July 3

“They needed someone killed, so they sent us.”

-- Maj. Bryan L. Logan, squadron operations officer for the Third Squadron, Seventh Cavalry Regiment, referring to an insurgent cell that had been planting bombs near an Iraqi highway; image from

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

We could adopt use of M-Pesa, says US - Daily Nation: "The US will leverage her technology by importing innovations from Africa as part of the Obama Administration’s bid to strengthen relations with the continent. Citing the M-Pesa evolution, US Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Judith McHale said her country’s economy could benefit by importing the revolutionary mobile money transfer system from Kenya. 'We do not have such a system in America and we could import it to make it part of our national payment system,' said Ms McHale. M-Pesa is run by Kenya’s largest mobile

phone service provider, Safaricom, as a platform to send and receive money by its subscribers using their handsets. The technology is a first in the world. Ms McHale spoke on Friday after paying a courtesy call to the Nairobi Stock Exchange. She is on an official visit to the country. In return, America will support local universities and colleges by initiating an exchange programme between her institutions and those in Kenya. And instead of going the traditional way of exchange programmes of moving people, the proposed exchange will also leverage on technology. 'We appreciate that it is a limit in the number of people we can move to America from Kenya and America to Kenya. We thus want to use technology to link universities and colleges so that they can share knowledge,' she added." Image from article: Nairobi Stock Exchange Chief executive officer Peter Mwangi and US Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Ms Judith McHale is being taken through the Nairobi Bourse Automated system by Dyer and Blair Kenneth King'ori during her visit on July 2, 2010.

Appointment of Special Advisor for International Disability Rights: ‎ US Department of State: "The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor announces the appointment of Judith Heumann as the Special Advisor for International Disability Rights. Special Advisor Heumann will lead the Administration’s efforts to develop a comprehensive strategy to promote the rights of persons with disabilities internationally; coordinate an interagency process for the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; ensure that foreign assistance incorporates persons with disabilities; lead on disability human rights issues; ensure that the needs of persons with disabilities are addressed in international situations; and conduct public diplomacy, including with civil society, on disability issues."

Could We Be Any More Likeable? - Franklin Foer, New Republic: "[American soccer team coach Bob Bradley’s] temperament infuses this very likable team.

They never try to be any flashier than they are—and, of cour se, they have a temerity that should make them a potent tool for our public diplomacy." See also. Image from

To achieve its objectives, CMSA conducts the following four types of programs – CMSA website: "The Congressional Muslim Staffers Association(CMSA) CMSA hosts social events and development programs that enhance members’ knowledge, skills, and networks relevant to their professional duties and community relations. CMSA has collaborative events with other Congressional staff associations or non-government groups that help extend members’ awareness and networks of various professional ethnic, gender, and religious associations. Examples: State Department Briefing on U.S. Public Diplomacy in the Muslim World."

PD Don’t Get No Respect - Ren’s Micro Diplomacy: "Does State have lower expectations for PD officer candidates because they think they can teach them everything they need to know in FSI?

Even if they don’t, the perception is there. Even more reason for State to offer incentives to candidates who have specific academic or professional background in PD, and for PD officers to work even harder at getting professional recognition. It will be a slow process, but as new Master of Public Diplomacy students are released into the working world we will be able to demonstrate that PD isn’t just common sense." Image from

Pentagon Adds MISO To Alphabet Soup‎ - David Gura - NPR: The Department of Defense (DOD) has decided that "Psychological Operations" or "PSYOPS" doesn't have many positive connotations. Upon hearing the terms, Americans are likely to think of The General's Daughter, Apocalypse Now, or The Men Who Stare at Goats. So, they've rebranded. From here on out, the units comprise 'Military Information Support Operations,' or MISO. The Atlantic's Marc Ambinder obtained a copy of an internal Pentagon email from Rosa Brooks, Senior Advisor to the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Rule of Law and International Humanitarian Policy, 'explaining to senior Pentagon officials that the Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, has signed off on an effort to reduce the stigma of 'psychological operations' — 'PSYOPS' — by changing its name.' In the message, Brooks outlines some key points 'to make if asked': This is just a terminological change, not a substantive change. The term PSYOP was anachronistic and misleading; Military Information Support is a more accurate description of the activities and programs at issue. We already use the term 'Military Information Support Teams' to describe the PSYOP personnel who deploy to embassies and provide support to State Dept public diplomacy efforts; this more thoroughgoing terminological shift will make our terminology consistent and help reduce misunderstandings."

