April 29-May 4

“Eliot contains the same ecstatic vision which runs from Münzer to Yeats. You seem surprised at Eliot’s irreconcilable ambivalence; don’t you share this ambivalence yourself, Alex?”

--President Barack Obama, writing (as a college student) to a lady friend. Image from article, with caption: Barack Obama in New York City during the early 1980s, while he was attending Columbia University.

SITE OF INTEREST

U.S. Embassy Vientiane. Via JJ on facebook

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

Don’t Shanghai Milan! - Andrew Wulf, PD News–CPD, USC Center on Public Diplomacy: "In past years, the USIA effectively oversaw the design aspect of international exhibitions, starting with the Brussels Expo in ’58, the American National Exhibition in Moscow in ’59, Montreal ’67 and Osaka ’70. But the government was effective for this reason: first, the government paid for these endeavors, which is a small price to pay in my opinion for brilliant cultural diplomacy; second, there is a history here in which these experts (government representatives who

had expertise as designers such as Jack Masey,) drove content. Since the Seville 1992 Expo, the story has been the entropy of USIA’s capabilities in this arena. Basically, we always had someone on the inside who understood what they were doing. In Shanghai we did not. It is obvious the Feds don’t have anyone who is really serious about doing this stuff right. The Office of Public Diplomacy, which has been limping along, really hasn’t distinguished itself. ... If we do a repeat of Shanghai and outsource the American pavilion again for the Milan 2015 Expo, we will have no control over the content. Let’s stop wasting these 'last three feet.'” Image from

The War On Terror: One Year On - Press Release, marketwatch.com: "America's ongoing war on terror still requires critical questions and analyses. ... [T]he American Security Project released a collection of essays about the current state of the War on Terror one year after the death of Osama Bin Laden. On May 1st, 2011, Osama Bin Laden was killed during Operation Neptune Spear in Abbottabad, Pakistan. The year anniversary of bin Laden's death offers us an opportunity to see where we stand in the global struggle against violent extremism. These essays discuss the War on Terror from various angles such as the growing counter-terrorism industry and whether the United States is winning the war. Terrorism is still a relevant national security issue that needs to be continually discussed and this set of essays further enhances this important discourse. ... Matthew Wallin: 'The most notable revolution in public diplomacy in the 21st century has been the ability of terrorists to use it as a strategic instrument in the pursuit of power.' Matthew Wallin is a policy analyst at the American Security Project. He joined ASP in the fall of 2011 as a research intern for ASP's Nuclear Security Initiative, assisting with various ASP publications including the Nuclear Security Index. His areas of expertise include public diplomacy, military history and national security policy."

He Meant Well: Van Buren on Public Diplomacy - Matthew Wallin, americansecurityproject.org - “[I]n the Huffington Post, John Brown interviewed Peter Van Buren, the State Department employee who was fired as result of his book, We Meant Well: How I Helped Lose the Battle for the Hearts and Minds of the Iraqi People. In the interview, Van Buren makes a lot of good points about problems with American public diplomacy, unfortunately clouded by a few personal attacks. ... Despite some of the controversy surrounding Van Buren’s style, it’s important to analyze his arguments on their merit. Washington would be wise to do so.”

Establishment of a University Partnership with Isra University; Hyderabad, Pakistan - grants.gov: "The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad announces an open competition for a cooperative agreement to establish a University Partnership between a four-year college or university in the U.S. and Isra University in the area of Business Administration. Accredited U.S. four-year colleges and universities meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3) may submit proposals to pursue institutional or departmental objectives in partnership with Isra University. Objectives detailed as priorities for Isra University include: collaborative research, curriculum development, the development and implementation of faculty and/or student exchange programs, long distance teaching via internet/DVC and sharing of resources. Shared resources identified by Isra University include: human resource materials, research journals and books. The means of achieving these objectives is purposefully left broad to encourage the submission of innovative proposals tailored to the international education and research goals of both institutions. The timeframe for achieving the objectives must be clearly outlined in the proposal funding request. The project implementation period should be 3 years."

