September 10

["W]hen I talk with President Wilson, I feel as if I am talking to Jesus Christ."

--French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau; cited John Milton Cooper, Jr., "Woodrow Wilson: A Biography" (2009) p. 491; on Wilson's key role in the establishment of an institutionalized US government overseas propaganda agency, the Committee on Public Information, see; image from

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

Foreign Reaction to U.S. Anti-Muslim Events, Part IV: Narrative Coherence - Steven R. Corman, Jeffry R. Halverson, and Chris Lundry: "Those interested in supporting U.S. policy should therefore be more proactive in getting in front of these issues when they emerge, ideally within the same news cycle. Much the same can be said for U.S. public diplomacy efforts. ... We applaud Secretary Clinton’s recent instructions to diplomatic personnel to fan out and denounce the Qur’an burning event. But had Jones not canceled, it may have been too little, too late. It would have been much better to start this effort when the event was announced earlier this year and was beginning to diffuse in foreign media. We saw a pattern of willingness to cover U.S. diversity of opinion on these controversies in many cases. The State Department should take advantage of this by playing a more proactive role in detecting the early up-trend of these controversies, encouraging early pro-policy statements by U.S. groups, and drawing the attention of foreign media to these statements."

President Obama and Sarah Palin Agree: Muslims Can Be Dangerous‎ - Adam Hanft, Huffington Post: "For me, the most troubling part of the Terry Jones debacle is the fact that a two-bit minister's 'stunt' -- as Obama called it -- can escalate into a massive global media firestorm, in which there is undisputed agreement that one stupid thing can provoke many really bad things.

Despite the millions that we've spent on improving America's image through the pathetic efforts of the Office of Public Diplomacy, despite Obama's speech in Cairo, and despite many, many other initiatives, America is held in such low esteem that everyone recognizes." Image from

Hot story rides 'piggyback' on mosque debate - Jane Musgrave, Palm Beach Post: "While Gainesville pastor Terry Jones may have his faults, no one can criticize his timing. If he had not planned his Quran burning as debate rages over a proposed Islamic community center and mosque near New York City's ground zero, it might not have gained the traction that prompted world leaders, including President Obama, to urge him to find less incendiary ways to commemorate Sept. 11, political observers said Thursday. ... Robert Rabil, an assistant professor of political science at Florida Atlantic University, said more speech is needed to persuade the world that the U.S. is not anti-Muslim. 'We need to work on engaging in public diplomacy to send a message where we stand,' he said."

Countering Threats Abroad, and at Home‎ - Greg Bruno, Council on Foreign Relations: "[Greg Bruno, Staff Writer]: Anti-Islam sentiments have preceeded the nine-year anniversary of September 11, 2001.

Do you think policymakers are doing enough to debunk the perception that the United States is at war with Islam, countering what has become a primary motivation for Islamic radicals? [Richard A. Falkenrath, Shelby Cullon and Kathryn W. Davis Adjunct Senior Fellow for Counterterrorism and Homeland Security]: I personally am a bit of a skeptic of these sorts of public diplomacy. Public viewers are going to form their own opinion based on what they see on television, and I think in the minds of many people around the world, their opinion of U.S. actions in Iraq is already set, and it's not going to change if the president gives more speeches, or if we put out different press releases, or establish alternative means of getting information. We do some of that; maybe it makes a difference in the margins. But we're talking about very small numbers of people that we worry about. If we successfully impact the hearts and minds of 50 percent of the global Muslim population, we still have the less than 1 percent that is a potential threat that is unaffected." Image from

Nine Years After 9/11: the Struggle Against al Qaeda‎ - Daniel L. Byman, Brookings Institution: "While al Qaeda has suffered ideological blows when former salafi-jihadist fellow travelers denounced the organization, U.S. efforts to gain the goodwill of Muslims, or at least further demonize al Qaeda, have often met with little success. Ugly domestic political issues, like the contretemps over the so-called 'Ground Zero Mosque,' have worsened the U.S. image far beyond what skilled public diplomacy can counter. So nine years later it is right for many hard-working officials to pause and give themselves credit for keeping our country safer. But it is also time to focus on how to make sure the years to come see no return of mass-casualty terrorism to our shores."