Jet Roi: “JET Program on the Chopping Block” - James Gannon, jetwit.com: "As part of Japan’s efforts to grapple with its massive public debt, the JET Program may be cut. ... A few Japanese intellectual and foreign policy leaders have begun to push back against the attacks on the JET Program, noting how important it is in terms of public diplomacy and in Japan’s engagement with a range of countries.

In its June meeting in Washington, D.C., the US-Japan Conference on Cultural and Educational Exchange (CULCON), a joint US-Japan 'wisemen’s commission' scathingly criticized the shortsightedness of any move to cut the JET Program ... . For its part, the US State Department also seems to be taking the position that the JET Program makes valuable contributions to the long-term underpinnings of US-Japan relations and cutting it will be harmful." On Jet program, see. Image from

Reports: Israel to apologize for flotilla raid‎ - Neal Ungerleider, True/Slant: "Persistent reports in the Turkish press indicate that Israel will formally apologize and pay compensation for the deaths on the Mavi Marmara. The Mavi Marmara was the blockade-busting ship manned by Turkish citizens on which nine actvists were killed in unclear circumstances by Israeli naval commandos. Turkish newspaper of record Hürriyet indicates that discussions of apology and compensation took place at a secret meeting between Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and Israeli Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor Benjamin Ben-Eliezer on Wednesday. ... As the paper’s Sevil Kücüjjosum puts it, 'Israel has signaled it may compensate and apologize to families of some of the victims of its aid-flotilla raid.' If true, this would signal a sea-change in Israel’s approach to the blockade fiasco; Israeli public diplomacy has been aggressive in painting the blockade-busters as violent terrorists."

03 July, 2010 - u2r2h blog: "Israel's public diplomacy efforts are called hasbara in Hebrew. Hasbara, also spelt hasbarah, is a noun that literally means 'explanation'. The term has been used by the State of Israel and by supporters of Israel to describe their efforts to explain Israeli government policies, and to promote Israel to the world at large. Detractors view hasbara as a euphemism for propaganda."

Russian 101: R-Rated PD – Lena, Global Chaos: "Apparently, someone in R[ussia]T[oday] America (the U.S. bureau, that is) came up with the brilliant idea of taking up a similar task: teaching basic Russian. The originality of the idea, however, was that it was to be done in (how should I put it...?) a 'special way.' ... Of course, at attempt to tap into the 'already existing' fame of the self-anointed 'Sexiest Philologist in the World',

might sound like a good idea. Sex sells, after all. The tragedy of this case, however, is that RT is supposedly the official mouthpiece of Russia. By offering such 'language lessons', not only is RT capturing the more 'sexually oriented' audiences, but it is also referring to, and thus, perpetuating, the very sad stereotype about Russian women. If this is how RT envisions Russian public diplomacy and broadcasting, then Moscow better forget about improving international public opinion, especially in the U.S., on Russia and its people.” Philologist image from

Coordinator for International Exchange Student Program (Ithaca) - Telecommute Anywhere: "Join the staff of The Laurasian Institution (TLI) in creating the very best exchange environment for both students and families. Take pride in working with colleagues who share your commitment to quality exchange. Benefit from the flexibility of setting your own schedules and time commitments. Selection of quality host schools and host families is key to achieving the program?s educational, cross-cultural, and public diplomacy goals, including helping the exchange student achieve familiarity with life in the U.S. and better understand American culture. ... Stipend: $1,000 per exchange student placement."

RELATED ITEMS

Defense chief tightens interview rules after McChrystal episode - AP, USA Today: Defense Secretary Robert Gates ordered military officials Friday to get Pentagon clearance for interviews and other media contacts after President Obama fired the top general in Afghanistan for embarrassing comments in a magazine article.

Gates' order, which is effective immediately, tells officials to make sure they are not going out of bounds or unintentionally releasing information that the Pentagon wants to hold back. Stanley McChrystal stunned his bosses with criticism and complaints in a Rolling Stone article that his superiors did not know was coming. "We were not happy with the content, and we were not happy that we didn't know about it," Assistant Defense Secretary Douglas Wilson said this week. Image from

Elusive goals in Afghanistan: Unless the U.S. can get Karzai to provide for his citizens to draw support from the Taliban, there will be no victory - Editorial, latimes.com

Charles Krauthammer's propaganda - Glenn Greenwald, Salon: It's anything but news that Charles Krauthammer is a rank propagandist. He lambastes the Obama administration for what he calls its "absurd and embarrassing refusal . . . to acknowledge who out there is trying to kill Americans and why."


