June 11

“Don't forget your culture, but you got to learn new things."

--K.K., short for "Krazy Kat," onetime member of the Long Beach Crips, who served eight years in prison for armed robbery in California before being deported in 2004 to Cambodia, his parents' homeland, where he has tapped into long-forgotten break-dancing skills to become one of Cambodia's unlikeliest role models; image from article

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Global Initiative for Cultural Diplomacy: Daily Cultural Diplomacy News

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

David Cameron must stand up to Barack Obama over BP - ‎Nile Gardiner, Telegraph.co.uk: "As everyone knows, BP is enveloped in a massive environmental and PR disaster, which is doing serious damage to its reputation, not only in the US but across the world.

But by relentlessly kicking the firm while it’s down, in what appears to be increasingly brutal and vindictive fashion, the Obama White House is generating significant animosity in a nation that is traditionally pro-American. In fact we are witnessing one of the worst exercises in public diplomacy by a US government in recent memory, one that could cause significant long-term damage to the incredibly important economic and political partnership between Great Britain and the United States." See below "related items." Image from

We're keen to expand interaction: US official - ‎Raynald C Rivera, Peninsula On-line: "DOHA: The Obama administration is keen to have more comprehensive engagements with Muslim communities around the world by expanding partnerships in various areas of shared interest, said Undersecretary Judith McHale yesterday. McHale was speaking during a media roundtable yesterday at the US Ambassador’s residence. She is in Doha for a visit to conduct discussions with relevant sectors in her capacity as Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. 'In today’s complex world we live it is critical for our countries to learn about each other, to have discussions and dialogues and debate important issues such as climate change and food security,' said McHale emphasising the need to work together to provide opportunities for people especially the youth to move forward toward the future. McHale was addressing the media a year after the US President delivered a historic speech in Cairo where he called for a new beginning between the US and Muslim-majority countries. … Being a former media member, she considers the media as a significant partner of the government and said they are having discussions with Al Jazeera at various levels."

US and Arabs must work together to 'build bridges' - Gulf Times: "In a meeting with reporters, Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Judith McHale said that it was critically important in today’s complex world for the US and Arab people to learn more about each other and debate on issues. ... McHale explained that Al Jazeera plays a critical role by providing people around the world with the information in the context that they needed to participate in the political lives of their countries. The official further explained that critical political issues such as Israel’s possession of 200 nuclear warheads and Iran’s nuclear matter were not being ignored by the US administration.

'These are complex issues, my focus is on the common interest areas', she stated, adding 'we want to find ways on how to work together to build bridges'. Highlighting the issue of education, McHale said that she wanted to increase the number of student exchanges and connect US students with the world. 'I want every high school in Qatar to have a sister school in the US', she added." Image from

Secretary Clinton To Deliver Remarks at Diplomacy Briefing Series - ‎US Department of State: "Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will deliver remarks at the second conference in a Diplomacy Briefing Series on Monday, June 14 at 4:00 p.m. at the Department of State. This conference will focus on the issues and challenges in U.S. relations with sub-Saharan Africa. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson will provide opening remarks on the region. Other conference speakers include Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Judith McHale, Assistant Secretary of State for Economic, Energy, and Business Affairs Jose Fernandez, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Melanne Verveer, and USAID Counselor James Michel."

Comment to John Brown, America as a Shopping Mall? U.S. Cultural Diplomacy in the Age of Obama - party-of-one: "PROBLEM: Hillary is neither a leader, diplomat or manager. She's not up to the complex job of SoS. SOLUTION: President Obama should appoint a highly qualified, non-political SPECIAL ENVOY for cultural diplomacy, like he has for other important areas beyond Hillary's capacity, such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran.

PROBLEM. Hillary is packing Cultural diplomacy (like other areas of the State Department) with loyal but unskilled political cronies, e.g., Under SoS for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Judith A. McHale, 'a Democratic contributor close to Hillary Clinton with a business background (in communications and television)'; Ann Stock, no[mi]nated to head the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), a former Clinton White House social secretary. SOLUTION: Make nominations and appointments based on merit not simply loyalty to Hillary's ambitions. PROBLEM. Hillary is aggressively promoting one underside of American Culture, corporate greed, profiteering, and war-mongering. Her belligerent rhetoric against Iran, her advocacy for Bush-era militarism and escalation in Afghanistan, and her subordination of human rights to 'economic interests' with China. See http://www.huffingtonpost.com/georges-ugeux/hillary-clinton-got-it-al_b_587795.html AND http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bob-jacobson/hillary-hits-her-hut-or-h_b_586146.html?show_comment_id=48044611#comment_48044611 SOLUTION: Get a new SoS and let Hillary be Secretary of Commerce, her passion." Image from

