July 3

“They needed someone killed, so they sent us.”

-- Maj. Bryan L. Logan, squadron operations officer for the Third Squadron, Seventh Cavalry Regiment, referring to an insurgent cell that had been planting bombs near an Iraqi highway; image from

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

We could adopt use of M-Pesa, says US - Daily Nation: "The US will leverage her technology by importing innovations from Africa as part of the Obama Administration’s bid to strengthen relations with the continent. Citing the M-Pesa evolution, US Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Judith McHale said her country’s economy could benefit by importing the revolutionary mobile money transfer system from Kenya. 'We do not have such a system in America and we could import it to make it part of our national payment system,' said Ms McHale. M-Pesa is run by Kenya’s largest mobile

phone service provider, Safaricom, as a platform to send and receive money by its subscribers using their handsets. The technology is a first in the world. Ms McHale spoke on Friday after paying a courtesy call to the Nairobi Stock Exchange. She is on an official visit to the country. In return, America will support local universities and colleges by initiating an exchange programme between her institutions and those in Kenya. And instead of going the traditional way of exchange programmes of moving people, the proposed exchange will also leverage on technology. 'We appreciate that it is a limit in the number of people we can move to America from Kenya and America to Kenya. We thus want to use technology to link universities and colleges so that they can share knowledge,' she added." Image from article: Nairobi Stock Exchange Chief executive officer Peter Mwangi and US Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Ms Judith McHale is being taken through the Nairobi Bourse Automated system by Dyer and Blair Kenneth King'ori during her visit on July 2, 2010.

Appointment of Special Advisor for International Disability Rights: ‎ US Department of State: "The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor announces the appointment of Judith Heumann as the Special Advisor for International Disability Rights. Special Advisor Heumann will lead the Administration’s efforts to develop a comprehensive strategy to promote the rights of persons with disabilities internationally; coordinate an interagency process for the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; ensure that foreign assistance incorporates persons with disabilities; lead on disability human rights issues; ensure that the needs of persons with disabilities are addressed in international situations; and conduct public diplomacy, including with civil society, on disability issues."

Could We Be Any More Likeable? - Franklin Foer, New Republic: "[American soccer team coach Bob Bradley’s] temperament infuses this very likable team.

They never try to be any flashier than they are—and, of cour se, they have a temerity that should make them a potent tool for our public diplomacy." See also. Image from

To achieve its objectives, CMSA conducts the following four types of programs – CMSA website: "The Congressional Muslim Staffers Association(CMSA) CMSA hosts social events and development programs that enhance members’ knowledge, skills, and networks relevant to their professional duties and community relations. CMSA has collaborative events with other Congressional staff associations or non-government groups that help extend members’ awareness and networks of various professional ethnic, gender, and religious associations. Examples: State Department Briefing on U.S. Public Diplomacy in the Muslim World."

PD Don’t Get No Respect - Ren’s Micro Diplomacy: "Does State have lower expectations for PD officer candidates because they think they can teach them everything they need to know in FSI?

Even if they don’t, the perception is there. Even more reason for State to offer incentives to candidates who have specific academic or professional background in PD, and for PD officers to work even harder at getting professional recognition. It will be a slow process, but as new Master of Public Diplomacy students are released into the working world we will be able to demonstrate that PD isn’t just common sense." Image from

Pentagon Adds MISO To Alphabet Soup‎ - David Gura - NPR: The Department of Defense (DOD) has decided that "Psychological Operations" or "PSYOPS" doesn't have many positive connotations. Upon hearing the terms, Americans are likely to think of The General's Daughter, Apocalypse Now, or The Men Who Stare at Goats. So, they've rebranded. From here on out, the units comprise 'Military Information Support Operations,' or MISO. The Atlantic's Marc Ambinder obtained a copy of an internal Pentagon email from Rosa Brooks, Senior Advisor to the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Rule of Law and International Humanitarian Policy, 'explaining to senior Pentagon officials that the Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, has signed off on an effort to reduce the stigma of 'psychological operations' — 'PSYOPS' — by changing its name.' In the message, Brooks outlines some key points 'to make if asked': This is just a terminological change, not a substantive change. The term PSYOP was anachronistic and misleading; Military Information Support is a more accurate description of the activities and programs at issue. We already use the term 'Military Information Support Teams' to describe the PSYOP personnel who deploy to embassies and provide support to State Dept public diplomacy efforts; this more thoroughgoing terminological shift will make our terminology consistent and help reduce misunderstandings."

Jet Roi: “JET Program on the Chopping Block” - James Gannon, jetwit.com: "As part of Japan’s efforts to grapple with its massive public debt, the JET Program may be cut. ... A few Japanese intellectual and foreign policy leaders have begun to push back against the attacks on the JET Program, noting how important it is in terms of public diplomacy and in Japan’s engagement with a range of countries.

In its June meeting in Washington, D.C., the US-Japan Conference on Cultural and Educational Exchange (CULCON), a joint US-Japan 'wisemen’s commission' scathingly criticized the shortsightedness of any move to cut the JET Program ... . For its part, the US State Department also seems to be taking the position that the JET Program makes valuable contributions to the long-term underpinnings of US-Japan relations and cutting it will be harmful." On Jet program, see. Image from

Reports: Israel to apologize for flotilla raid‎ - Neal Ungerleider, True/Slant: "Persistent reports in the Turkish press indicate that Israel will formally apologize and pay compensation for the deaths on the Mavi Marmara. The Mavi Marmara was the blockade-busting ship manned by Turkish citizens on which nine actvists were killed in unclear circumstances by Israeli naval commandos. Turkish newspaper of record Hürriyet indicates that discussions of apology and compensation took place at a secret meeting between Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and Israeli Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor Benjamin Ben-Eliezer on Wednesday. ... As the paper’s Sevil Kücüjjosum puts it, 'Israel has signaled it may compensate and apologize to families of some of the victims of its aid-flotilla raid.' If true, this would signal a sea-change in Israel’s approach to the blockade fiasco; Israeli public diplomacy has been aggressive in painting the blockade-busters as violent terrorists."

03 July, 2010 - u2r2h blog: "Israel's public diplomacy efforts are called hasbara in Hebrew. Hasbara, also spelt hasbarah, is a noun that literally means 'explanation'. The term has been used by the State of Israel and by supporters of Israel to describe their efforts to explain Israeli government policies, and to promote Israel to the world at large. Detractors view hasbara as a euphemism for propaganda."

