fishing: Fishing Art, Guy Harvey: "During a conference at the Maxwell School of Public Diplomacy, Richard Griffiths spoke of his programs in Colombia and the re-branding projects he initiated in Colombia to bring a stronger country image to the South American Nation.

Currently in projects in Colombia, Richard Griffiths explained the importance of social programs to a countries image and urged the list of Government officials to continue with social marketing a way to change a country image."

Herbert Hoover And The Origins Of American Public Diplomacy Of The Deed – Paul Rockower, Levantine: "On display at the Hoover museum and libraries are various remembrances of the aid efforts and its public diplomacy value seen in the 'Save the Children of Belgium' posters alongside pictures of Belgian appreciation rallies and letters of friendship to honor American fidelity to the people of Belgium."

Senior Foreign Policy Consultant (Expert Consultant) - naombakazi.blogspot.com: "For the Office of Policy, Planning and Resources for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs (R/PPR), ICF Macro is conducting a performance assessment of global public diplomacy activities for the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Embassies or Consulates in eight study countries/locations.

Through the Public Diplomacy Impact (PDI) project, ICF Macro measures and collects data on the aggregate impact of public diplomacy activities occurring at U.S. Missions. ICF Macro seeks to partner with an independent Senior Foreign Policy Consultant, on a half-time basis, to provide foreign policy knowledge and expertise to the project management team, supporting all client deliverables throughout the project cycle. The position requires the ability to acquire an in-depth knowledge of specified areas of the Division's work and, for those areas, undertake research, coordination and preparation of briefs, DVCs, U.S. Embassy submissions, policy papers, and other correspondence. This position also requires a deep understanding of life cycle contracts administration, with a focus on public diplomacy. The ideal candidate will be on the cutting edge of foreign policy issues, and have the ability to quickly acquire a general understanding of the project's overall objectives in public diplomacy in order to relate them to the specific area of responsibility."

RELATED ITEMS

Afghan war costs now outpace Iraq's - Richard Wolf, USA TODAY: Pentagon spending in February, the most recent month available, was $6.7 billion in Afghanistan compared with $5.5 billion in Iraq. As recently as fiscal year 2008, Iraq was three times as expensive; in 2009, it was twice as costly.

Committed to Karzai: U.S.-Afghan efforts to stabilize Afghanistan can succeed only if Afghan President Hamid Karzai is also willing to do his part to beat back the Taliban – Editorial, latimes.com

The Making of a Terrorist - Robert Wright, New York Times:

When you look at how much real-world evidence there is against the views of war-on-terror hawks, it’s not surprising that they would construct their own little universe, a place where “jihadi intent” is an uncaused cause, and our only hope is to kill or intimidate the people who, through some magical process that defies comprehension, have been possessed by it.

Mysterious Blight Destroys Afghan Poppy Harvest - Richard A. Oppel Jr., New York Times: Up to one-third of Afghanistan’s poppy harvest this spring has been destroyed by a mysterious disease, according to estimates revealed Wednesday by United Nations officials, potentially complicating the American and NATO military offensives this summer in the country’s opium-producing heartland. The Taliban’s public relations strategy against the offensives includes trying to convince local residents that Western troops will destroy their poppy crops, and in recent weeks Afghan farmers have started blaming the American and NATO militaries for spreading the disease, United Nations officials say. In many places, the blight has wiped out more than half of individual poppy fields. The American military — which has decided that widespread eradication can be counterproductive to winning over Afghans — emphatically denies any involvement, and United Nations officials say the disease is naturally occurring. Besides fueling the propaganda war, the blight might also help the insurgency by giving prices a boost.

Iranian government warned Afghan media to stop propaganda - Rahim Aria, laspecula.com:

The Iranian government on Monday warned the Afghan media to stop propaganda against the Iranian government and the way the Iranian government treat the Afghan immigrants in this country, Iranian officials in Teheran said.

A chance to stand tall against Iran on human rights - Roxana Saberi, Washington Post: It is common for Tehran's prisoners -- including journalists, bloggers, women's rights campaigners, student activists and adherents of the minority Baha'i faith -- to be held in prolonged solitary confinement without access to an attorney as they try to defend themselves against fabricated charges such as espionage and "propaganda against Islam" or the regime.

Israel's Propaganda War: Blame the Grand Mufti - Gilbert Achcar Interviewed by George Miller - mrzine.monthlyreview.org Gilbert Achcar:

Propaganda battles are essential in this conflict, more than in any other conflict, I should say. They were essential from the very beginning for Israel and, before Israel, for the Zionist movement. Because of its very nature of being a kind of colonial project in the Middle East in colonial times, the Zionist project had to rely upon some external backing. It had to get a green light from colonial powers, and, as you know, it was the British green light which allowed the Zionist project to move forward.

The Propaganda of 'Holy Warriors' - Firas Al-Atraqchi, Huffington Post: Propaganda of modern-day myths depicting angels fighting alongside "holy warriors" is being used to indoctrinate a minority of young disenfranchised Muslims with flights of fantasy and the glories of jihad. This propaganda is based on the purported experiences of Arab volunteers who fought in Afghanistan and Bosnia in the 1980s and 1990s. Of course, most Muslims aren't swayed by such histrionics, but the stories could provide an understanding of how modern-day propaganda is used to influence a small number of Muslim youth, such as naturalized US citizen Faisal Shahzad, to leave their homes and allegedly enlist at "militant training camps" in Pakistan where they learn bomb-making techniques.

Islam, Nazism And Anti-Semitism - Daniel Greenfield, eurasiareview.com: For Muslim rulers, Western dictators always had a special appeal because they maintained power without giving in to liberalization. But for the Muslim world, Nazism was more than just a dictatorship, it showed how political organization could be transformed into political power.

And even after Hitler's defeat, numerous coups in the Muslim world would be derived from Nazism-- from secular Arab Socialist ones like Nasser's in Egypt to radical Islamist ones like the Ayatollah Khomeni's in Iran. Both men had been strongly influenced by Nazi propaganda. But that propaganda did not teach them to hate Jews. Muslims did not need a lesson from the Third Reich on hating Jews. It was there every time they opened the Koran.

A Mosque In Munich: Nazis, the CIA and the Rise of the Muslim Brotherhood by Ian Johnson - southasiamail.com: About the book: In the wake of the news that the 9/11 hijackers had lived in Europe, journalist Ian Johnson wondered how such a radical group could sink roots into Western soil. Most accounts reached back twenty years to U.S. support of Islamist fighters in Afghanistan. But Johnson dug deeper, to the start of the Cold War, uncovering the untold story of a group of ex-Soviet Muslims who had defected to Germany during World War II. As German agents fashioned the group into an anti-Soviet propaganda machine, they naively began a faltering liaison between political Islam and the West that would produce unintended consequences.

Nazi Jazz Propaganda – lisa, Sociological Images:

A German jazz band, called Charlie and His Orchestra, was put together by Joseph Goebbels. Charlie and His Orchestra recorded jazz standards, but changed the lyrics to “anti-British, anti-American, anti-Communist or antisemitic messages.”