Can the West defeat the jihad? Ten reasons why not - Jihad Watch: "David Selbourne, author of The Losing Battle with Islam, has written a piece in the Times entitled, 'Can the West defeat the Islamist threat?' ... Some reject outright

that there is a war at all; others agree with the assertion by the US President that 'the war we fight is the decisive ideological struggle of the 21st century'. Divided counsels have also dictated everything from 'dialogue' to the use of nuclear weapons, and from reliance on 'public diplomacy' to 'taking out Islamic sites', Mecca included. Adding to this incoherence has been the gulf between those bristling to take the fight to the 'terrorist' and those who would impede such a fight, whether from domestic civil libertarian concerns or from rivalrous geopolitical calculation. Image from

Clinton’s Rhetoric on Iran: Does It Match the Administration’s Actions? - niacinsight.com: "Certainly this administration has been at least willing to give lip service to public diplomacy and engagement efforts with the Iranian government, something the previous US administration in its single-minded focus on regional change through hard power failed to try. However, although the administration’s positions on some issues within Iran are encouraging, they have failed to integrate their approaches into a strategy for a true solution."

Friday, September 10, 2010 -Rush Limbaugh Report: UNDER SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS JUDITH MCHALE: 1:30 p.m. Under Secretary McHale attends the Pakistan Civilian-Military Conference, at the National Defense University.(MEDIA TO BE DETERMINED BY NDU)

Nation Branding at the 2010 World Expo: A Matter of Balance - Jay Wang, brandchannel.com: "As a venue for public diplomacy, the World Expo is highly valued yet under-analyzed. This is particularly true of the current Expo in Shanghai. For many countries, Shanghai Expo is the most expensive and arguably the most important one they have ever attended. ...There has been plenty of bad news concerning U.S. pavilion at the World Expo in Shanghai.

Indeed, like many who have visited the pavilion, I couldn’t find any 'wow' moments. Still, there are noteworthy highlights, especially when viewed from the vantage point of a Chinese visitor. ... For many Chinese visitors, the greetings by President Obama and Secretary Clinton, projected on giant movie screens, are considered a highlight. ... [T]he Chinese context people do look up to leaders and authorities, and in terms of communication style, Chinese leaders are, in contrast, often seen as remote and removed. There is a lot of criticism of the ubiquity of corporate logos in the American pavilion. There is certainly nothing inherently wrong with corporations being involved in such events. In fact, one may argue, as corporate citizens, they should contribute to such global engagement based on their enlightened self-interest. ... If there is one shining moment at the U.S. pavilion, it is the 'student ambassadors.' These are American college students who come from across the country to volunteer at the pavilion as guides to Chinese visitors. (By the way, my home institution USC is the lead school for this program, but I am not personally involved). More than any other country at the Expo, America is better represented through the physical presence of these young people (all speak some level of Chinese)." See also; image from

UPDATED: Frank Lanvin, the volunteer Chairman of the US Pavilion at The Shanghai World Expo, described the Shanghai activities at The Asia Society, New York City - Sustainabilitank.info

Cementing the State-Silicon Valley Relationship‎ - Dawn Lim, nextgov: "[A]dopting privately developed technologies as a vector for public diplomacy can be controversial, a New York Times Magazine article has pointed out."

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Upcoming meeting of the US Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy‎ - Matt Armstrong, MountainRunner.us: "From the Federal Register: 'The U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy will hold a public meeting on September 28, 2010, in the conference room of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, located at 1850 K Street NW., Fifth Floor, Washington, DC 20006. The meeting will begin at 2 p.m. and conclude at 4 p.m. The Commissioners will discuss the findings of a joint research project of the Commission and the University of Texas at Austin on measurement of public diplomacy efforts.'"

Two outfits worth your attention‎ - Thomas E. Ricks, Foreign Policy: "Spirit of America ... is ... a 501c3 nonprofit that helps our troops help the people in Afghanistan, Iraq and Africa. ... Spirit of America's support is fast, flexible and decentralized. We fill gaps in military and US government assistance programs.