Russian 101: R-Rated PD – Lena, Global Chaos: "Apparently, someone in R[ussia]T[oday] America (the U.S. bureau, that is) came up with the brilliant idea of taking up a similar task: teaching basic Russian. The originality of the idea, however, was that it was to be done in (how should I put it...?) a 'special way.' ... Of course, at attempt to tap into the 'already existing' fame of the self-anointed 'Sexiest Philologist in the World',

might sound like a good idea. Sex sells, after all. The tragedy of this case, however, is that RT is supposedly the official mouthpiece of Russia. By offering such 'language lessons', not only is RT capturing the more 'sexually oriented' audiences, but it is also referring to, and thus, perpetuating, the very sad stereotype about Russian women. If this is how RT envisions Russian public diplomacy and broadcasting, then Moscow better forget about improving international public opinion, especially in the U.S., on Russia and its people.” Philologist image from

Coordinator for International Exchange Student Program (Ithaca) - Telecommute Anywhere: "Join the staff of The Laurasian Institution (TLI) in creating the very best exchange environment for both students and families. Take pride in working with colleagues who share your commitment to quality exchange. Benefit from the flexibility of setting your own schedules and time commitments. Selection of quality host schools and host families is key to achieving the program?s educational, cross-cultural, and public diplomacy goals, including helping the exchange student achieve familiarity with life in the U.S. and better understand American culture. ... Stipend: $1,000 per exchange student placement."

RELATED ITEMS

Defense chief tightens interview rules after McChrystal episode - AP, USA Today: Defense Secretary Robert Gates ordered military officials Friday to get Pentagon clearance for interviews and other media contacts after President Obama fired the top general in Afghanistan for embarrassing comments in a magazine article.

Gates' order, which is effective immediately, tells officials to make sure they are not going out of bounds or unintentionally releasing information that the Pentagon wants to hold back. Stanley McChrystal stunned his bosses with criticism and complaints in a Rolling Stone article that his superiors did not know was coming. "We were not happy with the content, and we were not happy that we didn't know about it," Assistant Defense Secretary Douglas Wilson said this week. Image from

Elusive goals in Afghanistan: Unless the U.S. can get Karzai to provide for his citizens to draw support from the Taliban, there will be no victory - Editorial, latimes.com

Charles Krauthammer's propaganda - Glenn Greenwald, Salon: It's anything but news that Charles Krauthammer is a rank propagandist. He lambastes the Obama administration for what he calls its "absurd and embarrassing refusal . . . to acknowledge who out there is trying to kill Americans and why."


Krauthammer wants to incite Americans to hate Islam and blame it for Terrorism, and any evidence suggesting a causal relationship between U.S. policy and the anti-American sentiment that fuels it -- including (though not only) U.S. support for Israeli violence -- must be suppressed and ignored. Krauthammer image from

China Puts Best Face Forward With News Channel - David Barboza, New York Times: The Xinhua News Agency, China’s dominant news service and the propaganda arm of the Communist Party, introduced a 24-hour English-language news channel and is preparing to open a prominent newsroom in Times Square, part of an expensive push to increase the reach and influence of the Chinese news media overseas. Image from article 1china Xinhua, China's official news agency, introduced CNC World, a 24-hour English-language news channel, at a news conference in Beijing on Thursday. The expansion comes as many Western news media are cutting back.

AP Reports on Cuban Regime's Latest Propaganda Exploitation of Elian Gonzalez - Ken Shepherd, NewsBusters: As is its custom from time to time, the Castro regime trotted out former refugee Elian Gonzalez for PR purposes yesterday. This time the cause of celebration was the 10th anniversary of the young man's return to the Communist regime on June 28, 2000.

Japanese Propaganda: Front (1941-45) - erinbarnett, Fans in a Flashbulb: Published under the auspices of the Eastern Way Company or Toho-sha, Front was created by the Japanese Army’s intelligence bureau and civilian editors, photographers, and graphic designers as a vehicle of pro-military propaganda for foreign audiences.

Mitsui, Mitsubishi, Sumitomo, and other companies that relied on military contracts financed the publication. According to internal documents cited in Barak Kushner’s The Thought War: Japanese Imperial Propaganda (2006), Front‘s focus was “proclaiming to the Chinese and other nations the Japanese empire’s true form in this time of extreme international change.” Published in fifteen languages, Front focused on all aspects of Japan’s military engagements in Asia including issues dedicated to the Imperial Navy, the Imperial Army, and Manchuria. Image from article

Fighting the Nazi propaganda machine [Review of Travels In The Reich Edited by Oliver Lubrich University of Chicago Press, $30, 336 pages] - Martin Rubin, Washington Times: In marked contrast to the shameful reportage on Russia by such correspondents as the New York Times' Walter Duranty, which turned a blind eye to the savagery of Soviet policy from the show trials to the mass starvation engendered by its economic programs, American correspondents in Berlin, represented here by William L. Shirer and Howard K. Smith, did an excellent job of resisting the unparalleled diabolical and effective propaganda machine of Joseph Goebbels.

ONE MORE QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

“stability operations.”

--What soldiers today would call combat operations — hunting insurgents, joint raids between Iraqi security forces and United States Special Forces to kill or arrest militants — will be called in Iraq

DOCUMENT

Original Message-----
From: Brooks, Rosa CIV OSD POLICY


Sent: Monday, June 28, 2010 4:11 PM

To: NAMES REDACTED
Subject: Yes, "PSYOP" is changing to "MISO"

All,

USDP sought clarification from SecDef and reports that he is comfortable
with a complete PSYOP name change, from PSYOP to Military Information
Support Operations ("MISO" - sounds like a soup, but what can you do? I
guess we could also keep saying MIS).

ADM Olson and GEN Casey's emails and related message traffic have
already leaked out, so now that we have clarity on SD's views, we will
need to move quickly to inform key Congressional and interagency
players, and respond to media queries with this information. (Walter
Pincus from Wash Post as already queried us). My hope is that this will
not be a big deal, but given the sensitivities around PYSOP and the
PSYOP budget, you never know.

Key points to make if asked: This is just a terminological change, not
a substantive change. The term PSYOP was anachronistic and misleading;
Military Information Support is a more accurate description of the
activities and programs at issue. We already use the term "Military
Information Support Teams" to describe the PSYOP personnel who deploy to
embassies and provide support to State Dept public diplomacy efforts;
this more thoroughgoing terminological shift will make our terminology
consistent and help reduce misunderstandings.

If this generates enough Hill or press interest, we may want to pull
together a one-pager from existing congressional reports to explain what
kinds of activities we are talking about.

Meanwhile, we will work with OGC & Leg Affairs to determine whether
formal congressional notification/legislative change is needed to make
this... officially official.

