"You know, I don’t need to talk to the camera."
--President Barack Obama, responding to the request of CNN interviewer Wolf Blitzer to "look into the camera, talk directly to President Bashar al Assad." From; image from
PUBLIC DIPLOMACY
Messaging Is Hurting Obama - Albert R. Hunt, mcall.com - "On public diplomacy, There is no coherent message, little explanation of the complexities and contradictions created."
War of words over Syria - Jules Witcover, chicagotribune.com: "While the slaughter goes on in the Syrian civil war, a remarkable war of words has broken out over the threatened use of American force there, led by of all people Russian President Vladimir Putin. ... [A] war of words remains preferable to the releasing of missiles that can't be recalled, as the two sides spar for advantage. In the last somewhat similar East-West confrontation of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, secret diplomacy played a key role. The Russian leaders finally agreed to pull their weapons out of the Caribbean island, on the then-undisclosed condition that U.S. missiles in Turkey aimed at the Soviet Union would later be dismantled, as subsequently was done. The challenge to both Obama and Putin now, as the public war of words continues, is to pivot to less public diplomacy to extricate all parties from a dangerous confrontation that both sides want to avoid."
America and Iran: Backchanneling In Plain Sight - Suzanne Maloney, brookings.edu: "President Barack Obama confirmed in an interview broadcast today that he has exchanged letters with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, in what may be the first successfully reciprocated communication between leaders of the two countries. The confirmation vaults what had been a quietly evolving process of bilateral diplomacy between the two long-time adversaries into the public eye at a particularly sensitive moment — immediately on the heels of a U.S.-Russian deal to avert military action in Syria and right on the eve of Rouhani's departure for his first-ever visit to the United States. ... While today's interview represents the first official confirmation of the U.S.-Iranian dialogue, it is worth noting that the news of high-level American communication with Tehran was first leaked in the Iranian press more than two weeks ago. The allusions to the letters were largely overlooked by the Washington press and punditocracy, excluding reports in the Los Angeles Times and Radio Free Europe.
Ironically, many seemed more consumed with
Iran's foreign ministry struggles with online PR - Siavash Ardalan, bbc.co.uk: "President Hassan Rouhani has already found that the greatest challenge to public diplomacy is an apparent lack of discipline, rather than a lack of influential allies or favourable laws in a country where Facebook and other social networks are banned but not illegal. From conducting diplomacy via Twitter to appointing its first female spokesperson, the foreign ministry has not shown a particular aptitude for online PR. This is important for Mr Rouhani because he has convinced the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to allow the foreign ministry to take charge of negotiations with the international community over its nuclear programme, starting in New York later this month. The new man at the helm of the foreign ministry is Mohammad Javad Zarif. As Iran's permanent representative at the United Nations between 2002 and 2007, Mr Zarif earned the respect of senior US officials when he worked to ensure talks between Washington and Tehran took place despite the efforts of hardliners on both sides. Mr Zarif is one of the few cabinet members with his own Facebook page and Twitter account, which he used last week to wish Jews a 'Happy Rosh Hashanah'. He also used Twitter to assert that the Iranian government had never denied the Holocaust, adding: 'The man who was perceived to be denying it is now gone.' He was referring to Mr Rouhani's predecessor, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who during his eight-year presidency frequently claimed the Holocaust was a lie. Mr Zarif's tweet made headlines, but not as many as an earlier one that also wished Jews a happy new year, which appeared to come from the president.
Mr Rouhani's office was swift to tell reporters that the message had come from an account set up by a supporter, and was not an official statement. However, some critics expressed scepticism, claiming that Iran's reformist politicians were intentionally muddying the waters over who operated social media accounts in their name so they could test public opinion and disavow messages that angered hardliners. The foreign ministry's decision to appoint a female spokesperson was a deliberate signal to both its domestic audience and the international community. But it began with a PR blunder. Within a week of Marzieh Afkham's appointment, her supposed Facebook page received 25,000 'likes' - a huge figure in a country where access to the site is blocked. As it turned out, a week later the whole venture was a hoax carried out by an exiled activist. ... Hardline rivals were quick to ridicule reformist politicians for 'reducing public diplomacy to absurdity', arguing that they could not handle internet freedom, for which President Rouhani has campaigned. Hoping to prevent confusion and achieve more clarity and discipline in its conduct on social media, the government set up a special committee to deal with unofficial social media accounts. However, this suggested that they had never considered the issue to begin with. When it comes to social media, Iranian intelligence and law enforcement are on top of their game. The same cannot be said of the foreign ministry and reformist politicians, whom after eight years away from power are just beginning to realise what social media can do. The Afkham affair may also present a lesson for hardliners as well, considering that the Supreme Leader's own Facebook page, with 56,000 likes, is also officially not his own. Image from article, with caption: Marzieh Afkham and Mohammad Zarif are realising the power of social media
Managing is getting paid for home runs someone else hits - Paul Rockower, Levantine: "So I hear Stengel [see] has been named to be the new Undersec for Public Diplomacy. Didn't he used to coach the Yankees? 'Can't anybody here play this game,' bellowed mighty Casey after he came out of retirement to coach the 1962 Mets, one of the worst teams of all time. In all seriousness, I am a tad apprehensive of the pick. If they were not going to keep Sonenshine (who did a fabulous job, and really understood PD), then go for a professional diplomat. This man has no public diplomacy experience, and no government experience.