In Afghanistan, it can be difficult to get aid to the remote villages -- far from Kabul -- where much of the war is being fought and where little things can make a big difference. That's where SoA is most active. You can think of this as grass roots public diplomacy. We help the troops be effective unofficial ambassadors... ambassadors of the goodwill of the American people. Most NGOs keep their distance from the military. Spirit of America takes a different approach that offers a new model for military-NGO collaboration." On Spirit of America, see. Image from

Iran's Growing Interests and Influence in Central Asia‎ - Dario Cristiani, World Politics Review: "Asia and Afghanistan have also become prime targets for Iran's increasingly refined use of soft power. Scholarships for students from the Muslim world, economic aid -- Iran is a leading donor to Afghanistan -- and support for economic and cultural projects are all elements of a renewed public diplomacy that now plays an important role in Iran's foreign policy."

Medvedev's "Spreading Democracy" PD... [video] - Yelena Osipova, Global Chaos: "... as outlined in the speech at the Global Policy Forum in Yaroslavl."

Baker Institute offers plethora of opportunities‎ - Edward Djerejian, the Rice Thresher: "We ... sponsor a number of initiatives created to give students more hands-on experience. ... This summer,

a group of Rice students (including a number of interns) traveled to the American University in Cairo to attend a conference on public diplomacy with their Egyptian counterparts." Djerejian image from

Remarks at Swearing-in for Ambassador Laurence Wohlers‎ - Judith A. McHale, Department of State: "Larry and I also share a firm belief in the power of public diplomacy, as well as a love for Africa. Larry has served in Benin, Mauritania, CAR and Madagascar. His assignments included senior tours of duty as Minister Counselor for Public Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow and Minister Counselor for Political Affairs at the U.S. Mission to the European Union. Larry then provided leadership to the public diplomacy function during the interim period between administrations, as the Executive Assistant to the Under Secretary for Public Affairs and Public Diplomacy in 2008. When I was nominated for Under Secretary, Larry was a valuable advisor and guide as I wended my way through the confirmation process. More recently, Larry brought his passion and leadership to the Smithsonian Institution where, as Senior Advisor for International Programs, he capitalized on the strengths of both the Smithsonian and the State Department to strengthen our cooperation for engagement with other nations. Now Larry will be our Ambassador to the Central African Republic."

VOL. VI NO. 18, August 27- September 9, 2010 - Layalina Productions:

"This Message is Brought to You by the Taliban The US garnered media attention for alleged talks with the Taliban and the revelation of a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) deal with a top-level member of President Hamid Karzai’s government.
A Day in Jihadland! Hezbollah’s museum, Mleeta, dedicated to the 2006 war against Israel is attracting a growing influx of visitors who empathize with the narrative of martyrdom.
Leaving Iraq: A New Dawn for America America’s drawdown in Iraq has been acclaimed and criticized across the board by politicians and media outlets in the Middle East, debating whether the word victory can be used or not.
Ramadan TV Program Stirs Controversy A new series in Syria broadcast during Ramadan stirs quite a controversy as it tackles taboo issues such as homosexuality and extremism in Arab societies. Below image from


Entertainment Channel Worries Iranian Leadership A new channel in Iran featuring American entertainment shows is becoming a source of concern for local authorities, as it grows more popular.
Talking the Talk The US recently hosted the first in a series of bilateral peace talks between Israeli and Palestinian leaders, generating high expectations regarding the outcome.
Muslims Struggling with Stereotypes While a Muslim service member refuses deployment orders to Afghanistan on the grounds of his religious beliefs, other commentators discuss problems facing the Muslim community around the world.
Ground Zero Imam Breaks his Silence As Imam Faisal Abdul Rauf embarks on his tour of the Middle East, American pundits continue to debate about his public diplomacy efforts and the Cordoba Initiative's project. For the most part, the media overseas remains relatively silent on the issue.
Internet Opens New Possibilities in the Middle East A series of measures designed to increase the number of internet users in the region are put in place while the internet is being looked at as a potential new portal for education."

NATO for the Next Decade - atlantic-community.org: "WORKING DRAFT: ATLANTIC MEMO #25 NATO 2020: "A New Strategic Policy for an Alliance in Transition 17 atlantic-community.org members from the United States, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Poland, Finland, Turkey, as well as Russia and Azerbaijan, discussed the future of NATO in op-eds (special analysis week on NATO's Strategic Concept), as well as in a one hour Skype Strategy Session, which ended with a vote on the most important policy recommendations. As a result of this collaborative process, it was determined that defining and strengthening Alliance capabilities, developing global partnerships, and launching broad public diplomacy initiatives should be the top three priorities for NATO."