Why I don't cover the State Department much anymore - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting: "State Department, 19 April 2010, Secretary Crowley introducing the first 'Conversations With America': 'This initiative allows you to – the opportunity to join this conversation by submitting questions through the State Department’s blog DipNote. We’re very proud of it. And over the past few days, we have received many questions on today’s topic, which is Afghanistan and Pakistan, from people across the United States. We have received questions from those countries as well as India. We have selected a few among those questions for a discussion toward – during the course of this broadcast.' [Elliott comment:] Who sees 'Conversations With America' live, and how? It goes out via satellite, but who receives it? Can it be viewed live from the State Department website? The program has no web page of its own, but archived are available via the State Department's Dipnote blog. More interesting is Secretary's Crowley's statement that program's purpose is to 'inform both our citizens and citizens around the world of the United States’s efforts.' The domestic dissemination prohibition of the Smith-Mundt Act implies that some US content is suitable for foreign audiences, and some for domestic audiences. 'Conversations' is having it both ways. I think it's great that Americans and citizens of other countries can share opinions in a single vehicle. Senators Smith and Mundt might disagree, but they don't get around much these days."

"Strategic communications" is a term desperately seeking a new bureaucracy - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting: Washington Post, 8 June 2010, Walter Pincus: "'Buried in a 647-page House Armed Services Committee report on the defense authorization bill are six pages that show how the abundance of Pentagon money has allowed the military to move into areas that once were the prerogative of intelligence professionals. While Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is pressuring the services to make cuts in overhead, personnel and programs, the House panel is calling on Gates to take the intergovernmental lead in nonmilitary 'innovative approaches' to counterterrorism. Ironically, the committee is assigning the Pentagon new duties while complaining that President Obama's National Security Council did not agree about the need for a new independent organization to reconcile the Pentagon's growing strategic communications activities -- which 'aim to undermine the ideological narrative of various violent extremist groups' -- with the State Department's public diplomacy role. The panel urged the NSC to reconsider that option.' -- [Elliott comment:] I'm with Obama's NSC on this. The government does not need yet another 'organization.'

The Pentagon should be limited to information operations in or near its areas of activity. Leave the global public diplomacy to the State Department. One staff member from each agency can meet maybe once a week to coordinate. Heritage Foundation, The Foundry, 7 June 2010, Helle Dale: 'The lack of interagency coordination is one of the problems that beset the messaging of the plethora of U.S. government agencies with a slice of the strategic communications, from the State Department to the Defense Department to the Broadcasting Board of Governors, the U.S. Agency [for] International Development, the National Endowment for Democracy and many besides. Engaging with global communities is from the U.S. government perspective a piecemeal affair since the demise of the U.S. Information Agency in 1999. Coherent and strategic messaging is one of the critical components of U.S. international leadership.' ... [The creation of a] Center for Strategic Communication and Public Diplomacy ... has been the recommendation of many major independent foreign policy institutions (including the Heritage Foundation).' -- [Elliott comment:] You know, it's funny: once again, the Heritage Foundation is calling for an expansion of the US federal bureaucracy. No one would accuse me of being a conservative, but when it comes to size of government, I can out-conservative Heritage any day of the week, with one arm tied behind my back. And, by the way, the 'coordination' of the BBG would immediately be detected by the audience, who would immediately tune elsewhere." Image from

Lugar takes on BBG and Coburn in new report - Josh Rogin, Foreign Policy: "The Senate Foreign Relations Committee's ranking Republican, Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar, released a hard-hitting report Thursday that criticizes the U.S. government's international broadcasting efforts, which have long been dogged by accusations of ineffectiveness, cronyism, and post-Cold War irrelevance, as well as partisan bickering over editorial direction. The report, entitled 'U.S. International Broadcasting: Is Anybody Listening?' is unsparing in its criticism of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, an independent federal agency established in 1994. Its nearly $700 million in annual funding supports Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and a host of other media efforts across some 60 languages. Lugar's report reserves the bulk of its criticism for unspecified members of Congress, in both parties, whom it accuses of holding the agency hostage to partisan agendas." Courtesy LB

Response of Deirdre Kline, Communications Director, Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Inc., to the Lugar USIB report - John Brown, Notes and Essays

Senator Lugar issues major report on US international broadcasting - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting: "I'll have comments when I have a chance to read it. Recommended reading, in the meantime."

