"Those Greeks were superficial—out of profundity."
--Nietzche; Nietzche images from
VIDEOS
With Rodman Stunt, American Reality TV and North Korean Propaganda Fuse - Robert Mackey, New York Times: "Elements of American show business and North Korean propaganda briefly fused on Friday, when the former basketball star Dennis Rodman told reporters in Pyongyang that North Koreans 'love' their new leader, Kim Jong-un. 'And guess what?' the athlete turned reality TV star added, 'I love him — the guy’s awesome.'"
Dennis Rodman: North Korea Leader Kim Jong Un Wants Obama To Call - huffingtonpost.com. Rodman image from
Interview with CPPCC member Yao Ming - china.org.cn: "For more celebrity CPPCC members, CCTV News correspondent Fei Ye sat down with former basketball player Yao Ming, a first time CPPCC member discussing Chinese politics and public diplomacy."
Instagram on Israeli News - blogisraeli.wordpress.com: "Once in a Lifetime HD invited major Instagram users on an extraordinary journey across Israel. They were introduced to our small country’s tremendous variety of landscapes, cuisine and nightlife, as well as its multicultural society and culture. The project is run by Tel Aviv University students who take part in the StandWithUs Fellowship, a public diplomacy program. StandWithUs is an international non-profit organization dedicated to informing the public about Israel (www.StandWithUs.com)."
PUBLIC DIPLOMACY
John Kerry: Nation’s Top Diplomat, Not So Diplomatic - Helle Dale, blog.heritage.org: "On his first international trip to Europe and the
Imprisoned, exiled, or murdered, Green Movement activists have paid a dear price for their demand to have a government actually elected by the people of
For Buzkashi Boys SRK, Sunny are role models - deccanherald.com: "Two Afghan teenagers -- Fawad Mohammadi and Jawanmard Paiz -- whose film 'Buzkashi Boys' was recently nominated at the Oscars, capturing the attention of Hollywood for their impressive acting, look up to Indian superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Sunny Deol as their idols. ... The Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, Tara D Soneshine said their success reflects the progress that Afghanistan has made. 'Your film might not have had won exactly what we wanted, but you have won a lot of hearts and have sent a very powerful message,['] she said."
Establishment of a University Partnership with Kinnaird College for Women, Lahore, Pakistan in English and American Literature - topgovernmentgrants.com: "The Public Affairs Section of the U. S. Embassy in Islamabad and the U. S. Consulate General in Karachi announce an open competition for a cooperative agreement to establish a University Partnership between a four-year college or university in the U. S. and Kinnaird College for Women in English Literature with an emphasis on American Literature. 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 Kinnaird College. Objectives detailed as priorities for this partnership include: collaborative research, sharing of resources, professional development for faculty, and faculty and graduate student exchange. Faculty exchange programs of a few months and graduate student exchange programs of one semester are preferred by Kinnaird College. Shared resources should include access to peer-reviewed journals, research papers, and curriculum. 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 project implementation period should be 36 months. Agency: Department of State [.] Office: Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs [.] Estimated Funding: $1,000,000."
YES and A-SMYLE Students Participate in a Civic Education Workshop - americancouncils.org: "February 10-16, American Councils for International Education, in partnership with the American Civics Center, hosted 115 exchange students for a Civic Education Workshop in Washington, D.C. Chosen through a competitive application process, one hundred of the participating students represented the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program and fifteen students represented the American Serbia and Montenegro Youth Leadership Exchange (A-SMYLE) Program. The Civic Education Workshop (CEW) is a one-week program in
Another notable moment of the workshop was the Q and A session with
Citizen Journalism Training In Moldova Teaches Ethics And Innovation - bbg.gov: "Sixteen Moldovan journalists and civil society activists, keen on using media as a tool to make government more transparent, have just completed a Broadcasting Board of Governors-sponsored workshop that focused on using mobile phones and new media tools
to promote the free flow of information. ... Guest speakers at the workshop included Bay Fang, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy, Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, U.S. Department of State, and U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Officer Lauren Pelraza. Fang met with workshop participants and spoke about the importance of new media platforms in giving citizens the ability to obtain and contribute information." Image from entry, with caption: Citizen journalists Alexander Doroshenko, Elena Ratoi, Diana Raileanu, and Liliana Barbarosie using mobile devices in hands-on training
In Cambodia – a Cultural Crime Scene? - nordonart.wordpress.com: "The fate of a 10th Century Khmer statue from Cambodia, which Sotheby’s attempted to auction in March 2011 for up to $3 million, took another turn this week when Sharon Cohen Levin, the chief of the United States Attorney Office’s Asset Forfeiture Unit, and a second federal lawyer, Alexander Wilson, visited the site from which the statue
was allegedly stolen during Cambodia’s murderous political turmoil in the 1970′s. ... David L. Hall, an assistant United States attorney in Delaware who has handled many cultural heritage claims, said going abroad to looted sites had helped him win tough cases. In one continuing case, in which federal lawyers in Missouri are trying to seize an ancient Egyptian mask known as the Ka-Nefer-Nefer from the St. Louis Art Museum, the lawyers did not travel overseas, according to Jan Diltz, a spokeswoman for the United States Attorney’s Office in St. Louis. Experienced cultural property lawyers, many of whom disagree over the merits of the Sotheby’s case, agreed that the trip’s high profile underscores the State Department’s view that cultural heritage issues are a major part of public diplomacy. State Department officials had no comment on the visit." Image from entry, with caption: The feet of the disputed Duryodhana statue in Cambodia, where they are now in a museum. The statue is with Sotheby’s.