Communicating news in the middlebrow press that is Time is not the same ballgame as communicating policy, culture and values to foreign audiences. Just look at the Time cover differences, and then tell me I don't have a reason to be slightly apprehensive. I am worried this could go more McHale (McHale's Navy was anemic at the PD helm) than Sonenshine or Glassman -- two very capable PD chiefs who did not have long enough tenures. But...as The Old Professor famously said, 'never make predictions, especially about the future,' so I will reserve my judgement to let Mr. Richard take the helm and show the PD community his PD chops." Image from entry
Barack the Terrible has Hired Fifteen Prominent Journalists Since 2009 - libertyfight.blogspot.com: "If you are going to slant your reporting to favor Barack the Terrible and his incompetent, corrupt administration, why not just be on their payroll? Turns out Jay Carney wasn't the only media crook who decided to accept this offer. Fourteen other journalists have taken Barack the Terrible up on his offer of employment: The news that Time magazine editor Richard Stengel is leaving his post to become the undersecretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs prompted Atlantic Wire reporter Elspeth Reeve to examine how many reporters had left their jobs for positions in President Barack Obama’s administration. It turns out that quite a few journalists have found second careers working for the president. ... We're not talking about journalists fresh out of their college internships. ... [M]ost of the folks ... have gone f[ro]m the dark side of journalism to the darker side of the Obama Administration are prominent journalists."
Media-Whore D'Oeuvres - ronmwangaguhunga.blogspot.com: "Rick Stengel, Time magazine’s top editor for the past seven years, is leaving for a job with the State Department. While the appointment has yet to be confirmed by the US Senate, Stengel is in line to become Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs."
Rick Stengel to Leave 'Time' for the State Department - Steve Cohn, minonline.com: "Richard ('Rick') Stengel, Time managing editor since June 2006, will be leaving the 90-year-old newsweekly once his expected appointment as U.S. State Department undersecretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs is confirmed by the U.S. Senate. ... Stengel clearly has the international qualifications. As Time m.e., he met and interviewed leaders from around the world, including former Iran president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian president Vladimir Putin, whom he anointed Person of the Year in 2007. He is an acclaimed scholar on South Africa and especially Nelson Mandela in having known Mandela since his 1990 release from 28 years of imprisonment by the then-apartheid regime. Stengel, who lived in South Africa in the 1990s (he was a Time staff writer), collaborated on Mandela's 1993 Long Walk to Freedom memoir. That, in turn, led to Stengel's 2010 Mandela's Way (Crown), which he called 'my memoir of working with Nelson on his memoir.' Since Stengel ended two years as CEO of the Philadelphia-based National Constitution Center to succeed Jim Kelly as Time m.e., the magazine experienced much change. ... But newsstand still weakened, as did ad sales, because of the double-barreled effect from the poor economy and the increased emphasis on the Internet, social media, etc., for news. ... Stengel's awareness of social media changing the world landscape was been seen in his Person of the Year selections of You (2006), an early indicator how all of us communicate more swiftly and powerfully in the digital age; Facebook founder/CEO Mark Zuckerberg (2010); and The Protester (2011), where Facebook and Twitter helped ignite the 'Arab Spring' and other calls for change throughout the world."