Rosa

~~~~~~

Rosa Brooks

Senior Advisor to the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy &

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Rule of Law & International
Humanitarian Policy

--From; Brooks image, with following caption: Appearing on the last episode of Tucker on March 14, 2008, Barack Obama fan and LA Times columnist Rosa Brooks grimaces after claiming Obama "probably wasn't listening" in church when Rev. Jeremiah Wright made his controversial statements.

July 2

“it's not just something we consume, it's something we use.”

--Media commentator Clay Shirky, regarding the Internet; image from

BLOG OF INTEREST

DIME BLOG: Information As Power Home Page: The purpose of the Information as Power blog is to generate academic and professional dialog regarding strategic and operational issues surrounding the Information Element of Power.

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

Maximizing the Value and Impact of East African Broadband for Higher Education Judith A. McHale Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Keynote Speech at the East Africa ICT and Higher Education Symposium 2010 - Ethiopian Review

State Department Briefing by Phillip J. Crowley, July 1, 2010 - enewspf.com: "Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Judith McHale was in Kenya today where she met with youth leaders, embassy staff, Kenyan entrepreneurs, and media officials. She also launched the Department of State-sponsored Apps for Africa competition

and met with Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai. You’ll recall she also attended and met with Secretary Clinton last year when the Secretary was in Kenya." Image from

U.S grants Kenya Shs.20m for civic eduaction [sic] – Kenya Broadcasting Corporation: "The U.S government has announced a grant of 20 million shillings to the National Youth Forum to facilitate civic education on the forth-coming referendum. The US Under-Secretary for Public Diplomacy Judith Mc Hale said the educators will be expected to hold televised town hall meetings throughout the country among other means of educating Kenyans on the proposed constitution."

Kenya: U.S. launches East Africa software competition “Apps 4 Africa” - afrik-news.com: "United States Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Judith McHale launched the 'Apps 4 Africa' contest at the Innovation Hub in Nairobi, Kenya, July 1. ... Apps 4 Africa, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, is 'a competition meant to leverage the really exciting technology space in East Africa,' Josh Goldstein, an Appfrica Labs Fellow, said in an interview June 25. The contest challenges local coders and software developers to create software tools that will meet the needs of citizens across East Africa. ... What is most exciting about this contest, Goldstein said, is that it is meant to motivate the creation of local content. 'What that means is [designing] things that are relevant to the needs of everyday people and civil society groups in the region. They have different needs than the tools that are built in the U.S. and Silicon Valley.' ... In East Africa there are 50 million mobile phone subscribers and at least 15 million mobile Web users. The number of information technology graduates and tech entrepreneurs is growing, providing new opportunities to foster social and economic growth."

Thursday, July 01, 2010 - The Common Ills: "Staying with the topic of the US Congress, US House Rep Biill Delahunt's office released the following Tuesday: WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Rep. Bill Delahunt announced today that he would oppose further funding for military operations in Afghanistan. Delahunt, who serves as the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe, said the following: I believe that the time has come for a new approach in Afghanistan. Rather than the massive military and nation-building endeavor currently underway -- that continues to produce dubious results, according to the latest report by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction -- the United States and its allies should focus our energy on combating al Qaeda and its ideology. Most importantly, emphasis should be placed on refuting al Qaeda's twisted perversion of Islam through public diplomacy, development, and other changes in policy that encourage ordinary Muslims to reject the fanatics who are trying to hijack their religion. Until there is such a shift in strategy, I cannot support any further funding for the war in Afghanistan."

Joe Malone Position Paper on US-Israel Relations‎ - Cape Cod Today: "Had I served in Congress during the current term, for example, I would have: ... signed the recent bipartisan letter to Secretary Clinton responding to the Administration’s counterproductive public diplomacy following the Vice President’s visit to Israel.

Joe Malone is a Republican candidate for Congress in the 10th District which includes Cape Cod and the South Shore." Malone Image from article

House and Senate pass permanent authority for Radio Free Asia - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting: "How could anyone in Congress vote against a bill that has 'free' in its name? At the risk of being considered anti-freedom, I would like to argue why, by passing S.3104, the Senate actually did something bad. Just by dint of its expanse, East Asia is one of the most difficult areas of the world to get news out of, and news back into. This is compounded by the shortwave jamming, internet blocking, and satellite dish confiscating of China and other regimes in the region. Successful international broadcasting to this region will require all the resources the United States can muster. The resources of U.S. international broadcasting are, however, divided into two entities, VOA and Radio Free Asia, which compete with each other. Yes, the theory is that RFA transmits news about the target country, and VOA does news about United States and the world in general. If this were true, the audience would have to tune to two U.S. stations to get a complete newscast. Fortunately, the theory is not true. VOA does broadcast news about the target country, in addition to world and U.S. news. This means, however, that VOA and RFA are reporting on many of the same stories, and broadcasting them back to the same audiences. S.3104 perpetuates this unsatisfactory situation. The global media environment has become much more competitive. U.S. international broadcasting will not be equal to the task at hand until it stops competing with itself."

Dolly Parton on Radio Farda. Oh, sorry, but she looks a bit like Dolly Parton - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting

VOA and Pakistan cable channel launch joint English-language program - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting

Cyber Power - Joseph S. Nye, Jr., Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School:

“Abstract: Power depends upon context, and the rapid growth of cyber space is an important new context in world politics. The low price of entry, anonymity, and asymmetries in vulnerability means that smaller actors have more capacity to exercise hard and soft power in cyberspace than in many more traditional domains of world politics. Changes in information have always had an important impact on power, but the cyber domain is both a new and a volatile manmade environment. The characteristics of cyberspace reduce some of the power differentials among actors, and thus provide a good example of the diffusion of power that typifies global politics in this century. The largest powers are unlikely to be able to dominate this domain as much as they have others like sea or air. But cyberspace also illustrates the point that diffusion of power does not mean equality of power or the replacement of governments as the most powerful actors in world politics. ... [p. 6:] Cyber information can also travel through cyberspace to create soft power by attracting citizens in another country. A public diplomacy campaign over the internet is an example. But cyber information can also become a hard power resource that can do damage to physical targets in another country.” Image: Cyber Power Princess from