Sean Curren and "Dance Motion USA" at America Borboru - American Corners and Centers in Kyrgyzstan (Albums): "On May 2 Sean Curren and dance group 'Dance Motion USA', having given two great performances in Bishkek and Karakol, met with 45 visitors of America Borboru. The guests shared with their experiences and how they became dancers. The dancers also told that they joined

Sean Curran’s dance company several years ago and Curran inspired them. The audi[e]nce was surprised that the dancers besides gorgeous dancing skills majored in medicine, law etc. The students also shared with their own stories and were able to ask questions." Via JJ on facebook.

Good evening non-transitioning states. We present this week's edition of Many-to-Many Deliberation - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting: "Journal of Public Deliberation, Volume 8 (2012), Issue 1, Shawn M. Powers and William Youmans, 'A New Purpose for International Broadcasting: Subsidizing Deliberative Technologies in Non-transitioning States.' Excerpts... 'In countries where internet access is insufficient, can international broadcasters provide a special forum for many-to-many deliberation? International broadcasters have access via television and radio to many places where internet access is non-existent or where state controls limit dissent. Can they re-define new missions using non-traditional Internet technologies, such as mobile phones, in combination with the powers of broadcast to facilitate deliberation and information flows where they are currently poor? ... 'In November 2011, months after popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt and amidst ongoing political ferment in Bahrain and Syria, VOA launched the Middle East Voices (MEV) portal (middleeastvoices.com). Distinct from the U.S. government financed Middle East Broadcasting Network (MBN), the portal is exclusively online and its goals explicitly deliberative. ... Speaking to the unique need for state- supported projects in transitioning and repressive states, [MEV managing editor Davin] Hutchins (2012) argued: 'Our goal is our public diplomacy, which is different than the goal of The New York Times. We want to make sure that the exchange of ideas and ideals is taking place, despite challenging circumstances, where freedom of expression is lacking. We also want to make sure the ideas and ideals that are germinating in the public sphere are made public and accessible to English speaking audiences. These are not the goals of privately run news organizations, but our site and the VOA takes them seriously.'

The goal of the audience, however, is to obtain the type of reliable and comprehensive news not available in their own countries, but available from independent outlets such as the the New York Times, if not from the Voice of America. If US international broadcasting conflates journalism and public diplomacy, the results will disappoint. The proposal for international broadcasting to 'facilitate deliberation' is interesting. It's not actually a new role. Over the decades, international broadcasters, through their mailbag programs, have solicited and broadcast listener comments, which begat other, contrasting listener comments. A more recent version of audience participation was VOA's 'Talk to America,' a daily call-in program that began in 1994. That show recently was discontinued, perhaps a victim of internet-based media overtaking the telephone as medium of choice of choice for 'deliberation. The BBC's 'World Have Your Say' carries on, however. Perhaps a more important BBC forum is the Doha Debates, chaired by former BBC correspondent Tim Sebastan, and broadcast eight times a year by BBC World News television. In fact, the Doha Debates have been flattered by imitation, including Deutsche Welle's "The New Arab Debates," also moderated by the rather busy Tim Sebastian, and the BBC Africa Debate. All of this shows that a trusted international broadcaster can be an effective moderator of discourse. It must be seen as an authoritative but neutral player. The BBC has been unambiguous in its commitment to independent journalism. US international broadcasting, whose new mission statement has jettisoned 'accurate and reliable news,' may not instill such confidence. Furthermore, the BBC's stature is enhanced by being one of the world's most famous brands. USIB is a confusing confederation of 'many brands' The VOA sub-brand has had a good reputation in the Middle East, but it has been fading from memory since VOA ceded its Arabic Service to the new Rad[i]o Sawa in 2002. In any case, Middle East Voices understates its association with VOA, presenting itself as yet another brand of USIB. Moderating debate can open a can of worms. From the Middle East, much public opinion will consist of pointed opposition to Is[r]aeli and US policies. Yes, the anti-semitic dreck must be eliminated, but if input that is opposed to US and Israeli polices is also snipped, a pro-US bias will be apparent. If the natural flow of opinion from the Middle East is unabated, an anti-US bias will emerge -- much to the displeasure of Congress. The facilitation of deliberation may be a no-win situation. The 7,070 ‘likes’ of the Middle East Voices Facebook page is to be compared with the weekly audience of 33.4 million for BBC Arabic radio and television. To be sure, MEV's likes and followers will grow, but at present the score is Old Purpose 33,400,000, New Purpose 7,070. New Purpose has some serious catch-up ball to play. New Purpose may be the outcome of the new IBB mission statement, in which ‘connect’ has been given equal billing with ‘inform.’ But does international broadcasting really need a new purpose? There is still plenty of work to be done in Western international broadcasting's original purpose. There are still many countries that do not enjoy independent journalism. Western international broadcasting provides accurate and reliable news, and finds ways to get that content into countries that try their best to keep it out. This is the unique function of international broadcasting. In terms of attracting audiences, it is the haymaker. Yes, encourage audience, or ‘citizen,’ input, and use it if warranted, but do not let it become the tail that wags the dog. If US international broadcasting tries to become the latest popular social media app, it will find itself lost, forever, in the crowd.""