Already a star at Model U.N. conferences, Alma College helps another country start its own - Linda Gittleman, themorningsun.com: "When India decided it wanted to form its own Model United Nations conference – just like the one in New York – the U.S. State Department wanted to help. But the department required a little help too and called upon Alma College for assistance. The choice of Alma College was something of a no brainer.' (The school) has won top honors at the U.S. national competition in New York City for 17 consecutive years,' Alma College spokesman Mike Silverthorn said. (It’s) the longest winning streak of any college or university in the nation. Alma College’s all time 32 'outstanding delegation' awards are the most of any college or university in the 90 year history of the conference.' Professor Derick Hulme who has overseen the program noted that the State Department had learned about Alma’s success and extended the invitation. He and seven students will leave for New Delhi on Oct. 2. 'The State Department designed this as a public diplomacy initiative to try to strengthen the younger generation’s appreciation of the importance of international organizations and multilateral diplomacy,' Hulme said in a written statement. 'India is becoming more economically capable and is one of the most populous countries in the world. It is in the interest of the United States to engage young people in countries like India and show them the importance of working collaboratively with people around the world.' The best way to do that, Hulme said, is through a Model U.N conference. ... Alma College received a $20,000 grant from the State Department to help pay for the expenses."
Recalling a life lost too soon in the service of her country - Tara Sonenshine, philly.com: "[F]or one family, this September is a season of sadness mingled with pride as they remember a beautiful young diplomat who gave her life protecting ours. Anne Smedinghoff would be turning 26 on Sept. 18 were it not for a bomb blast that took her life miles from home, in Afghanistan, in April. ... Like so many young Americans, Anne wanted to serve her country. In 2010, she joined the foreign service - no easy feat. Many young people want to be diplomats; only a few pass the exam, get through the rigorous interview process, and complete the training required for a first-tour assignment overseas. Anne made it. ... So when Anne heard there was an opening in Afghanistan, she raised her hand. She was assigned to the public diplomacy office in the embassy in Kabul in 2011 - a difficult and dangerous job, but an ideal one for someone who loved being with people, fostering relationships with local youth, engaging with citizens to improve education, and building bridges between Afghanistan and America. ... In March 2012, Anne got the chance of a lifetime. The new U.S. secretary of state, John Kerry, was going to Kabul.
She was able to prepare his visit, coordinate the schedule, and meet her new boss as a member of the host delegation. Kerry later recalled Anne's energy, enthusiasm, and warmth. Just weeks after meeting Kerry, Anne traveled to Zabul province to deliver books to a school in the town of Qalot. As the convoy of American soldiers and civilians arrived, a suicide bomber approached. Witnesses describe a horrific blast, the shattering of glass and debris, and the cries for help. Anne was among those killed outside the school, along with four other Americans - three soldiers and a civilian. ... Although we never met, I supervised
all the public diplomacy officers around the world, of which Anne was one. Hence, when it came to her memorial service at the State Department, I was among those who gave the remarks. We hear about casualties of war - about the injured and the dead - counted in the hundreds, even the thousands. These are staggering statistics. But behind these numbers are individual - often young lives, lost too soon in the line of duty." Above uncaptioned image from article
Winning the War of Ideas for Islamic Hearts and Minds - Andrew E. Harrod, americanthinker.com: "The 'war of ideas is the primary arena of conflict,' stated Jamestown Foundation Senior Fellow Stephen Ulph at the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center on September 6, 2013. Ulph spoke as part of an all-star expert lineup discussing the international struggle against militant Islam during a daylong briefing by theWestminster Institute (WI) entitled 'al-Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood: A New American Strategy.' ... Cold War public diplomacy veteran Robert Reilly, another Fighting the Ideological War contributor, drew as well from the past in order to confront Islamism. Reilly advised, 'Don't get into a war of ideas unless you understand those ideas' and 'unless you have an idea.' Echoing Katharine's 'center of gravity' comments, Reilly in particular noted that a failure to debate Islamic religious ideas gave al-Qaeda, in the words of one commentator, a 'theological safe haven.' The ineffectiveness of various public diplomacy efforts experienced by Reilly at the Department of Defense after September 11, 2001, however, was sometimes 'personally too painful to relate.' The American government, for example, launched the Arabic-language Radio Sawa, yet Reilly dismissed its programming as largely 'youth pop music' with 'lyrics so offensive they had to be changed.' The 'war of ideas cannot be fought by the battle of the bands,' Reilly criticized. In particular,
UK web user bemoans Voice of America’s decline, hopes for reforms to restore VOA’s former news reporting power - BBGWatcher, usgbroadcasts.com: "The commentator bemoans the lowering of reporting standards, increasing repeating of already aired broadcasts, use of vulgarities on Twitter by editors of one of VOA programs, dismal audience engagement through social media, and minimal number of views for VOA news videos on YouTube."