Public Diplomacy: The Foreign Office Definition - Public Diplomacy, Networks and Influence: "At the moment I’m doing quite a lot of work on the development of UK concepts of diplomacy and public diplomacy over the last few years and as a result spending quite a lot of time on the FCO and British Council web sites.

In doing this I noticed that Public Diplomacy is now right there on the front page of the FCO web site under ‘what we do’. So how do they define PD? 'Public Diplomacy is a process of achieving the UK’s international strategic priorities through engaging and forming partnerships with like-minded organisations and individuals in the public arena.' It seems to me that this fits with the ideas of diplomacy/public diplomacy fusion or hybrid diplomacy that grow quite naturally out of FCO thinking under the Labour government." Image from

The Great Game: Afghanistan - UK in USA, British Embassy Washington: "Immerse yourself in 150 years of history this autumn as London’s Tricycle Theatre debuts in the United States with The Great Game: Afghanistan. The play is an epic exploration of foreign engagement in the country ranging from the 1840s through to the present day. ... During the US tour, the British Council will host a slate of energetic public events exploring ideas from The Great Game. High-profile speakers from the media, public diplomacy, cultural communities and others engage directly with audiences in compelling conversations about history, causality and contemporary conflict as seen through the prism of contemporary British theater."

RELATED ITEMS

US soldiers charged with murdering civilians in Afghanistan war: Charges against the 12 soldiers also include drug use and conspiring to cover up the alleged Afghanistan war crimes - Arthur Bright, Christian Science Monitor. Via LB

Koran Burning Hands Terrorists a Potent Propaganda Tool‎ - Chris Battle, U.S. News & World Report

Enough free propaganda for the deranged American pastor - Khalaf Ahmad, ‎GulfNews

Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya coverage of planned Quran burning noted by other news media - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting

Ground Zero imam: I never would have done it if I knew it would create tensions - Allahpundit, Hot Air: If the mosque is moved, the terrorist line will be that America is biased against Islam; if the mosque stays, the terrorist line will be that Islam has triumphed by building a shrine at the doorstep of their great victory. That was all foreseeable when the decision to build on the site was undertaken, and Rauf and company went ahead with it anyway. Image from

Mosque opposition provides propaganda - ‎Allentown Morning Call

Does Low Brow Art Follow in Comic Art Propaganda Footsteps? - Mat Gleason, ‎Huffington Post: If one art form has the power to seduce, shame or otherwise influence us into behaving a certain way, what does that say about art in general?

In Comic Art Propaganda, author Fredrik Strömberg surveys almost a century's worth of attempts to use comics as a method of instructing and inculcating various populations. Stromberg's totally neutral tone will likely humble readers of all stripes at some point, as patriotic themes (such as the character Captain America) are balanced with comic books romanticizing comrade Che as a young Ernestino. Image from article: A page from an anti-drug 1971 Green Lantern comic

Best Places to Work - Ren's Micro Diplomacy: The Department of State is ranked as number 7 on this year’s “Best Places to Work” index,

compiled by the Partnership for Public Service and the Institute for the Study of Public Policy Implementation (ISPPI) at American University. With the exception of pay, all other indicators have increased steadily over the last five years. Image from

Korean propaganda news - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting

Turkish soap operas are changing Bulgarian attitudes about Turkey - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting

Dancing dads - Stephen Petty implores fathers everywhere to get up and dance in whatever way they choose - telegraph.co.uk: "Have we been brainwashed by decades of propaganda against so-called dad-dancing? I am a dad. And I sometimes dance. I go for it with the best of them and I don’t care what people think, despite the received opinion – supposedly confirmed this week in the research findings of Dr Nick Neave, an 'evolutionary psychologist' at Northumbria University – that anyone who has impregnated a woman naturally turns into an embarrassment on the dance-floor.

His survey of women sounds shaky. What’s the value in asking a sample already brainwashed by decades of propaganda against so-called dad-dancing? It is no surprise that he finds himself merely repeating a widespread, misplaced prejudice." Image from