Senate Report on the Broadcasting Board of Governors - Matt Armstrong, ‎MountainRunner.us: "The most extensive report on the issues facing the Broadcasting Board of Governors and US international broadcasting was released this week.

'US International Broadcasting – Is Anybody Listening? – Keeping the US Connected' was prepared by the staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, under the leadership of senior professional staff member Paul Foldi, and is the best, if not the only, substantial review of its kind." Image from

Public Diplomacy and the Declining Influence of American Popular Culture - John Brown, Notes and Essays: " [T]he prevalence of soccer as a near universal sport favorite suggests that 'identifiably' American idols in the field of entertainment -- and what else are spectator sports but entertainment -- are not necessarily what the world will prefer in the new millenium."

Israel fuelling anti-Americanism: In attacking the Freedom Flotilla, Israel alienated all of Washington's so-called moderate allies in the region, writes Nicola Nasser – Al Ahram: "[T]he US leaned on Israel 'quite a lot' to release hundreds of Turkish peace activists who were onboard the Mavi Marmara, Turkish Deputy Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy Selim Yenel told The Jerusalem Post Thursday."

Iran sanctions may mean competitive trade advantage for Turkey - ‎Today's Zaman: "The United Nations Security Council decision to impose new sanctions against Iran should not be a source of concern in terms of Turkish-Iranian commercial ties, as these mostly fall outside the areas affected by the sanctions and may even boost bilateral trade relations, experts say. ... Strategic Thought Institute (SDE) President Professor Yasin Aktay said the sanctions bring advantages that outweigh any damage that they could present for Turkish-Iranian trade.

'The sanctions are more concerned with weapons and [Iran’s] Revolutionary Guards; there’s not much activity between [Iran and Turkey] in these fields. Our trade with Iran is concentrated in oil, natural gas, industry and consumer products,' Aktay said. He further commented that sanctions had above all a strong psychological effect and that this could lead to increased trade with Turkey in fields not covered by the sanctions. 'It’s an important position to be in when you are a country that can say ‘no’ and remain on its feet; there’s no better public diplomacy than this,' he said." Image from

Israel wants 24-hr news ch - ‎Chris Forrester, Rapid tv news: "BBC Monitoring is reporting that Israel is considering establishing its own 24-hour news channel. The original report on the scheme ran in The Jerusalem Post. The plan would, say its supporters, help disseminate Israel’s news to the wider world. Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs Minister Yuli Edelstein, said: 'We could have our own channel, which would at least broadcast on the Internet. We're not there now, but we are seriously discussing that.' The channel would require a combination of state and private funding, Edelstein said, adding that his ministry had secured some state funds towards the project. … Edelstein said he was aware of 'the feeling that something is wrong, and there is an urge to point a finger at Israeli hasbara [public diplomacy]. In most cases, in this type of criticism, people don't define what they mean by hasbara. I would have to say that hasbara is a combination of many fields - diplomatic, mass media, newspaper, new media, the Internet, social media, and working with Jewish communities and friends of Israel all around the world.' Asked if he thought Israel could ever defeat its opponents in the media arena, Edelstein said: 'I'm not sure we can win by knockout, but we can hold another round, and another round, and find a way to win by points. I would say that despite all of the negative things, the whole world is not against us. There are militant and well-funded groups... influencing public media, but we have to remember that the whole world is not on their page.'"

In the wake of the flotilla, Israel again floats the idea of an international news channel - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting: "The English-language global news channel business is very competitive. The 'big three' consists of CNN International, BBC World News, and Al Jazeera English. Perhaps through some combination of news and non-news programming, an Israeli channel could join the lower tiers of English channels, which presently includes DW-TV, France 24, RT (Russia Today), EuroNews, NHK World, Australia Network, CCTV9, Xinhua News Network, and Press TV. The audience size for such a channel might not justify the expense.