Krauthammer wants to incite Americans to hate Islam and blame it for Terrorism, and any evidence suggesting a causal relationship between U.S. policy and the anti-American sentiment that fuels it -- including (though not only) U.S. support for Israeli violence -- must be suppressed and ignored. Krauthammer image from

China Puts Best Face Forward With News Channel - David Barboza, New York Times: The Xinhua News Agency, China’s dominant news service and the propaganda arm of the Communist Party, introduced a 24-hour English-language news channel and is preparing to open a prominent newsroom in Times Square, part of an expensive push to increase the reach and influence of the Chinese news media overseas. Image from article 1china Xinhua, China's official news agency, introduced CNC World, a 24-hour English-language news channel, at a news conference in Beijing on Thursday. The expansion comes as many Western news media are cutting back.

AP Reports on Cuban Regime's Latest Propaganda Exploitation of Elian Gonzalez - Ken Shepherd, NewsBusters: As is its custom from time to time, the Castro regime trotted out former refugee Elian Gonzalez for PR purposes yesterday. This time the cause of celebration was the 10th anniversary of the young man's return to the Communist regime on June 28, 2000.

Japanese Propaganda: Front (1941-45) - erinbarnett, Fans in a Flashbulb: Published under the auspices of the Eastern Way Company or Toho-sha, Front was created by the Japanese Army’s intelligence bureau and civilian editors, photographers, and graphic designers as a vehicle of pro-military propaganda for foreign audiences.

Mitsui, Mitsubishi, Sumitomo, and other companies that relied on military contracts financed the publication. According to internal documents cited in Barak Kushner’s The Thought War: Japanese Imperial Propaganda (2006), Front‘s focus was “proclaiming to the Chinese and other nations the Japanese empire’s true form in this time of extreme international change.” Published in fifteen languages, Front focused on all aspects of Japan’s military engagements in Asia including issues dedicated to the Imperial Navy, the Imperial Army, and Manchuria. Image from article

Fighting the Nazi propaganda machine [Review of Travels In The Reich Edited by Oliver Lubrich University of Chicago Press, $30, 336 pages] - Martin Rubin, Washington Times: In marked contrast to the shameful reportage on Russia by such correspondents as the New York Times' Walter Duranty, which turned a blind eye to the savagery of Soviet policy from the show trials to the mass starvation engendered by its economic programs, American correspondents in Berlin, represented here by William L. Shirer and Howard K. Smith, did an excellent job of resisting the unparalleled diabolical and effective propaganda machine of Joseph Goebbels.

ONE MORE QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

“stability operations.”

--What soldiers today would call combat operations — hunting insurgents, joint raids between Iraqi security forces and United States Special Forces to kill or arrest militants — will be called in Iraq

DOCUMENT

Original Message-----
From: Brooks, Rosa CIV OSD POLICY


Sent: Monday, June 28, 2010 4:11 PM

To: NAMES REDACTED
Subject: Yes, "PSYOP" is changing to "MISO"

All,

USDP sought clarification from SecDef and reports that he is comfortable
with a complete PSYOP name change, from PSYOP to Military Information
Support Operations ("MISO" - sounds like a soup, but what can you do? I
guess we could also keep saying MIS).

ADM Olson and GEN Casey's emails and related message traffic have
already leaked out, so now that we have clarity on SD's views, we will
need to move quickly to inform key Congressional and interagency
players, and respond to media queries with this information. (Walter
Pincus from Wash Post as already queried us). My hope is that this will
not be a big deal, but given the sensitivities around PYSOP and the
PSYOP budget, you never know.

Key points to make if asked: This is just a terminological change, not
a substantive change. The term PSYOP was anachronistic and misleading;
Military Information Support is a more accurate description of the
activities and programs at issue. We already use the term "Military
Information Support Teams" to describe the PSYOP personnel who deploy to
embassies and provide support to State Dept public diplomacy efforts;
this more thoroughgoing terminological shift will make our terminology
consistent and help reduce misunderstandings.

If this generates enough Hill or press interest, we may want to pull
together a one-pager from existing congressional reports to explain what
kinds of activities we are talking about.

Meanwhile, we will work with OGC & Leg Affairs to determine whether
formal congressional notification/legislative change is needed to make
this... officially official.

Rosa

~~~~~~

Rosa Brooks

Senior Advisor to the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy &

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Rule of Law & International
Humanitarian Policy

--From; Brooks image, with following caption: Appearing on the last episode of Tucker on March 14, 2008, Barack Obama fan and LA Times columnist Rosa Brooks grimaces after claiming Obama "probably wasn't listening" in church when Rev. Jeremiah Wright made his controversial statements.