Iraq in Retrospect: What Was I Thinking - Saideman's Semi-Spew: International Relations, Ethnic Conflict, Civil-Military Relations, Academia, Politics in General, Selected Silliness: "I was opposed to the invasion [of Iraq]. I do remember that the year on the Joint Staff definitely shaped my views, but I probably would have opposed the war anyway. I clearly remember a few things, and then I am not sure about the rest. I remember thinking that the global war on terrorism [GWOT] was the first and foremost priority and that attacking Iraq was unrelated to that war on terrorism.
Sure, Hussein supported some groups in Lebanon and elsewhere, but Bin Laden was not a friend and Hezbollah was an adversary. Moreover, in the midst of a conflict where the US would want to reduce support for terrorism, invading Iraq seemed to be something that might just increase hatred/fear of the US and abet AQ recruitment. One of my frustrations at the time and since was that fighting terrorism was a multidimensional effort, with public diplomacy playing a significant role. Antagonizing the region with a sketchy war was not going to be good for the big fight." Saideman's image from entry
Pickle vodka, Corned Beef Special; Globetrotter Diplomacy - Paul Rockower, Levantine: "And as everything relates to public diplomacy, it got me wondering about whether the Harlem Globetrotters were ever sent abroad as basketball ambassadors. The State Dept is doing more through sports diplomacy, and a lot with sending basketball stars abroad to places like South Sudan. Although not under State's auspices, the remarkable visit of Dennis Rodman to North Korea is a bit of bball diplo. I got my answer while writing: apparently Rodman traveled to NK with 3 members of the Harlem Globetrotters. Great! This Undersec for PD would make the Harlem Globetrotters live up to their name, and send them trotting around the world as Basketball Ambassadors. Their brand of comedic basketball is much more suited for PD purposes. Sometimes the competitive side of real sports spill over (see under the Georgetown-China brawl), but the irreverent Harlem Globetrotter antics fits squarely within the Barnum-Bernays School of PD. To make people love you, you have to make them laugh; hearts and minds are won through the belly (gastrodiplo) and belly laughs.
On a final note on an apropos subject, Public Diplomacy Magazine's new issue is on Sports Diplomacy. Congrats to the staff of PD Mag for a great issue!" Image from entry
Clearing Up Some Misconceptions About Government Branding - dannielleblumenthal.com: "Public Diplomacy [:] Overseas, where it is in the
Argo Oscar Win Infuriates Iran, but the Iranian People Think Otherwise - Seth McKinnis, blog.heritage.org: "Argo—the Ben Affleck film portraying the rescue of U.S. Embassy staffers from
Affleck was ecstatic, thanking the people of
The Return of Empires, Part 3 - Dmitry Minin, therearenosunglasses.wordpress.com: "The concept of 'smart power' gave the theory of 'soft power' some strategic direction. Its leitmotif was the need for a balanced combination of the resources of both types of power, 'soft' and 'hard'. Of course, everybody already understood what the «carrot and stick» policy is all about. The achievement of modern theoreticians has been the detailed elaboration and operationalisation of ideas that are, by and large, clear to everybody. The concept of 'smart power' is not just a synthesis of soft and hard power (combining public diplomacy mechanisms with military interventions, for example), but a new philosophy of interrelations with other powers. Its bottom line is that America’s leadership position should not be realised through the single-handed resolution of international problems, but through the organisation of joint actions. Which, for example, is how America operated during the Libyan war; experts called this 'leadership from behind'."