Promotions on Voice of America English Newsroom Titanic - BBGWatcher, USG Broadcasts/BBG News: "A Voice of America journalist, who for obvious reasons wants to remain anonymous, has sent us a description of questionable and employee morale killing promotions among top ranking managers while dozens of VOA newsroom and English programs employees face possible dismissals (RIFs – Reductions-in-Force) as part of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) proposed cuts in the FY 2013 budget. Due to overwhelming public protests and outrage among members of Congress from both parties, BBG members have recently reversed their decision to cut VOA radio broadcasts to Tibet and to close down the VOA Cantonese Service. A petition to save VOA Spanish broadcasts to Latin America has been delivered to members of Congress who have oversight over the BBG. We have heard of various efforts to save VOA Turkish, Greek, Laotian, Vietnamese, and Burmese broadcasts. Little has been heard, however, from VOA English newsroom and English programs employees who also face drastic cuts in the number of positions and broadcasts."

Human rights activist and VOA supporter publishes article on China’s war on baby girls - BBGWatcher, USG Broadcasts/BBG News: "The Committee for U.S. International Broadcasting (CUSIB) Advisory Board member Jing Zhang published an article in National Review Online on China’s war on baby girls. ... Women’s Rights in China (WRIC) NGO, which Jing Zhang founded, has produced a short video showing that both very young and older persons in China continue to rely on

Voice of America radio broadcasts for uncensored news and information. These comments, recorded in China, point to the censorship of the Internet by the Chinese authorities and the fact that hundreds of millions of Chinese cannot use the Internet to access VOA websites, which are being blocked in China, or can’t afford to have Internet access of any kind." Jing Zhang image from article

Save Voice of America Spanish Broadcasts to Latin America - BBGWatcher, USG Broadcasts/BBG News: "The Committee for U.S. International Broadcasting (CUSIB), a former Voice of America (VOA) director, president of Women’s Rights Without Frontiers and representatives of other free media and human rights organizations have signed a petition to the United States Congress asking for Congressional support to continue Voice of America Spanish broadcasts to Latin America. The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), which controls VOA, wants to severely cut journalistic positions and broadcasts to this important part of

the world for the United States. The BBG had earlier proposed and then canceled, in response to numerous public protests, elimination of Voice of America radio broadcasts to Tibet and VOA Cantonese radio, television and Internet news to China. Because of its even closer links to the United States, its fragile democracy, and anti-American propaganda coming from Cuba, Venezuela, Russia, Iran, and China — Latin America must not be abandoned to hostile voices while the Voice of America is silenced by BBG bureaucrats." Image from article

U.S. Rep. Jones and BBG Governor Ashe pledge support for shortwave radio broadcasts -BBGWatcher, USG Broadcasts/BBG News

VOA Site Named In Honor Of Edward R. Murrow - witn.com: "Casey Murrow, the son of the father of broadcast journalism, Edward R. Murrow, was at a ceremony in the east to help make sure people around the world have access to vital information. The Voice of America site in Pitt County helps connect the world to news many of us take for granted.