VOL. VI NO. 13, June 18-July 1, 2010 - The Layalina Review on Public Diplomacy and Arab Media:

"The General in his Afghan Labyrinth
Commander of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan General Stanley McChrystal’s disparaging remarks in an interview with antiwar magazine Rolling Stone brought President Obama to relieve him of command and replace him with General David H Petraeus. While there is a consensus that Obama’s decision was the appropriate response, many have expressed doubts about the future success of US operations in Afghanistan.
Al-Hurra under Criticism; BBG Nominees Get Confirmed
The report by the staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee commissioned by Senator Lugar (R-IN) regarding the state of the BBG criticized Al-Hurra’s performance, citing various reasons, while supporters of the US-funded channel disagree, heralding its success, notably in Iraq.
A Lithium Moment in Afghanistan
News that the American military found $1 trillion worth of mineral deposits in Afghanistan

may turn out to be the result of propaganda efforts to revive and bolster fading popular support for the war in Afghanistan. Image from
Science and Cultural Diplomacy in the News
Despite increased funding being poured into engaging and connecting with other communities, some core programs of public diplomacy have been set aside, hampering US global engagement efforts.
Muslims Disillusionment Growing
A year after the Cairo speech, the Pew Center’s spring survey of global attitudes found that, with the exception of Indonesia, Muslims worldwide have expressed a growing disillusionment with Obama and his foreign policy.
Obama’s Problems of Policy and Popularity
While the gulf oil spill crisis persists, President Obama continues to face mounting criticism and diminishing popularity levels - in America and abroad. Meanwhile, various individuals and groups weigh in on how the president can change his cabinet, his foreign policy strategy and ultimately his lagging popularity.
Technology as a Tool of Empowerment: Playing with Fire?
The State Department has been experimenting with SMS and other new media programs as diplomatic tools to be used all over the world. However, Golnaz Esfandiari believes that the media and the government are giving Twitter too much credit for the opposition's successes in Iran.
Arab Media Still Peddling
Recent joint media attempts, such as the Arab Media Forum and the first Kuwaiti-Syrian Media Forum, call for strengthening inter-Arab dialogue and removing obstacles facing Arab media. However, media restrictions and censorship still threaten media freedom in some Middle Eastern countries.
Israel Attempts to Save its Sinking Image
Although the Israeli government announced an ease of restrictions on goods entering Gaza, Hamas and other Arab governments call for a complete lift of the blockade. Israeli officials and experts gather to pitch ideas about a hasbara (public diplomacy) campaign to restore Israel's image all over the world."

Lords debate Foreign Policy, press release, DeHavilland (subscription):

"Responding to a debate on foreign policy, Foreign Office Minister Lord Howell of Guildford recognised that the world was entering a less ‘western’ age, and one that was in many ways more dangerous and unpredictable." [from Google entry]: "What he did not say was that two days ago he cut the public diplomacy programme in the Foreign Office by £1.6 billion for this year." Image from

Britain’s pragmatic foreign policy - periscopepost.com: "The Financial Times [in a by subscription only article] today praised British foreign secretary William Hague’s first set-piece speech on foreign policy. ... Hague ... signalled a greater British commitment to public diplomacy, quoting Lord Salisbury’s observation that it is no longer sufficient to 'float lazily downstream, occasionally putting out a diplomatic boat hook to avoid collisions'." PDPBR compiler's note: An email was sent to the British Council requesting clarification on the apparent inconsistency of the content of the two above entries.

Thai officials condemn planned Chinese dams - Simon Roughneen, Financial Times: "Thai officials have spoken out against the Chinese government’s plan to build 12 hydropower dams on the Mekong river, on the grounds that the development will cause further environmental damage to the waterway. ... China recently brought lawmakers from the four MRC countries to Yunnan province, in a rare public diplomacy initiative designed to soothe concerns about Chinese activity on the river."

Brand Ghana's Football Diplomacy on the move: 2010 FIFA World Cup and beyond - Jean Yaw Twum Lukaz, modernghana.com: "The question is, if sports should actively become a tool of public diplomacy, must it be a government function or must it be privatized? Government led public diplomacy creates distrust in an environment where the publics are prejudiced against the nation brand. To be effective, public diplomacy must be a function of publics, not governments and the best way to practise public diplomacy is through ordinary people. Only private actors have got the credibility to make a difference.

This means building relationships in the spheres of everyday life in sports, business, arts and entertainment. These forms of connection are important because they promote a two-way conversation. ... If Football means so much to governments as their Public Diplomacy tool, why would they gamble with ineffective coaches who may not necessarily share the national vision? Maybe the Italians, British and Americans would need a New Public Diplomacy Strategy incorporating football as a full-time cultural institution. Or maybe it should just be football and no politics? Have sports really a place in foreign policy? Can sports be a proactive tool instead of its usual reactive position?" Image from

An encounter with Azerbaijan - Vignesh Ashok, Cherwell Online: "What kind of services does the embassy offer for members of the public? The embassy provides information to anyone who wishes to visit or work in Azerbaijan. We also provide a wide-variety of services for Azeri citizens living in the United Kingdom. Besides consular work, the embassy actively engages in both cultural and public diplomacy. Our diplomats have given talks in several universities including a recent talk by the Deputy Foreign Minister at the Oxford Union. Over the last year, we have hosted several cultural events such as ‘Hundred days of Azerbaijani Culture,' where Azeri culture, dance, music and food were promoted. In an effort to promote the fine arts, we actively support musicians, painters and other Azeri artists who are in the UK."

Leftist Doublethink in Another " New Cold War" - Karl Naylor Central-Eastern Europe Watch:

"If there is any legacy left from the Old Cold War, it lies in the sphere of influence exerted by rhetoric and what is now termed 'public diplomacy', that is, mass propaganda which newly emerging states such as Venezuela have been using for using external threats to consolidate domestic authority." Image from

RELATED ITEMS

U.S. embassy launches campaign to correct errors in Pakistani media - Karin Brulliard, Washington Post: The U.S. Embassy in Pakistan for nearly eight months has issued statements countering every major error about American foreign policy that it finds in Pakistan's boisterous media. It's a herculean task that embassy officials say has been undertaken by no other U.S. mission in the world -- because nowhere else, those officials say, does U.S. policy face such disdain and misrepresentation. Television, where 70 percent of Pakistanis get their news and anti-Western venom flows, may be the biggest arbiter of public opinion. The embassy rarely issues corrections about television reports, which are too numerous to monitor. Via PBC.

USAID compound attacked in Afghanistan; 4 killed - Amir Shah, The Associated Press, Washington Post: The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, which began about 3:30 a.m. in Kunduz when a suicide car bomber blew a hole in the wall around a building used by Development Alternatives Inc., a Washington, D.C.-based global consulting company on contract with the United States Agency for International Aid, or USAID. The company is working on governance and community development in the area.