U.S. Army Band Ensembles - oddiooverplay.blogspot.com: "The United States Army Band has been the premier musical organization of the U.S. Army since 1922 when Army Chief of Staff General John J. 'Black Jack' Pershing directed that it be formed to emulate the premier European military bands he had heard during the First World War. The Band has been known as 'Pershing’s Own' ever since.
The Band provides musical support for US leadership, including all branches of government and for a spectrum of national and international events in support of public diplomacy, community and international relations, recruiting initiatives, soldiers and their families, and music education programs. The U.S. Army Band was also widely known during its early years for radio broadcasts featured on several national networks. Image from entry
Asad o rządzie Camerona: Podkreśla tradycję tyranizowania i hegemonii [Google translation: Asad on Cameron's government: the tradition emphasizes bullying and hegemony] - wiadomosci.gazeta.pl: "[Comment by:] pismaki_klamia yesterday lack of support for armed groups must be compared with the backing of the Syrian regular army and militia convened to self-defense. Syrian National Army comes from the collection, so it is a popular army and it is inconceivable that it could be used for political repression. Recently, the government has authorized the creation of neighborhood militias. Weapons issued to citizens who can spend two hours every day to defend their area under the supervision of the army. was a time when U.S. President Ronald Reagan had difficulties with the presentation of 'contras' as 'revolutionaries.' For the purposes of propaganda created Office of Public Diplomacy (the Bureau of Public Diplomacy).'"
US blindness to 'human factor' in dealing with terrorism and targeting Sri Lanka - Daya Gamage, asiantribune.com: "Set aside some funds that the Government of Sri Lanka is wasting on a lobbying firm in Washington to install a person to represent the media to engage in public diplomacy and strategic communication to raise issues connected to the U.S. foreign policy, 'Global War on Terrorism' and national defense-related issues. The person should be an avid reader, Internet savvy and well knowledgeable of America's domestic policy developments, her foreign policy dealings and national security concerns. These issues are well connected to the issues confronting the Third World. Sri Lanka has outsourced her public diplomacy and public affairs to two Indian journalists accredited to the media corps at the U.S. State Department in Washington. As a result, Sri Lanka is getting the 'hit'. The 'hit' is well deserved when you don't have a coherent overseas public diplomacy and strategic communication targeted to neutralize her critics."
Armenian MFA discusses perspectives of cooperation with NATO - "The Armenian MFA held discussions on executing the program of individual cooperation with the NATO (IPAP) for last year with the participation of the NATO, MFA, MOD representatives, and other interested parties. The session was held under the chairmanship of the head of Arms Control and International Security Department at
the Armenian MFA Samvel Mkrtchyan, MFA informs Armenian News-NEWS.am. The dialogue with Euro-Atlantic structures, relations with neighboring countries, democratic reforms, rule of law, fight against corruption, and democratic control for police were on the agenda. The participants will discuss on Tuesday issues on respecting human rights, economic development, political priorities, public diplomacy and the discussion will last till Thursday." Image from entry
Patrols crowding around the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands could trigger accidental war - kerrycollison.blogspot.com: "Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Feb. 22 meeting with President Barack Obama reportedly focused on issues related to North Korea, Japanese-Chinese relations and Japan's joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership. The two leaders almost certainly discussed the dangerous confrontation between Japan and China over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands, administered by Japan but claimed by Japan, China and Taiwan. The seemingly inconsequential islands have become dynamite in Asia Pacific relations, and dangerous and escalating rhetoric and exchanges could lead to detonation.