Wednesday members of the international Broadcasting Board of Governors helped re-dedicate the facility in Murrow's honor. Funding for the facility runs about 3-million dollars a year, but in the last legislative session, there were talks to take that money away. Republican Congressman Walter B. Jones and Democrat Congressman G.K. Butterfield worked together to keep site running."

Why NATO Needs Soft Power - Indra Adnan, PD News–CPD, USC Center on Public Diplomacy: "It is common knowledge that the biggest constituency in the world is public opinion. Politicians – from small dictators to leaders of the biggest democracies – know they will not be voted in to make their decisions without public approval, something they simply cannot manipulate the way they once could. What used to be a cozy partnership between governments and the military is fast becoming a ménage a trois – the public has moved in and the politician has been seduced. Ignore the public at your peril, but befriend them for a more secure world."

VOL. VIII NO. 9 April 20-May 03, 2012 - The Layalina Review on Public Diplomacy and Arab Media

The Russian Muses Are Heard (and Seen) - Shai Baitel, Huffingtonpost.com: "Arts and culture are a link, sometimes even a lifeline, between countries, as they remind us of our humanity and instill respect of other cultures. And, all things considered, they do. Russian audiences experience American orchestras and Americans experience Russian ballet. But not all is well, however, at least temporarily. At issue is a U.S. Federal Court decision, which confirmed claims by New York's Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement to the Schneerson Library, an important collection of Jewish religious books, which is owned by Russia. Russia's Foreign Ministry finds this decision wrong and fears blackmail like holding Russian art objects in the United States. All this amounted to a cultural exchange moratorium, which suspended a series of museum exchanges. Both countries are working on the problem but, in the meantime, the American art aficionados are being deprived of seeing and enjoying works of Russian art which normally would have come on exhibition in the United States. And as is so often the case, there is one courageous, visionary individual who does not accept an untenable situation and decides to act in the face of adversity.

Anatoly Bekkerman, owner of the ABA Gallery in New York took the initiative to mount a major show of Russian art despite, and in circumvention of, the cultural moratorium. For two weeks, New Yorkers will be able to view exceptional examples of important Russian art spanning three centuries, in an exhibition titled 'Russian Art from Private Collections: Borovikovsky to Kabakov.' Mr. Bekkerman bridges the gap left by the moratorium through a collaborative effort with distinguished private collectors, such as Mikhail Baryshnikov and Vladimir Spivakov. On view will be over ninety works by Russia's greatest 19th- and 20th-century masters, which allow the viewer to realize the great influence of Russia on the arts. It is gratifying to see how such a private initiative can fill a temporary void and, at the same time, help mend whatever damage politics and legal issues can do to cultural relations. Mr. Bekkerman's mission is simple but important. He states plainly: 'Art has the unique power to encourage communication and mutual understanding between our nations.' This should also be a motivation and encouragement for both the Russian and American representatives to find an amicable solution and end to the moratorium soon." Via NI on facebook. See also. Bekkerman image from

"Overcoming Cold War Stereotypes" - Yelena Osipova, Global Chaos: "The Initiative for Russian Culture (IRC) at American University, held a very interesting event on Saturday, April 28: a symposium on 'Overcoming Cold War Stereotypes'. ... [A] thing that struck me was the complete absence of the term 'public diplomacy' from the entire first half of the symposium. When I got the chance to ask about it, I was hoping to hear more about actual policies and 'public diplomacy of deed'. The response was certainly 'diplomatic' (to put it mildly), with a complete re-interpretation of the original question.