The Myth of Modern Jihad - Robert Wright, New York Times: Maybe America can win the war on terrorism without winning the war in Afghanistan.

Terror -- and candor in describing the Islamist ideology behind it -

Charles Krauthammer, Washington Post: The administration's cowardice about identifying those trying to kill us cannot be allowed to pass. It is demoralizing. It trivializes the war between jihadi barbarism and Western decency, and diminishes the memory of those (including thousands of brave Muslims -- Iraqi, Pakistani, Afghan and Western) who have died fighting it. Image from

Afghanistan and the 'Resource Curse': With its newly discovered mineral wealth, it could end up like Nigeria. Or like Mexico - Stephen Haber And Victor Menaldo, Wall Street Journal (subscription)

Iran Sanctions: Where We Go From Here: A coordinated strategy by the U.S. and the European Union will determine success or failure - Stuart E. Eizenstat, Wall Street Journal (subscription)

Pincus article on military information activities is part literature review, part ignorance – Matt Armstrong, MountainRunner.us

New Xinhua English-language news channel "not a propaganda station." Which, if true, would really be news – Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting

'Toy Story 3' flops in Russia: The blockbuster has surprisingly frigid box-office results in one of the hottest international markets for animated movies - Ben Fritz, Los Angeles Times: People familiar with the Russian movie market point to a variety of factors that have hurt the movie, including unseasonably warm weather that sent many children fleeing the oppressive heat of cities to stay with relatives in the cooler countryside.

But perhaps the crucial reason, they say, is that Russians are unfamiliar with the story and characters because the first two "Toy Story" movies were released in the 1990s, before the country's recent explosion in theater growth. Image from article: Jessie, Buzz Lightyear and Woody return in "Toy Story 3," a blockbuster in many countries. But in Russia, the Pixar film is doing surprisingly poorly.

The NYT: We Changed Reality Because Cheney Wanted Us To – Andrew Sullivan, The Daily Dish: If newspapers will not defend the English language from the propaganda of war criminals, who will? When historians look back and try to understand how the US came to be a country that legitimizes torture, the New York Times will be seen to have played an important role in euphemizing it, enabling it, and entrenching it. Via PDC

June 30-July 1

“In my last three years in the [State] Department, I have not had any interaction with non-Americans.”

--Digger, A Foreign Service officer, in her blog, Life After Jerusalem: The Musings Of A Two-Spirit American Indian, Public Diplomacy-Coned Foreign Service Officer; image from

“It has always seemed to me the real art in this business is not so much moving information or guidance or policy five or 10,000 miles. That is an electronic problem. The real art is to move it the last three feet in face to face conversation.”

--Edward R. Murrow, director of the United States Information Agency (USIA), which handled outreach to foreign audiences during the Kennedy administration and the Cold War, on ABC TV’s “Issues and Answers,” August 4, 1963

IMAGES FOR THE DAY


"Compare the propagandistic photograph on the right ... used by Germans in 1941 to show that Lithuanians welcomed their invasion (depicting citizens pulling down a statue of an oppressive Communist ruler, likely Lenin), to the virtually identical, iconic photograph on the left of the staged scene of Iraqis 'celebrating' the American invasion by pulling down a statue of Saddam."

--From Glenn Greenwald, The Universality of War Propaganda; see also John Brown, "They Got It Down": The Toppling of the Saddam Statue (CounterPunch, April 12, 2003); images from article

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

Kenyan MPs under fire over pay hike‎ - Sarah Wambui, Capital FM: "National Youth Forum co-convener Joshua Odhiambo on Thursday said Kenya’s leadership was tainted with self-centered individuals who are not focused on developmental issues. He asked Kenyans to vote for the proposed Constitution saying it would seal all loopholes in the law that created room for manipulation. ... The stand taken by the National Youth Forum was made after a meeting with the United States Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Judith McHale in Nairobi. Ms McHale who is on a tour to help foster US relations with the rest of the world including Kenya is also scheduled to meet President Mwai Kibaki. She applauded the country’s top leadership for its efforts in ensuring that Kenyans were educated on the contents of the proposed new law. 'This is a moment in time when Kenyans have an opportunity to go out and vote on a Constitution which will represent a law for the 21st century,' she said."

Museveni holds talks with senior US official - Anne Mugisa, New Vision – "President Yoweri Museveni has held talks with a senior US administration official who has been on a visit to Uganda. Judith McHale, the American under-secretary for public affairs and public diplomacy, met Museveni on Monday at the State House Entebbe. The two talked about trade, investment and development in Africa, according to a statement released from State House yesterday."

Technology adoption in Africa key to development, says US official - Charles W. Corey, Mshale News, African Community Newspaper: "Hailing the spirit of entrepreneurship across Africa, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Judith McHale called on all Africans to quickly embrace changing technology and a host of transparent reforms that can aid economic growth across the continent. She pledged continued U.S. support for that effort.

Speaking in Uganda at the Verizon Symposium on Internet connectivity June 28, McHale said, 'East Africa cannot afford to be on the sidelines. The potential here is enormous.' The June 28-29 symposium in Uganda was organized by U.S. telecom firm Verizon Communications and other partners to discuss the arrival of new broadband Internet access in East Africa. The connection will link it with the rest of the world and thus stimulate educational opportunities and economic growth and development across the region."

The US Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo: The Power of that Last Three Feet - Patricia H. Kushlis, Whirled View: "[I]t’s the individual American guides personally connecting with the mostly young Chinese visitors that makes the USA Pavilion so unique from the others. It’s also likely a major reason that this pavilion is the second most popular at the fair outranked only by China’s own. Whoever was involved in making the decision to include the guides – a decision based, I might add, on the young US Russian speaking guides who had made the US government exhibits to the Soviet Union during the Cold War so popular – deserves kudos. ... In China, politics is culture. The French consider culture as power. These values are very close in meaning because, after all, power is the bedrock of politics. Yet, sadly, after all these years, the US government has seemingly not figured this simple equation out. Nevertheless, in a very real sense, the dynamism and creativity of real life American youth is, in reality, an invisible cultural linchpin in an ever changing society that we as Americans take all too much for granted."

Obama set to be a champion of geeks‎ - National: "While Mr Obama’s speech in Cairo was directed towards Muslims around the world, the fruits of his policies are focused on those living within nations that enjoy a good diplomatic relationship with the US. An entrepreneur in Damascus may aspire towards a Silicon Valley way of life and doing business but until the relationship between his country’s leaders and the US improves, he will not have access to the opportunities Mr Obama’s administration is now extending to those in Amman or Cairo. Conditions such as these may rub some of the positive shine off of OPIC’s [the government-owned Overseas Private Investment Corporation] historic investment in Arab entrepreneurs. But it also reflects the reality of American public diplomacy and the limits of goodwill."