A path toward de-escalation is needed. ... Assuming both China and Japan share an interest in avoiding conflict, we offer the following prescriptions, some easier to implement than others. All require restraint and mutual accommodation. ... Mutual agreement on a public diplomacy ceasefire: Both Tokyo and Beijing have made their respective positions abundantly clear, with formal government reports outlining their positions as well as press conferences and exchanges of diplomatic talking points. The two sides are now talking past each other, instead addressing their respective domestic audiences and pleading their respective cases to international actors appalled at the prospect of China and Japan risking military conflict over tiny rocks. Repetition only serves to inflame domestic opinion and strengthen the other side's resolve. A ceasefire in public exchanges could calm tensions and give quiet diplomacy a chance." Image from entry
Israeli army ire over social media posts - Yolande Knell, BBC News: "A recent ComScore study found that Israelis spend longer on social networks than users anywhere else. Social media have also produced a new frontline in the conflict with Palestinians. Israeli citizens and Jews overseas have been recruited to various public diplomacy campaigns to promote
Online activists on both sides also scour the net for videos, comments and photos giving insights that support their views. IDF soldiers' personal accounts are among those monitored." Image from article, with caption: Some pictures posted online by Israeli soldiers have caused a furore
Samaras in Istanbul - hurriyetdailynews.com: "The 'earthquake diplomacy' that sprang out of the ruins of the
Balkans World Cup 2030. Could football reconcile former factions and reverse the Balkans’ negative image abroad? - futuretimeline.net: "Indeed, football can be an effective tool for public diplomacy, peace building, and economic development. Sports are strong catalysts for change in all countries of former Yugoslavia—just as proven elsewhere. South Korea and Japan cohosted the World Cup in 2002, despite resentment over a number of unsettled Japanese-Korean disputes, stemming from Japan’s occupation and annexation of Korea in the 20th century. The FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa allowed Africans to show the world new insights into their lives, progress, and achievements.
The 2012 UEFA European Football Championship will be organized jointly by Poland and Ukraine. The tournament’s official logo combines the traditional art of paper cutting practiced in Poland and rural areas of Ukraine; the competition’s slogan is 'Creating History Together.' Its opening will be in Warsaw, the finals in Kiev." Image from
The PM can still win, but it might have to get personal -- People need to hear a narrative that makes sense of the pain, the change and the challenge – and they haven’t heard it yet - Matthew d’Ancona, telegraph.co.uk: "The Cameron Government’s greatest failure in the past three years has been one of public diplomacy.
By this I emphatically do not mean anything as narrow as media relations, or PR, or spin doctoring, but something much greater and more personal. The PM has not yet given us a story which makes sense of the pain, the change, and the challenge." Image from article, with caption: Eastleigh showed that the Tories still have work to do if they are to win the next general election
China Focuses on North Korean Workers - finance.townhall.com: "A familiar Chinese pattern appears to be emerging. China's public diplomacy concerning North Korea appears more lenient than its direct treatment of North Korea. At the UN China seeks to keep the peace and maintain international stability in northeast Asia. However, the public call for international moderation does not prevent China from exacting stern punishment, quietly, by manipulating its direct ties with North Korea."
Quintessence of Contemporary Astute Diplomacy - The case of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Xin Shunkang - Job Amupanda, newera.com.na: "Alan K. Henrikson, a Professor of Diplomatic History and the Director of Diplomatic Studies at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, saw diplomacy as the conduct of international relations by governments. Political Science scholars will remember that a leading 20th century scholar of international politics and author of a book Politics Among Nations, Hans Joachim Morgenthau, defined diplomacy as 'the formation and execution of foreign policy.' We are, therefore, to understand diplomacy as the deployment of astuteness and discretion in the interactions and relations between states in the international system. ... Our concern is the current Chinese Ambassador to Namibia, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary H.E. Mr. Xin Shunkang. ... Note that while serving as the Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, he received two prizes for best diplomat from Asian countries accredited to Zimbabwe and the best diplomat for all countries represented in the country. Those that had an encounter with this man are able to attest that he is a 21st century diplomat par excellence. He is able to distribute jokes and yet provide serious input for serious pondering, wondering and consideration. He is able to demonstrate Public Diplomacy excellently such that he is no stranger to public discourse in Namibia. Scholars are immaculate on the importance of time in diplomacy. The Chinese Ambassador masters this very well. It is no surprise that it was on the same day, 2 December 2012, President Hifikepunye Pohamba was reelected as the SWAPO Party President that H.E. Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Central Committee of Communist Party of China, sent his congratulatory message. He is able to productively engage with both the young and old. Albeit spending only a few months in Namibia, H.E. Ambassador Xin Shunkang and his wife Lua Xian Min do sing the Namibian National Anthem flawlessly. A lot can be said but the short version is that H.E. Ambassador Xin Shunkang is the quintessence of contemporary astute diplomacy."