Oh well... Jeff Mankoff from CSIS ... called for more educational/exchange programs and cultural diplomacy - especially by non-governmental actors - suggesting that culture can be a particularly good way to get Americans interested in Russia.  ... The IRC itself is an impressive initiative, co-founded by AU and the Russian Embassy, in an attempt to engage all students in the greater DC area (finally!), and seems to be very promising after a successful first year (yes, apparently you can easily get into the Embassy, now). But, what of other public diplomacy issues, such as RT and popular culture? Or, what about an even broader and much more important question of public diplomacy of the deed?" 

Public diplomacy - winnipegfreepress.com: "Prime Minister Stephen Harper met the Dalai Lama last week in Ottawa in what was billed as a 'courtesy meeting,' which can be interpreted as a sign Canada still supports Tibet's long struggle for some form of independence. Unfortunately, unlike their previous meeting, which was held in public, the get-together was private, an indication the relationship has shifted. Five years ago, Mr. Harper held an official meeting with

the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet in a very public display of support. The Dalai Lama was even granted honorary Canadian citizenship. The Chinese, who invaded Tibet 60 years ago, were frosted, but Mr. Harper at that time believed in putting principle ahead of the 'almighty dollar,' as he called it. China's Communist rulers were undoubtedly displeased with the prime minister over the private meeting on Friday, but they, too, will have recognized Canada has backed down on the question of human rights. The shift in Mr. Harper's attitude corresponds directly with the 2008 recession and falling trade with the Americans. Canada's second-largest trading partner, the prime minister has concluded, cannot be ignored because of concerns about human rights." Dalai Lama image from

Universal power of music: Cultural diplomacy underlies the exceptional works included in this year's international music festival. Performed in monumental spaces such as the national museum, the concerts, which have a strong East-West flavour, will reach out to everyone, Claire Low writes - canberratimes.com.au: "The 18th annual festival, a multi-faceted musical feast that will leave those starved for culture filled to the brim, runs from May 11 to 20. It is pitched as exceptional music performed

in Canberra's famous architectural spaces, including the National Gallery of Australia, National Portrait Gallery, National Museum of Australia, High Court of Australia, Australian War Memorial and Albert Hall. There are to be more than 30 concerts of classical, contemporary and jazz music, featuring national and international artists, including the Wallfisch Band, Omar Faruk Tekbilek, the New Zealand String Quartet, the Song Company, Osmosis and composer-in-residence Peteris Vasks." Image from article, with caption: Chris Latham, director of the international music festival

Diplomacy: Deconstructing an ‘eroticized hatred’: A panel at ‘The Jerusalem Post’ Conference in New York on how to combat delegitimization of Israel yielded differing opinions and passionate debate - David Brinn, jpost.com: "To make 'invalid, illegal, or unacceptable.' That’s the simple definition of delegitimization, and everybody agrees on it. What became evident on Sunday at The Jerusalem Post Conference in New York, however, was that almost nobody agrees on what constitutes a bona fide attempt to delegitimize Israel, nor on how Israel should combat those efforts. Sure, the experts on the subject who sat on the panel I chaired – consisting of Prof. Alan M. Dershowitz, Ambassador to the UN Ron Prosor, Executive Vice Chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations Malcolm Hoenlein, deputy director-general of the Ministry of Public Diplomacy Daniel Seaman, former consul-general of Israel in New York Alon Pinkas, California-based Jewish media executive David Suissa, and novelist and Jerusalem Post columnist Naomi Ragen – all agreed that there are grievous attempts taking place around the world to make Israel invalid, illegal and unacceptable. But that was where the commonality ended."

Debating China’s Global Reputation – a conference in Beijing May 19 - Matt Armstrong, MountainRunner: "The first major international conference on public diplomacy and China’s reputation in the world will take place in Beijing later this month. The event is co-sponsored by the Charhar Institute, China’s foremost public diplomacy think tank, the Clingendael Institute of the Netherlands, the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Netherlands Embassy in Beijing, and the China-Europe Academic Network (CEAN). The theme is 'Geo-cultural Perspectives on Public Diplomacy – Trialogue among Chinese, European, and American Scholars.' The forum brings together a mixed group of leading Chinese and international scholars, think-tankers and practitioners will debate and develop a geo-cultural perspective on public diplomacy based on a China-Europe-US-Dialogue.