Here's a back-of-envelope plan for Israel: 1) Purchase advertisements on CNN International and BBC World News, explaining Israeli policies, and promoting tourism, trade, and investment. The ads might also be placed on Al Jazeera English, reaching an audience less favorably inclined towards Israel, or not, thus shifting income to AJE's two main rivals. 2) Improve the public diplomacy content and presentation now at Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, and add languages to that effort. 3) Simplify and consolidate access to, and publicize, the non-Hebrew radio and television content from the Israel Broadcasting Authority, now available at http://www.iba.org.il/ and http://www.intkolisrael.com/. 4) For news in English via the web, various perspectives are already available from haaretz.com, jerusalempost.com, http://www.insraelnationalnews.com/, and other sites." Image: BP touring kits from

FM Liberman at end of US visit - press release, ‎Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs: "Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Avigdor Liberman finished his New York visit Wednesday evening (9 June). He held a comprehensive meeting with Israel’s ambassadors to the US, the UN and Canada, together with all of the North American heads of missions, at which a deep discussion was held on all the issues that relate to Israeli-US relations. FM Liberman said at the meeting that the connection with Jewish communities around the world is an existential-strategic interest for the State of Israel, and not a matter of public diplomacy. He said that Israel today is an economic and technological power, and that Israel should rebuild and strengthen its ties with the Jewish communities because they are an integral part of the State of Israel."

What the Russian papers say - ‎Alex Steffler, RIA Novosti: [From] "Nezavisimaya Gazeta, Moscow advocates united fight against global drug threat: ... Dmitry Rogozin, Russia's Ambassador to NATO, said there were two possibilities for Russia-NATO cooperation, namely, Russia-NATO relations and NATO-CSTO [Collective Security Treaty Organization, comprising Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan] relations.

He said the second issue was purely political, and that everything boiled down to a political impasse which should be overcome. Speaking of Russia-NATO relations, Rogozin advocated more active public diplomacy and said Western public opinion should be convinced that illegal drug sale 'proceeds' were used to train and equip insurgents fighting ISAF contingents in Afghanistan." Image from

Australian government and resources industry should collaborate to collaborate to advance diplomacy - Report: Xinhua, People's Daily Online: "The report recommended the government should leverage the activities of Australian resource companies which already engage with local community organizations, business groups and non- government organizations (NGOs) to complement its public diplomacy efforts."

World Cup an international party in D.C. - ‎Keith St, Washington Examiner: "The FIFA World Cup, the world's most widely watched sporting event, gets under way Friday and it's going to see some strong support in D.C., one the world's most international cities. ...

In a more low-key event, the Dutch Embassy is having the Danish Embassy staff over for breakfast Monday morning in another private event to watch the match between the two nations' teams. Torsten Jansen, minister counselor of the public diplomacy and communication department at the Danish Embassy, said that it's nice to take a break for a little soccer." Image from

RELATED ITEMS

BP launches UK propaganda campaign - but too late? - Business Day: BP has launched what’s being called a propaganda campaign against the US after the spill that’s the worst in America’s history. This morning supportive comments from the UK government lifted BP’s shares, initially outweighing news that the British oil company’s Gulf of Mexico spill is much bigger than previously estimated. In response to moves by US officials to grab more BP cash for the cleanup, ministers heeded calls to defend the company, Britain’s biggest payer of dividends to the investment community.

Scholar soldiers in Afghanistan are on dangerous terrain: Using social scientists in military human terrain teams blurs the lines between independent academia and partisan militarism - James Denselow guardian.co.uk: The US military sees the importance of cultural understanding as a weapon, but they are not 100% that soldiers are the ones to wield it. Hence the rebirth of what was a controversial programme used during the Vietnam war known as the civil operations and revolutionary development support (Cords), which is referred to in the new Coin new (counterinsurgency) manual. Cords was linked to the Phoenix targeted assassination programme, which was estimated to have killed some 26,000 suspected Viet Cong.

Iran and the 'Freedom Recession': Facebook had no answer to the pro-regime vigilantes who ruled the streets. And the U.S. president, who might have helped, stood aside - Fouad Ajami, Wall Street Journal: America's new standard-bearer, President Barack Obama, had come to a conviction that the pursuit of freedom in distant lands was not a legitimate American concern.

From his first days in office, Mr. Obama signaled his resignation toward the despotisms of the Greater Middle East: He would take them as they come. Image from

How the West Can Help Iran's Green Movement: Please do not barter away our democracy for nuclear weapons negotiations with the current unworthy leaders in Tehran - Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Wall Street Journal

Spreading thoughts of freedom among North Koreans - Michael Gerson, Washington Post: With strategic options relating to North Korea limited, an information assault on the regime assumes greater urgency. The irreplaceable National Endowment for Democracy supports Free North Korea Radio.