Malaysian forces open fire on Pinoys in Sabah, Sulu Sultan's brother claims - gmanetwork.com: "Malaysian security forces on Friday morning started firing at a group of Filipinos holed up in a village in Sabah, the brother of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III said. ... The Malaysian Embassy through Raveendran Nair, First Secretary of Information and Public Diplomacy, told GMA News Online, 'At the moment, the embassy has no comment. The embassy will not issue a statement on the matter.'"
PD Purple Heart - Paul Rockower, Levantine: "Good public diplomacy is found in flexibility and creativity in the face of obstacles."
Call for Papers - icanewsletter.com: "Call for Papers: Communicating Soft Power: Contrasting Perspectives from India and China Date: 9 and 10 September 2013 Venue: U of Westminster, 35 Marylebone Road, London, NW1 5LS Organized by the India Media Centre and the China Media Centre of the Communication and Media Research Institute (CAMRI) of the University of Westminster, London ... Suggested topics for papers include, but are not restricted to, the following: ... Public Diplomacy Web2.0."
DOSCareers - justtweetit.com: "The U.S. Department of State offers careers in foreign affairs with a critical need for U.S. Diplomats in the Management, Consular and Economic career tracks. If you have a desire to live and work overseas, this is the career for you.
Visit careers.state.gov. For those interested in anything: international, foreign affairs, diplomacy, government, careers, management, public administration, consular affairs, public affairs, public diplomacy, journalism, service, public service, business, diplomat, foreign service, culture, languages." Image from
Public Diplomacy and Communication Intern at the Danish Embassy in Seoul: The embassy in Seoul is offering an internship in the Public Diplomacy and Communication Department at the Embassy for the period August 1st 2013 – January 31st 2014 - go.dk: "Public Diplomacy and Communication [:] As an intern you will be involved in the development and implementation of the embassy’s public diplomacy and communication strategy. You will be involved in the planning and execution of cultural activities and initiatives, as well as the communication of activities and opportunities in South Korea to relevant stakeholders within the cultural, political, commercial and educational areas, as well as to the Danish and Korean public. The communication will take place via news on the homepage and social media, and through suggestions for articles, newsletters and press releases. You will have great opportunities to develop new ideas for communicative initiatives and cultural events, so a creative mind-set is an advantage."
The future of U.S. foreign aid - Exchange Journal: "By Kevin McElligott, Public Diplomacy student, Syracuse University"
RELATED ITEMS
U.S. Town Ponders Solzhenitsyn Exhibit - AP, Moscow Times: MONTPELIER, Vermont — Residents of the southern Vermont town that was once the home-in-exile of former Soviet dissident and writer Alexander Solzhenitsyn are considering whether to convert a historic church into an exhibit to honor the Nobel laureate's 18 years in Cavendish. At the Town Meeting
the locals' annual decision-making gathering and the venue where Solzhenitsyn once addressed his neighbors when he arrived in 1977 voters will be asked whether they should take ownership of a small, stone Universalist church and use it to honor him. Solzhenitsyn, who spent eight years in prison and labor camps for criticizing Soviet dictator Josef Stalin, said he chose Cavendish for its resemblance to his homeland and its small-town personality. Image from article, with caption: Solzhenitsyn’s widow and son attending a Moscow exhibit of the author, pictured in the background, in 2008. Via HS on Facebook
State Department report paves way for Keystone; environmental backlash grows - Ben Wolfgang and Guy Taylor, The Washington Times: While far from a full-throated endorsement, the State Department's assessment of the Keystone XL pipeline may have paved the way for President Obama to approve the controversial project. The lengthy environmental impact study released Friday makes no recommendation on whether the pipeline should be built, but makes clear that big-picture environmental concerns — such as those related to greenhouse gases and global warming — are irrelevant on grounds that western Canada's oil sands will eventually be developed and made into burnable fuel.
A cautious course on Syria - Editorial, latimes.com: For now, the administration is right to withhold arms from the rebels, even as it seeks to pressure Assad in other ways and to shape the future of the Syria that will exist after the dictator is driven from power.
Biden May Take on Expanded Role in Foreign Policy in Second Term - Mark Landler, New York Times: Mr. Biden has used personal relationships to amass influence in the Obama administration — a talent that current and former officials predicted would allow him to further expand his influence on foreign policy during President Obama’s second term.