A lesson in BBC propaganda - Louis Dowes, presstv.ir: "Of course, the BBC wants us, the pathetic gullible members of the British public to give it money for its survival; feeding it with our Broken Britain money like a demanding media beast.
Well, I say the BBC wants us to give it money. Actually, it orders us to give it money; it commands us to give it money; it threatens us to give it money." Image from entry
U.S. greatly instrumental in the defeat of Sri Lanka Tigers - Defense Secretary - Daya Gamage, asiantribune.com: "In these columns we have been questioning the wisdom of those who are handling external affairs for the Government of Sri Lanka in the areas of public affairs, public diplomacy and strategic communication."
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the 11th one-EU Joint Committee Meeting [Google "translation"] - newswire.co.kr: "Additionally, the two sides Marine Fisheries, SME support and consultative body established to support our business activities and the 'one-EU Public Diplomacy Forum (Korea-EU Public Diplomacy Forum)' chujinkiro creation was the first year in the Committee held one-EU agreement on cultural cooperation was geumbeon Park Geun-hye one-EU Joint Commission was held for the first time since the government launched one-EU as regular meetings between the senior, the third one was held last 7.26-EU political dialogue with senior 'one-EU strategic partnership' for further development build a foundation that is estimated."
Double Your Money Scholarship Winner: Hannah Weigle - morethanatestscore.com: "Congratulations to our latest Double Your Money winner, Hannah Weigle! Hannah was awarded the Foundation for Global Scholars General Scholarship for $1,000, and because she found and applied for the scholarship on Zinch, we’re staying true to our word and matching it for an additional $1,000. ... [Q:] What career path do you see yourself taking after school? [A:] After school, I hope to participate in a program such as Peace Corps or Teach for America.
Afterwards, I would like to pursue a degree in International Relations, Foreign Service, or Law. My ideal career would be working as a Foreign Service Officer for the US government in the field of Public Diplomacy or Foreign Analysis. I love traveling, learning about history and culture, and discussing politics, so my future job will hopefully encompass all of these interests." Weigle image from entry
RELATED ITEMS
Five myths about cruise missiles - Eliot A. Cohen, Washington Post: Conceivably, cruise missiles could be used to target the children of Assad, his senior military commanders and the crews that load rockets and artillery shells with sarin. That would be a form of retribution, albeit one more suited to the most vicious of street gangs than the world’s oldest constitutional democracy. The slaying of 400 children with sarin, and thousands of others by less exotic but no less brutal means, poses a moral as well as a political problem. It might call for justice; it might call for exemplary punishment (which handing over a fraction of one’s arsenal is not). Or it might be a tragedy best lamented and then ignored. In any event, cruise missiles are no magical solution to a horror.
Analysis: Putin scores diplomatic win on Syria - Jill Dougherty, CNN: Taking
Putin throws America on the rhetorical mat - Charles Ortel, Washington Times: Vladimir Putin has spoken truth to
Make no mistake, it is “throw-down” time here on the world stage. Our government and even our sense of national identity lie gasping for air, sprawled backwards, legs akimbo on the mat as a shirtless, gleaming Putin prances before the global audience. We can admit that President Putin expressed his concerns plainly and forcefully Wednesday night, even as elites in
Hearing You Out - Nicholas D. Kristoff, New York Times: Syria is a hard case, with uncertain consequences. But if we are broadly retreating from the principle of humanitarian intervention to avert mass atrocities because of compassion fatigue in a tumultuous and ungrateful world, then we’re landing on the wrong side of history, and some day we will look back in shame.
What War Means - Frank Bruni, New York Times: The way that we can best thank our good soldiers for their service is to keep in mind, whenever contemplating the next military engagement, the ravages of the last one.
The World after the Kerry-Lavrov accord on Syria - Juan Cole, Informed Comment: The agreement reached by Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry at Geneva on Saturday regarding the sequester of Syria’s chemical weapons is a little unlikely to shorten the civil war or save many lives in Syria. But it did signal winners and losers in the region and the world. The big losers were the anti-Baath Syria hawks, who were hoping that a US attack on Syria with cruise missiles would draw the Obama administration inexorably into the conflict on the side of the rebels.
