January 1

"Even when he told you nothing, he was always persuasive."

--Former New York Times and CBS reporter Bernard Kalb regarding the recently deceased Barry Zorthian, the "colorful U.S. diplomat who left his mark on American policy in Vietnam as a forthright and often combative press spokesman in the early years of the war" (AP); Zorthian image from

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

Bush, Havel, Rice, Sikorski, and others read messages of solidarity with Belarus - FreeMediaOnline.org: "The George W. Bush Presidential Center announced that on New Year’s Eve, President Bush

joined former Czech president Vaclav Havel, former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, other world leaders, and dissidents from across the globe to voice their support for the future of a free Belarus. In solidarity with the country’s pro-democracy advocates, and broadcast by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, they read the names one by one of 700 detained individuals. ... According to Free Media Online president Ted Lipien, this public diplomacy action is in many ways similar to the American expressions of support for the Polish people after General Jaruzelski’s imposition of martial law in Poland in December of 1981, except at that time President Ronald Reagan, the White House staff, the State Department, and the now defunct United States Information Agency (USIA) were all in the forefront of numerous U.S. government and private sector efforts to expose human rights violations and publicly condemn the communist regime in Warsaw. The absence of high-profile figures of the Obama administration in this latest action in support of democracy in Belarus is quite telling and confirms that East-Central Europe and defense of human rights abroad are a much lower priority for President Obama, said Lipien." Image from

Expats' 'Daily Show'-style VOA program enthralls Iranians, irks their government - Tara Bahrampour, Washington Post: "For the past 30 years, state-approved television in Iran has consisted largely of Islamic prayers, interviews with government ministers, melodramatic soap operas and talk shows in which mullahs expound on the depravities of the West and the righteousness of their own society. Iranians responded by jury-rigging satellite dishes to spice up their entertainment choices with offerings from abroad. 'Baywatch' was a longtime favorite. But lately, a couple of irreverent expats in Washington have captivated Iranians with a show that pokes fun at the absurdities of life in the Islamic republic. Operating out of Voice of America's Persian News Network, Kambiz Hosseini and Saman Arbabi have started a weekly program, 'Parazit,'


that has drawn comparisons to Jon Stewart's 'Daily Show' for its satiric take on Iran's news of the day." Via MP on facebook. Image from

BBG seeks sources that can provide "cell phone messaging services into the borders of closed societies" (updated again) - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting

Foreign Policy, Public Diplomacy & Human Rights - Imara, democracyandsociety.com: "As in so many other policy areas, the issue of human rights is clearly one of words vs. actions.


If one relied on press releases, official remarks and speeches alone for their information, it might seem only a matter of time until human rights violations are a thing of the past. Human rights is perhaps one of the best examples of the divide between public diplomacy and changes in policy. Particularly in the more influential nations of the world, human rights tend to conflict with many of more noteworthy policy concerns like economics and security." Image from

VOL. VI NO. 26, December 17-December 30, 2010 - The Layalina Review on Public Diplomacy and Arab Media: VOL. VI NO. 26, December 17-December 30, 2010

WikiLeaks Takes 2010 by Storm The cavalcade of WikiLeaks documents that were released over the course of the past year catalyzed heated debates throughout the world. The self-proclaimed whistle blowing website raised several questions as to the nature of security on the one hand and free speech on the other.

Obama’s Uneasy Relationship with the Middle East President Obama’s overall popularity declined in the Middle East despite several popular initiatives, largely because citizens in the region did not perceive any immediate change. Yet, some groups remain hopeful that the President will make a difference in the region in good time.

The Year of Living Dangerously This past year revealed growing confusion and contention in the United States with regard to the Islamic community. From the controversy over the Islamic community center to the Florida pastor’s threat to sponsor a Qu’ran burning day, couple with several other factors, have pointed out that Islamophobia is a real and painful issue.

Islamists on the Rise in the Arab World Religious groups throughout the Middle East seeking to establish a solid platform for their beliefs and values via media outlets have been competing with one another over the pan-Arab satellite platforms. Yet, according to some, the chief problem with this strategy is that it often results in some rather serious political ramifications and cultural misunderstandings.

The Evolution of American Public Diplomacy: 2010 Despite growing efforts by the State Department to ensure that public diplomacy is brought up to date in terms of technology, the debate remains among experts as to whether or not this new approach is truly effective.

Al-Qaeda’s PR Extremist groups such as Al-Qaeda and the Taliban have been harnessing social media and publications in 2010 as a means of connecting to their followers; the most telling example of this trend being the magazine Inspire, a hip magazine designed to portray terrorist acts as glamorous.

Censorship and Public Diplomacy via New Media The growing discrepancy between the notion that social media serves as the ultimate conduit of freedom and democracy and the reality on the ground are hampering some public diplomacy initiatives in the Arab world. While many laud the internet a harbinger of free speech, many citizens are put under arrest for voicing their beliefs online, notably in Egypt.

Nirupama Rao encourages career as diplomat - timesofindia.indiatimes.com: [S]he [Rao] said, 'We cannot divorce our neighbours like China and Pakistan as the lack of harmonious relationships will have an impact on our development. ... India, being a recipient and a donor, our role is as a development assistance provider to our neigbouring countries like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Afghanistan and many African countries. Indian nationals living in USA and other countries are key spokesmen in the promotion of India in those countries,' she observed. Diplomacy in the spheres of climate change, global warming and environment are also important. Public diplomacy is the buzz word.


Diplomacy would help the nation in many ways. It protects the national interest and to meet its aims and goals. From seeking innovations and capital from the world and domestication of foreign policy, a diplomat can play a vital role for his country." Image from

"The Archers" in another time and place: BBC radio series in Rwanda and Afghanistan are "education through entertainment" - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting

RELATED ITEMS

WikiLeaks: a vehicle of disinformation - Abdul Zahoor Khan Marwat, thenews.com.pk: In today’s world, we see numerous propaganda campaigns to achieve certain objectives. Sophisticated techniques are employed to convince the world at large about some particular subject. In this regard, WikiLeaks can be termed psychological warfare with some particular countries being targeted. The mainstream Western media, The New York Times, The Guardian, Der Spiegel, and Le Monde, among others, has amplified the material well beyond its true significance.

NKGastrodiplo - Paul Rockower, Levantine: South Korea isn't the only one on the Korean peninsula doing gastrodiplomacy. Apparently, North Korea is also getting into the act, albeit in a far different fashion. Pyongyang opened up a restaurant in Dubai- less for culinary diplomacy and more to get some currency.


Image with caption: Banned: North Korea believes the burger symbolises the west from

AMERICANA

Bugsy Siegel's Las Vegas: Sin City's underworld past is the focus of the new Mob Experience Then there's the Mob Tour. And coming soon: the Mob Museum - Jay Jones, Los Angeles Times


Image from article, with caption: Millicent Siegel Rosen stands in front of a portrait of her father, "Bugsy" Siegel, at the new Mob Experience attraction at the Tropicana in Las Vegas. "He pushed Vegas to come what it is today," she said of her father, who founded the Flamingo.

MORE AMERICANA

Drive-thru sex toy shop offers privacy in Alabama - Jay Reeves, Associated Press, USA TODAY: Huntsville, Alabama: A "romance" store called Pleasures offers a rare convenience not only for these parts but nationally: a drive-through with adult novelties for sale. Business is brisk so far, with cars sometimes lining up three deep for vibrators, lubricants, lingerie and other risque items.


Image from article: Brandi McNaron of Gadsden, Ala., shows her driver's license to Pleasures romance shop employee Gabrielle Silva who handles drive-thru sales in Huntsville, Ala.