Communist Propaganda Poster: Comrades, Turn In Your Weapons! - Paul Joseph Watson, thedailysheeple.com:
The poster shows Russian citizens turning in their rifles, handguns and even swords as a communist soldier looms over them with the words, “Comrades, turn in your weapons” appearing in front of a hammer and sickle inside a red star.
Maps as Propaganda - oblog.designobserver.com: As designers we all learn early on that infographics of all kind can be manipulated to prove a point.
Maps are often perceived as more or less agnositc, but they can be instruments of propoganda just as much as any graphic image. Image from entry
Retro Propaganda Posters from the Robot Uprising - Lauren Davis, io9.com: Animator and illustrator Tom Kyzivat reaches all the way back to Metropolis to create the classic feel for his series of Murderous Automaton posters. The massive mechanical rebels on his propaganda posters are menacing, but their quest to usher in the Atomic Age would be inspiring if they weren't trying to exterminate us humans.
Kyzivat describes himself as "a robot trapped in a human's body," which would explain his sympathies for our ten-ton foe. He has more of these retro robot pieces in his deviantART gallery, and sells t-shirts, prints, and more at CafePress. Murderous Automatons [Tom Kyzivat via Geek Art Gallery]. Image from entry
Kyzivat describes himself as "a robot trapped in a human's body," which would explain his sympathies for our ten-ton foe. He has more of these retro robot pieces in his deviantART gallery, and sells t-shirts, prints, and more at CafePress. Murderous Automatons [Tom Kyzivat via Geek Art Gallery]. Image from entry
LANGUAGE IN OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AGE
--the actually-okay-ness of it all
--anguished cri de coeur
--a mostly true story
IMAGE
--Kerry's Treasured Photo with Lennon - politico.com. Via MP on Facebook
BLAST FROM THE PAST
Ambassador Chester Bowles served as Governor of Connecticut and Ambassador to India under Truman and again under Kennedy. The following excerpts are from his interview by the LBJ Library (beginning in 1969), which is included in the ADST oral history collection.
[Bowles:] In the first place, we didn’t know she was in India. This idea of this great intelligence network of ours, this idea that we knew what was going on, was nonsense; we didn’t even know she was there. The only Americans who had any contact with her were two young Peace Corps volunteers who lived in the same village with her. They mentioned this “very attractive European lady” as they called her.
They had no idea who she was. The first thing I knew was — when I was in bed with a brief case of flu — my assistant called and said he and two or three of my associates wanted to come to see me about something. They came at seven o’clock p.m. and said that a person describing herself as Stalin’s daughter had just arrived at the embassy, with a Russian passport in good order, and “What should we do about it?” The first thing I said was, “I don’t think Stalin has a daughter.” And one who was a specialist on the USSR said, “Oh, yes he has.”
I then said, “Let’s take some time to think this through.” I suggested they put her in my office with a yellow pad on the desk and have her write down for us who she is, and what she wants to do, which would give us time to consider the alternatives. In the next hours she out together a very eloquent sixteen-to eighteen page statement in excellent English, a dramatic story of her life and who her father was and her mother, and why she wanted to leave Russia and come to America.
We then tried to figure out what to do. I put down three possibilities on a yellow pad: One, send her home; we’re trying to get along better with Russia: this is a delicate period; this will upset the Russians; tell her just to go away. I didn’t see how we could do that.
Two, give her asylum officially, which will mean she stays in the American embassy, which will be surrounded by police and reporters and television cameras with a great public uproar, while the case is taken to the Indian courts. The Indian courts are as basically independent as our courts. Regardless of what the Indian government wanted them to do, they would, I believe, insure her right to leave the country and go where she wished. But this would upset the Russians even more against us, because it would be so well publicized and we, or rather she, would win the case.
Third, get her out of the country as fast and quietly as possible and then figure out what to do later. I asked, “When does the next plane leave India?” My aides said, “For where?” And I said, “Tehran, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Paris, London, anywhere but Moscow.” And they said, “Well, there’s a Qantas plane at one a.m.” It was by then about nine p.m. I said, “Get a couple of tickets on it,” so they did. I assigned a young officer, a Russian speaking officer, to her, although she really didn’t need an interpreter because she spoke such good English. I then sent a cable to the State Department and the White House.
--The Day Stalin’s Daughter Asked for Asylum in the U.S., Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training; image from entry
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