But neither South Korea nor the United States shows much creativity or commitment in applying new information technologies to help the spread of freedom. Image from

The myth of Iran's 'isolation' - Charles Krauthammer, Washington Post: Nearly a year and a half of peace overtures, negotiation, concessions, two New Year's messages to the Iranian people, a bit of groveling about U.S. involvement in the 1953 coup and a disgraceful silence when the regime's very stability was threatened by peaceful demonstrators. Iran's response? Defiance, contempt and an acceleration of its nuclear program.

Helen Thomas, Turkey, and the Liberation of Israel - Victor Davis Hanson, National Review Online: In an odd way, Thomas’s sick suggestions and Turkey’s new Islamist and vehemently anti-Israel foreign policy will have a liberating effect on Israel. After all, if the ceremonial head of the White House press corps wants Israel’s citizens either gone or dead, there is a legitimate suspicion that things are not quite right in the capital of Israel’s staunchest ally.

And if the most secular, democratic, and pro-Western Muslim country in the Middle East wishes to pick a fight to prove its Muslim fides, then there is not much hope that Israel is going to win over anyone else in that region. Image from; ad states: "We're investing $15bn in finding new oil and gas in the Gulf of Mexico -- It's a start."

China Begins to Rediscover Its Voice: Braving censorship, editors and reporters cover stories that are not allowed - Cha Shi, The Epoch Times: In spite of its best efforts, the Central Propaganda Department is gradually losing control over the media. With increasing social problems, the influence of the Western values of democracy and freedom, and the access to true and uncensored information, the Chinese, including news reporters, are gradually rethinking and regaining their conscience and courage.

N.Korea 'beauty' in propaganda video hot on Internet - Lee Hyo-sik, Korea Times: An online video clip featuring an attractive female university student from North Korea promoting the communist regime's propaganda, has been drawing attention among the Internet community here.

They are not interested in the content of the North's propaganda slogans that she speaks about. Instead they are making many comments about her looks, calling her North Korea's "eoljjang" or top beauty. Park Jin-joo, who introduces herself as a student of Pyongyang Teachers’ University in a propaganda video clip circulating online, is seen in this photo captured from a website. Image from

Caroline Cox: Baku's false propaganda misleads international community - PanARMENIAN.Net: On June 10, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan met with a cross-bench member of the British House of Lords, Baroness Caroline Cox. At the meeting, Armenian leader gave high assessment to Baroness’ long-term and productive cooperation with Armenia. Caroline Cox, in turn, shared impressions of her 70th jubilee visit to NKR, emphasizing positive changes observed during her visit. The parties exchanged views on recent developments in RA-Turkey reconciliation process and Karabakh conflict settlement issues. The Baroness emphasized international community’s support for Armenia’s adherence to peaceful settlement of conflicts. Still, Caroline Cox noted, Armenia’s reserved response to Azeri’s false propaganda allows Baku to mislead the international community, presidential press service reported.

Pining for a Soviet Paradise - Vladimir Milov, Moscow Times: Soviet revanchism is alive and well.

Supporters of authoritarianism propagandize the Soviet myth as a weapon against modern, liberal ideas — their main rivals. And for now, they have enjoyed great success in winning over the hearts and minds of the people. Courtesy LB. Image from

AMERICANA


--Image from democracyforamerica.com

ONE MORE QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"The presence of the organization created one more phenomenon: the propagandist is always separated from the propagandee, he remains forever a stranger to him. Even in the actual contact of human relations, at meetings, in door-to-door visits, the propagandist is of a different order; he is nothing else and nothing more than the representative of the organization — or, rather, a delegated fraction of it. He remains a manipulator, in the shadow of the machine. He knows why he speaks certain words and what effect they should have. His words are no longer human words but technically calculated words; they no longer express a feeling or a spontaneous idea, but reflect an organization even when they seem entirely spontaneous. Thus the propagandist is never asked to be involved in what he is saying, for, it is becomes necessary, he may be asked to say the exact opposite with similar conviction. He must, of course, believe in the cause he serves, but not in his particular argument."

–Jacques Ellul, Propaganda ([1962] 1965); cited in Evonne Levy, Propaganda and the Jesuit Baroque (Berkely and Los Angeles, California: University of California Press, 2004), p. 72