The May 19 event starts at 9am and will end at 4:30pm (local time). I am not aware of any webcast or transcription, but I will share what I can after the event. The conference opens with three 30min keynotes, including one by me: Zhao Qizheng: The Future of China’s Public Diplomacy Matt Armstrong: The Learning Curve of US Public Diplomacy Amb. Markus Ederer: The Potential of Public Diplomacy in China-EU Relations Zhao Qizheng is the Vice Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Peoples Political Consultative Conference and Dean of the School of Journalism and Communication at Renmin University. Amb. Markus Ederer is the EU Ambassador to China. The keynote session will be followed by comments and an hour-long ‘dialogue’ with journalists. The second session of the day is ‘Debating China’s Public Diplomacy’ with panelists speaking for 10min each. Tentative topics include ‘Is there a China model for public diplomacy?’ and ‘What can China’s public diplomacy towards Pakistan tell us?’ The third session will be chaired by Clingendael’s Jan Melissen. Panelists, again with 10min each, include Phil Seib of USC’s Center on Public Diplomacy, Ronald Gratz, Wang Jay, and Ingrid d’Hooghe." Image from entry

Chairman of the Syrian National Council Burhan Ghalioun will travel to China on May 6 on a three-day trip - turkishweekly.net: "Spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry Liu Veymin said that Ghalioun and his delegation will hold talks in Beijing at an invitation by the Chinese Institute of Public Diplomacy. Asked if there has been a change in China's policy on Syria, Liu said that 'China's stance on the matter was clear. We support any step that is not against the UN conditions and international laws. We support peace and stability in Syria and the Middle East'. The Beijing administration is in dialogue with the Syrian National Council and other opposition groups. We are determined to take all steps so that the issue gets resolved through peaceful means, Liu added."

Juliana Geran Pilon - Facebook: "Newsalert, friends. My article 'The Crisis in U.S. Public Diplomacy: The Demise of the U.S. Information Agency,' co-authored with Professor Nicholas J. Cull, has just been published in 'Project on National Security Reform – Case Studies Working Group Report,'

Vol. II, Richard Weitz, ed. (U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute, 2012), pp. 543-642. It's in large print...." :) Pilon image from her facebook page.

Public Diplomacy, Branding, and the Image of Nations, Part II: More of the Same, or Different? - Daryl Copeland, PD News–CPD Blog, USC Center on Public Diplomacy: "With the notable exception of Canada, public diplomacy most everywhere is enjoying somewhat of a renaissance, with interest and activity at levels not seen since the end of the Cold War. ... [P]ublic diplomacy differs from branding mainly in that it is on 'receive' at least as much as it is on 'send' mode. ... Public diplomacy might be defined as the sum of efforts by government to promote policies and interests abroad by connecting with populations, building coalitions, creating networks and in so doing influencing public opinion. A brand, on the other hand, consists of the shared perception of a place, product or person around which those interested can congregate. Hence the importance of logos in branding campaigns. These are part projection, part reaction, and accordingly are more concerned with matters pertaining to image shaping and reputation management than is PD. ... If branding means consistency, conformity and staying on message, and the communications content is paramount, then public diplomacy means explaining the message, asking for comments, and reporting the response. It enlarges understanding by creating a shared frame of reference, and weds communication to action - the demonstration effect, diplomacy of the deed."