Bin Laden eyes on Bangladesh - Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury, Weekly Blitz: "Osama Bin Laden remains the un-rivaled hero and leader of Muslim youths aspiring to join the Jihadist. His efforts to inspire young Muslims to jihad against the U.S.-led West seem to be proving fruitful. Easily accessible satellite television and Internet streaming video will broaden Muslim youths' perception that the West is anti-Islamic. U.S. public diplomacy cannot negate the impressions formed by real-time video from Palestine, Iraq, and Afghanistan that shows Muslims battling 'aggressive' Western forces and validating bin Laden's claim that the West intends to destroy Islam."

Proactive Leadership in Afghanistan: Saad Mohseni - Bobak Moazami, bacharachblog.com: "Saad Mohseni is Afghanistan’s first captain of industry and chairman of Moby Group. In this week’s New Yorker, Ken Auletta profiles Mohensi who owns radio and television networks, an advertising agency, a movie production company, and many other businesses. Mohseni’s rise is important to American concerns in the region and may offer a view into what a post-occupied Afghan economy could look like. ... 'Without United States support, Saad Mohseni could not have succeeded at what he did' Auletta writes, 'He needed that infrastructure, that capital expense that the government supported.' Currently USAID sponsors 'On the Road' a weekly reality show. Starting next year the State Department will pay for another program about, in the words of David Ensor, director of communications and public diplomacy at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, 'cops who may be tempted by bribes but don’t take them.'”

The Battle Of The Logos - Ben Brophy, malariapolicycenter.org: "The combination of fragmented authorities and overlapping bureaucracies in our current assistance framework is watering down public diplomacy efforts. Foreign assistance is a crucial part of public diplomacy. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks eloquently about the need for 'smart power' in these challenging times. Her predecessor, Condoleezza Rice, emphasized the ability for 'diplomacy by deeds' to shape our image in far off lands. Whatever the terminology, the concept is straightforward: America enhances its image, and its prospects, when it is seen to be helping those in need. Words are the currency of traditional diplomacy, but tangible deeds can be more eloquent than any cable or speech or public statement."

Considering Water Diplomacy - Philip Seib, Huffington Post: "The institute's [the Institute for Water, Lee Kuan Yew School at the National University of Singapore] director, Professor Seetharam Kallidaikurichi, has set forth an ambitious agenda, which includes studies of water governance, evaluations of global water quality, and recommendations about best practices in water management.

The vitality and seriousness with which the institute addresses such issues is a reminder that water-related assistance is an underused tool of public diplomacy. Rather than an 'advertising' approach to public diplomacy ('We are wonderful! Love us!'), water diplomacy answers a crucial question often asked by recipients of public diplomacy efforts but just as often ignored by public diplomacy planners: 'What can you do for us?'" Image from

Reflections on American Academy's Report: Do Scientists Understand the Public?‎ - ScienceBlogs: "The focus on two-way dialogue and learning between experts, stakeholders, and the public is also one of the major recommendations of the recent National Academies' report on Adapting to the Impacts of Climate Change. .... The strongest recent resource I can recommend on public engagement is The Handbook of Public Communication of Science and Technology, published in 2008. Of particular relevance to the American Academy report is the chapter by Alan Irwin, dean of research at Copenhagen Business School and a leading theorist in the area of science and society. Irwin argues that the deficit model approach to communication represents 'first order' thinking about science-society relations, while the emphasis of the American Academy report can be characterized as 'second order' thinking, proposing bottom up participation, two-way dialogue, the building of trust, and the ultimate goal of reaching consensus. Yet what's still missing, argues Irwin, is 'third stage' thinking about science and society, an evolution in views and practice which involves deeper consideration about the governance of science-related issues and policy decisions. As I commented at Dot Earth, it's not clear to me that the science community realizes the full implications of public engagement and there's a useful analogy to U.S. public diplomacy. In Irwin's classification, we have yet to really approach third order thinking. Current innovative approaches designed to broker dialogue, for example, are often in practice just another version of the deficit model."

Obama’s Public Diplomacy From Haiti Wears Combat Boots – gamepirates.net: “Countries like France are exactly right to call US actions in Haiti as 'occupation' even if it is not true, because in case you haven’t noticed, every US spokesman on TV and covered in press conferences involved in public diplomacy from the ground in Haiti wears Tactical boots. ... If we want the UN and Haitian government to be in charge in Haiti, then we need a strong civilian counterpart to deal with the civilian political challenges. ... Without better US political leadership to work with the UN and NGOs ... the DoD will have to pick up the slack – again making our public diplomacy effort inside Haiti one with military boots.”

International Visitors - Digger, A Foreign Service Officer, in her blog, Life After Jerusalem: The Musings Of A Two-Spirit American Indian, Public Diplomacy-Coned Foreign Service Officer: "One of the programs I think the Department in general and public diplomacy in particular does really well is the International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP). IVLP is designed to identify future leaders in a country and bring them to the United States for a visit. The idea is to find them early and introduce them to US culture, government, etc. One returning IV said, 'It is impossible to participate in this program and not be a friend of the U.S. forever.' I certainly hope so. So last week we learned about the program, and today, we all participated in "openings," or the first meetings for new IVs. I was alone with an individual IV. She is young, but clearly super active. I am not sure she sleeps. Getting to meet her and talk about the work she is doing in her country (which for her privacy I won't detail here) reminded me once again why I am glad to be in the Foreign Service."

At long last, broadcasting agency nominees to move forward‎ - Josh Rogin, Foreign Policy: "After months of gridlock, the Senate is finally set to confirm all eight of President Obama's nominees for the Broadcasting Board of Governors, the independent agency that oversees U.S. media efforts abroad, now that Sen. Tom Coburn has agreed to lift his holds on the nominees. ... So ends a long period of uncertainty at the BBG, where only four out of the eight board members held over from the Bush administration still remain. The full Senate could confirm all eight nominees by Wednesday night by unanimous consent, according to Senate sources. ... Last month, VOA management shook up the staffing of PNN by removing Alex Belida as director of PNN and firing PNN executive editor Hida Fouladvand. The staff at PNN, who believe they are simply pursuing balanced journalism whether or not it conforms with U.S. foreign-policy messaging, saw the move as a carrot to Coburn in exchange for him letting the board members go through. A spokesman for VOA rejected that explanation. 'VOA Director Dan Austin decided it was time to make a change and continue the progress PNN has been making,' he said. 'Alex Belida, who served as PNN director with distinction from September 2008, is now working with VOA's critical South Asia division to improve that division's programming to Afghanistan and Pakistan.'"