Thus, the agreement deeply disappointed Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, who wanted a US strike. In Europe, the French government had been hoping the US would go in with French help, allowing Paris to assert itself in its former Syrian colony and to insert itself into the center of world affairs again. The agreement likewise disappointed the hawks in Washington, including Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinin (R-FL) among the few US federal legislators who wants yet another war. The winners were the Shanghai Cooperation Council and the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), which overlap somewhat. Image from article
When Complexity Is Free - Thomas L. Friedman, New York Times: "Fortunately, there is another, still “exceptional,” American reality out there. (I am talking to you, Putin.) It’s best found at the research centers of any global American company."
Cuba: Singer who sang lyrics calling for free elections during Castro propaganda concert banned indefinitely - Alberto de la Cruz, babalublog.com: During a state-organized propaganda concert this past Thursday in front of the U.S. Interests Section in Havana, Robertico Carcasses, singer for the bandInteractivo, took the liberty of adding a few lyrics to a song that called for free elections, freedom to access information, and civil rights for all in Cuba. Perhaps the usually servile artist might have gotten away with this act of defiance if it were not for the fact that the concert was being televised live on state-run television to the entire island. Naturally, it did not take long for
Book review: ‘The Road to War: Presidential Commitments Honored and Betrayed’ by Marvin Kalb - review by William J. Dobson, Washington Post: In his timely book, “The Road to War,” veteran journalist and diplomatic correspondent Marvin Kalb explores the tangled history of the foreign policy commitments that modern presidents have made and the knots these leaders have turned themselves into trying to rationalize or escape their words. The fact that these commitments, whether uttered privately or publicly, are often no more than words, rather than congressionally approved resolutions or declarations, is one of their defining features. Indeed, on only five occasions have American presidents requested declarations of war from Congress, the last being Franklin Roosevelt’s action during World War II.
Amazing new film on birth propaganda: The Motherhood Archives - bluemilk.wordpress.com: "You started this project? What’s your background and how did it lead you to work on this archive? I got pregnant. I’m a filmmaker; I’ve worked a lot with propaganda and archives—my background is in communist, postcommunist stuff, and my previous work is a trilogy of films in
Propaganda: What it is and what it isn't - WB Reeves, What's clear from the applicable definitions is that propaganda isn't a synonym for lies or falsehoods. It is, in fact, a politically, ethically and morally neutral term. Propaganda can be either true or false. Legitimate or illegitimate. It is defined not by its content but by its polemical intent. Essentially, it simply means that someone is trying to convince you of something. Denouncing something as being "propaganda" is nothing more than fallacious rhetorical posturing, serving no purpose other than to avoid engaging arguments on their merits. See also John Brown, "Two Ways of Looking at Propaganda," USC Center on Public Diplomacy (2006)
AMERICANA
"[T]he United States now ranks 12th among developed nations in higher education of young adults. (In 1995, we were first.) ... [T]wo out of five students now have a GPA of A- or better — nearly six times as many as in 1969."
--From Katharine Whittemore, "Higher education: At what cost?" Boston Globe
MORE AMERICANA
"1. United States Millionaire Households: 5,220,000 [;] Ultra High Net Worth Households: 2,692 [;]GDP (millions of USD): 14,657,800 (highest) The United States has by far the largest amount of millionaire households, as well as ultra-high-net-worth-households. The U.S. is home to the largest economy in the world — almost three times the size of China's, the next biggest. There is also a growing income gap in the country. In 2009, the top 20% of earners, or those making $100,000 or more a year, made half of all income generated in the country, according to the US Census. The bottom 20% made only 3.4%."
--From Charles B. Stockdale, "24/7 Wall St.: Countries with the most millionaires," USA Today Countries with the most millionaires
AND MORE AMERICANA
"During Sunday’s Miss America pageant, televised September 15 at 9 p.m. on CBS, [Sergeant Theresa] Vail will be the first contestant not to cover her tattoos during the bathing suit and evening gown portion of the competition. Vail’s body art is not subtle.
The serenity prayer is tattooed on her right side, and covers the area from just under her arm all the way down to her hip in large old English style writing. Vail has another tattoo of the army medical corp. insignia on her shoulder. Both will be visible."
--From Susan L Ruth, "Tattooed National Guard Sergeant Theresa Vail takes on Miss America," Washington Times
SOVIETICA
"The descriptions of meals are delightful, despite the anomaly at the heart of her book: during the Soviet period, there was almost nothing decent to eat, unless you were a party official."
--From "Beyond Borscht: ‘Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking,’ by Anya von Bremzen," review by Sara Wheeler, New York Times; image from article
IMAGE
--Gennady Blohin; via FW on Facebook
ONE MORE IMAGE
--Patty Struik; via KA on Facebook
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