Romney’s Gay Fall Guy Grenell - Irene Monroe,ukprogressive.co.uk: "When the news hit on the evening of April 19th that Richard Grenell, an openly gay Republican, was appointed to be Romney’s national security and foreign policy spokesman, anti-gay G.O.P criticism erupted. ... Grenell would have been the party’s first out presidential campaign spokesman, signaling a shift in broadening its appeal to Republican moderates and LGBTQ voters. Instead, we witnessed the continued

anti-gay stronghold of the G.O.P.’s social conservatives. Less than a fortnight after his appointment to the campaign, Grenell abruptly resigned on May 1st, embarrassing not only the Romney camp, but also the party’s growing anti-homophobic contingent. Grenell was a veteran Republican communications strategist when President George W. Bush, in 2001, appointed him as his Director of Communications and Public Diplomacy for the U.S. Permanent Representative to the U.N." Image from article, with caption: Richard Grenell (L) and former US Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton

Baker Institute interns win Fulbright, Marshall and other awards - chron.com: "Kareem Ayoub ’12 was awarded a Marshall Scholarship to complete a master’s degree in neuroscience at Oxford University. He was a spring 2012 participant in the Public Diplomacy and Global Policymaking Program."

RELATED ITEMS

Tanks, Jets or Scholarships? - Thomas Friedman, New York Times: So how about we stop being stupid? How about we stop sending planes and tanks to a country, Egypt, where half the women and a quarter of the men can’t read, and start sending scholarships instead?

State Department’s Alec Ross Solves MidEast - Peter Van Buren, We Meant Well: On almost the exact one year anniversary of Obama personally bringing bin Laden to justice by gunning him down unarmed in his pajamas, State Department innovator/gadfly Alec Ross has resolved the other remaining issues in the Middle East, with his mighty Twitter. Look:

Now one could speculate that Alec’s and Bibi’s intellectual appreciation for Athenian Democracy probably revolves around the image of 300 oily Spartans standing bravely against the bastard Iranians. After all, if 300 guys in codpieces could do it, why couldn’t an Israeli air strike be just as tidy a solution? Of course, the Spartans were actually defeated and killed, but we don’t need to overdo the analogy; we’ve only got 140 characters. However, since we are talking Athenian Democracy, I’d suggest Alec free up a hand from social media self-stimulation and re-read his Thucydides on the plane ride home, particularly the Melian dialogue from the Greek’s History of the Peloponnesian War. That portion outlines the Greeks’ abandonment of morality (torture, secret prisons, pointless invasions, loss of rights, Guantanamo, the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must) in search of what they thought was an expeditious action in support of their war. It didn’t work out for the Greeks and as long as Alec is dialoging with Bibi on ancient history, it is not going to work out for the US and Israel either. Abandoning morality for expediency always fails in the long run. Alec, and Obama, might also remember Pericles’ saying “Far from exercising a jealous surveillance over each other, we do not feel called upon to be angry with our neighbor for doing what he likes” as a basic tenet of democracy, equal justice and the right to pursuit of individual happiness. “Equal justice under law” is carved on the Supreme Court building in Washington, though largely now regarded as a kind of hipster humor.

On Anniversary of bin Laden’s Death, Little Backing of al Qaeda - pewglobal.org: A year after the death of its leader, al Qaeda is widely unpopular among Muslim publics. A new poll by the Pew Research Center’s Global Attitudes Project, conducted March 19 to April 13, 2012, finds majorities – and mostly

large majorities – expressing negative views of the terrorist group in Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Turkey and Lebanon. In Pakistan, where Osama bin Laden was killed by U.S. Navy Seals, 13% of Muslims hold a favorable view of al Qaeda, 55% an unfavorable view, and roughly three-in-ten (31%) offer no opinion. Image from article.

World War II Photos: Stunning Pictures Show Americans In The 1940s (PHOTOS) - huffingtonpost.com. Women wielding hand drills assemble dive-bombers and an infantryman crouching next to tires brandishes a Garand rifle; these scenes in the photos below were meticulously documented by photographers working for the US government during World War II. During that time, the Library of Congress collected more than 1,600 photos taken between 1939 and 1944.Among them the below.

Via CDM on facebook

RUSSICA

Via ET on facebook

HAS THE SUN TRULY SET ON THE BRITISH EMPIRE?

Via BK on facebook