Finally: Broadcasting Board of Governors nominees are confirmed – Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting

On the Right Wavelength - Martha Bayles, World Affairs: "Last week the Senate actually did something good. It unanimously passed a bill (S. 3104) to authorize funding for Radio Free Asia (RFA) on a permanent — as opposed to a temporary — basis. Co-sponsored by Dick Lugar, R-Ind., Ted Kaufman, D-Del., Al Franken, D-Min., Dan Inouye, D-Hawaii, Jim Risch, R-Idaho, and Jim Webb, D-Va., the bill 'indicates the importance we place on the free flow of information, particularly in countries noted for their lack of an open press,' said Lugar."

Former Bush, Reid aides approved for broadcasting board - Paul Kane, Washington Post. Via LB

Meeting Of the US Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy‎ - US Department of State: "The U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy will hold a public meeting on July 20, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the conference room of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) located at 1850 K Street, NW, Fifth Floor, Washington, D.C. 20006. ... The Commission is a bipartisan panel created by Congress in 1948 to assess public diplomacy policies and programs of the U.S. government and of publicly funded nongovernmental organizations. The Commission reports its findings and recommendations to the President, the Congress, the Secretary of State, and the American people."

Obama Appoints McCulley as US Ambassador-designate to Nigeria‎ - Paul Ibe, THISDAY - "United States President Barack Obama on Monday nominated Mr. Terence P. McCulley


as Ambassador-designate to Nigeria. He will replace Ambassador Ms. Robin Renee Sanders [who] ... served ... as Director for Public Diplomacy for Africa for the State Department (2000-2002)." U.S. Army Gen. William E. "Kip" Ward (left), Malian President Amadou Toumani Toure and U.S. Ambassador to Mali Terence McCulley, share a moment at the presidential palace here February 26, 2008. Image: U.S. Army Gen. William E. "Kip" Ward (left), Malian President Amadou Toumani Toure and U.S. Ambassador to Mali Terence McCulley, share a moment at the presidential palace here February 26, 2008

UK - MFA - Foreign Secretary's statement on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's programmes spending - ISRIA: "The Foreign Secretary's statement to the House of Commons on the review of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's programmes spending. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, William Hague: I have decided that we will: ... - Cut our public diplomacy programmes by £1.6m this financial year, focusing on strategic communications to key overseas audiences, while seeking (resources permitting) to sustain this programme in future years."

What Is Israel Doing Wrong? No more Mr. Nice Guy. It’s time for Israel to toughen up - David Solway, pajamasmedia.com:

"[I]t is obvious that Israel has failed miserably to carry out an effective hasbara program, that is, public diplomacy, the circulation of information, pro-Israel activism. There is now a powerful psychological dimension in the war that is being waged against the Jewish state, a new media front in which the country is being demonstrably trounced. It is the Palestinians who have won the day with the clever deployment of its propaganda arsenal, in other words, disinformation, historical falsifications, and outright lies, the kind one sees animating the slanderous, campus-sponsored 'Israel Apartheid Weeks.' ... Israel should have invested — and should invest — enormous resources in a hasbara campaign, not only in an attempt to apprise people of Israel’s historical and incontrovertible legal claims to the Holy Land, but to ferret out the motives and biographical facts of its enemies, including Jewish anti-Semites and anti-Zionists." Image from

EU accused of meddling in Israeli democracy‎ - Leigh Phillips, EUobserver.com: "An archly conservative group with strong links to the Israeli government has attacked the human rights community in the Jewish state, saying that it is being bankrolled by the EU in a secretive attempt to undermine democracy. Israeli diplomats are touting in Brussels the 'investigative' work of NGO Monitor, a body which claims that a clutch of officials in the heart of the EU is plotting to 'delegitimise' Israel by funding local human rights organisations. Professor Gerald Steinberg, NGO Monitor president, was in Brussels last week speak MEPs and Israel's EU mission promoted his work among journalists. The EU gives 'public funds to a small group of opposition groups in an effort to manipulate the political process,' he told eurodeputies. ... He compared the sums, amounting to 68.8 million shekels (€15 million) since 2006 for Israeli civil society groups including B'Tselem, Peace Now, the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, Mossawa and Physicians for Human Rights Israel, whom he terms 'radical fringe' NGOs, to the €15 million annually Israel spends internationally on its public diplomacy efforts."

Europe's crisis is China's opportunity‎ - Antonaeta Becker, Asia Times Online: "When China designed the 2010 Universal Expo in Shanghai as a showcase for its new public diplomacy, it probably did not envision the exhibition would play a much bigger role as a magnet for recession-hit European businesses. A series of trade missions has traveled to Shanghai in the past two months, wooing Chinese investors in an attempt to boost Europe's weakened economies."

Human Link Is the Strongest between Syria and Venezuela‎ - Day Press News: "President Bashar al-Assad and Mrs. Asma al-Assad met on Monday members of the Syrian community in Venezuela in the presence of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. ... The President said the world only respects the strong…If we are not strong, we will not be respected and we will not be heard by mass media…We will not also have a decision or any real thing on the ground and this

is what they call 'Public Diplomacy'. President al-Assad continued 'Truly, we have built our policy on the ground and we left the 'Public Diplomacy' for them…We differentiate between this diplomacy and politics as the latter is built on the ground. We must know that the national decisions are more important than the international ones and this is what we do in Syria as we signed the United Nations Charter, but we signed it to be implemented not to be transformed into double standard.'" Image from article

‎Azerbaijani official: Country satisfied with U.S., Russian and French presidents' statement on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict - Trend News Agency (subscription): From Google entry: ... “’the three presidents are in fact committed to continue accompanying this process, or whether this was a mere exercise of public diplomacy,’ Simao noted.”

ERKÜ esimees kohtus USA Suursaadikuga Tallinnas - estosite.org: Mention of public diplomacy

Hughes: Obama 'passive' on oil spill - Daniel Strauss, Politico: "Former Bush administration adviser Karen Hughes said Tuesday that former President Bush would have handled the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico much better than President Barack Obama. The former Bush administration strategist and former head of public diplomacy for the State Department criticized Obama’s response as “almost unbelievably passive.”

Don Pablo Quijote hath been stricken down - Paul Rockower, Levantine: "I awoke in the midday hours feeling far better and headed on to my day of public diplomacy knight errantry.

A PD knight is like a medieval Cal Ripkin, always suiting up for battle." Image from

Internship - Voice of America - workforcongress.com: "Are you interested in gaining substantive experience in the fields of journalism, public diplomacy, foreign policy, or program evaluation..?" [full document by subscription only].

RELATED ITEMS

Propaganda, stir-fried and roasted - Francesco Sisci, Asia Times: Ideas and good writing may be fun, good music can be soothing, the cinema and theater are certainly entertaining, and sports and video games are heart-racing. All that is good and well, and all are the flesh and blood of the soft power that many countries try to build and whose management the United States has possibly mastered. Still, all these forms of influence on people's minds and souls come to nothing if compared to the old, solid conduit to the deeper recesses of the spirit, touching directly the deeper entrails of the body: food. China should be more than

aware of the value of food and the potential of its own cuisine in a time of competition for soft power. Yet, except for a few isolated prophets of delicacies who cater to the needs of a few of the world's rich and famous, few of the Chinese ideologues appreciate the propaganda value of food. But at the same time, the three powerful arms of the party line - the People's Daily, the New China News Agency and Central Television - have been richly financed in their expansion programs abroad. Despite the inefficiencies of official propaganda abroad, the unofficial and unintentional propaganda of food wins. Image from

China sets up news spokesman system – People’s Daily: China has established a news spokesman system in 11 CPC Central Committee departments and units, 31 provinces and half of district cities, the Central Foreign Propaganda Office announced today. "The promotion of Party affairs publicity and enhancement of the transparency of Party works are set targets that we must constantly push forward," said Guo Weimin, news spokesman of the International Communication Office of the CPC Central Committee. It is reported that currently the Communist Party of China has carried out various forms of communication and cooperation with 160 countries and 570 political parties and political organizations.

Al-Qaida Launches English Propaganda Magazine - ToTheCenter.com: Terror group al-Qaida wants to reach more people beyond the Muslim world. On Tuesday, it launched an English-language propaganda magazine that will target potential recruits in the U.S. and in Europe. The magazine is being run by al-Qaida in Yemen, the same terror group linked to the failed Christmas Day bombing attempt of a Detroit-bound airliner. "Inspire" features articles such as "How to Make a Bomb In the Kitchen of Your Mom," "What to Expect in Jihad" and a tutorial on sending and receiving encrypted messages. The magazine hit the web on Wednesday, but only three of its 67 pages were legible. The remaining 64 were garbled computer code.

We must crush the Taliban and Al Qaeda in a 'long war' in Afghanistan: Our policy chaos over Afghanistan shows that counter-terrorism's objectives are too limited to keep Pakistan's nuclear arsenal in safe hands, and its resources too inadequate to destroy the Taliban – John Bolton, Los Angeles Times

Pakistan's dual policy on Taliban: Pakistan sees the possibility of American success diminishing in Afghanistan and has a Plan B for a post-American relationship - Rajan Menon, latimes.com

After Afghan Shift, Top U.S. Civilians Face Tricky Future - Mark Landler, New York Times: The McChrystal blow-up

has reverberated through the State Department. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton instructed Ambassador Eikenberry and Mr. Holbrooke to take a hard look at the civilian team, two officials said. She is not wedded to the current lineup if it continues to bog down in internecine battles, they said. Image from

Did you hear? Did you hear the news...? - Lena, Global Chaos: No matter what the leaders say in an effort to downplay the effect of the case on the bilateral relationship, it is the public opinion, especially in the U.S., that's going to bear the loss. After all, it plays in well into the pre-existing stereotypes and nostalgia that many seem just too happy to revive. Well done, FBI, with this PR move.

Spy story pure propaganda – ex-MI5 officer – Russia Today: “There is a whole range of layers” behind the recent arrests of alleged spies in the US, believes former MI5 officer, Annie Machon, “with political being only one of them.” “The intelligence agencies in the US have been very much under attack for the last year or two, for a whole number of reasons,” Machon explained. “They were involved in things like extraordinary renditions, torture, surveillance of domestic political activists. So to go back to a good old-fashioned Cold War spy story and regain a bit of credibility, I think, is something they would probably aspire to.” In addition, Machon suggested that competition among intelligence agencies could be another reason behind the arrests. “Within the intelligence world there are competing agencies. I think at the last count, there are 17 agencies in the US, and they all vie for position and prestige and resources and staff numbers. So of course, if the FBI can produce this wonderful result suddenly, out of the blue, then their credit will skyrocket.” Image from article 1arus

Uncle Sam Needs You Now - Chris Haugh, Daily Californian: Propaganda campaigns were commonplace in the 1940s as the United States government prepared for shortages of basic materials, like foodstuffs and human capital, by launching massive propaganda initiatives. Victory gardens, or war gardens,

were intended to engage the home front to help lessen the burdens of war on troops and government coffers. People were expected to plant vegetables and fruits, enlist, or at least purchase war bonds because war necessitated a national response, as war should. Today, on the home front, it seems we have forgotten we are at war. Whether you agree with the justification for either or both conflicts, or are disgruntled with the most basic underpinnings of the Global War on Terrorism, the point still stands that we are a nation at war. Image from

[Viewpoint] Propaganda just isn't enough‎ - Kwon Young-bin, JoongAng Daily: The Cheonan tragedy [the sinking of a South Korean navy ship by North Korea] morphed into an entirely different phenomenon as midterm elections neared. Words of mourning and consolation turned into war talk. The government declared it would stage the joint Korea-U.S. military drill ahead of its previous autumn schedule and erect propaganda loudspeakers along the border for the first time in more than a decade. The North threatened to fire at the loudspeakers if they broadcasted propaganda. The war-sensitive young voters turned against the government. Their revolt at the polls during the June elections helped to defeat the ruling party, a boomerang effect of the government’s war talk.

Time Magazine: What Counts as Propaganda Against Israel? - Phyllis Chesler, posterous.com: Propaganda works, word by word when it is repeated day after day, year after year. The aim of such propaganda is to render Israel a pariah among nations — so that proposals for its elimination will seem reasonable and will achieve as welcome a reception as have the narratives about Israel murdering little Muhammad Al-Dura, committing a massacre in Jenin, harvesting Palestinian organs, and attacking non-violent humanitarians on a boat.

Perception and Propaganda – Utopia: As the blind lead the blind, the propagandist mentality becomes so commonplace and psychological deception so pervasive that it leaves modern civilization severed from any sort of order or higher sense of justice which necessarily entails the world in its completeness with everything in its proper place.

Nowhere is this more evident than in government and business, whose target audience is treated in the lowest manner possible in order to get them to buy the garbage they’re selling. The propagandist mentality has entirely rotted democracy to a mere shell, which by black magick springs back to life by its new appeal to global opinion. Use of propaganda here relies on the practice of a scapegoat to unite against some imagined evil in the hope of returning to a posited better time. In so doing, the democratic faithful must treat all dissenting opinions as insane, or that which exists outside of the accepted political ideologies as radical and dangerous. Image from