May 5

"Barack Obama is a brand."

--Commentator Chris Hedges; image from

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

America's Next Move on Public Diplomacy - Tara Sonenshine, Sheldon Himelfarb, Huffington Post: "Judith McHale, the former CEO of Discovery Communications, has been named, subject to Senate confirmation, America's next Undersecretary of Public Diplomacy. …

Ms. McHale will no doubt understand, from her experience with Discovery Communications, that the key ingredient to a successful public diplomacy strategy lies in networking and collaborating with people around the world and meeting them where they are -- on Facebook, on the web, in the public square. We have to be in listening mode: open to criticism and receptive and responsive to ordinary citizens who are joining what Ms. McHale's predecessor, James Glassman, called 'the grand conversation' -- the interface of ordinary people chatting, debating, and discussing the world." McHale image from

Today on the Hill – Washington Post, May 5: "Foreign Relations (2:15 p.m.) - S.Res.49, to express the sense of the Senate regarding the importance of public diplomacy."

Kerry-Lugar Bill: An Opportunity for Democratic Pakistan - Madhavion, The Trajectory: "In the words of John Kerry, the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act (Kerry-Lugar bill) seeks to 'fundamentally change America’s relationship with the people of Pakistan.' … The purpose of the Kerry-Lugar bill is transformational: instead of a transactional, tactically-driven set of short-term exercises in crisis-management, Kerry and Lugar aim to build a deeper, broader, long-term strategic engagement with the people (and not just the leaders) of Pakistan. A premise underlying the Kerry-Lugar approach is a simple thought-exercise: Following the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, the United States devoted nearly $1 billion to relief efforts and reaped a greater reward in popular support than any amount of public diplomacy could generate." Three-step transformation image from

One hundred days in Obamistan - Mosharraf Zaidi Website: "The failure of President Obama’s first hundred days in Pakistan is that the warmth that is involved in every new US mission to Islamabad seems more show and tell than it does real. This may be a deeply dysfunctional country of 172 million, but dysfunction does not mean disabled. Pakistanis are not stupid. Especially not the ones that run interference for Team GHQ. Obama Democrats can try to flame President Reagan all they please, but the Great Communicator knew public diplomacy. His man-crush for General Zia was so openly and explicitly on display, little Pakistani children around the country used to be able to name American fighter pilots."

Getting Biblical at Bagram: US military accused of proselytizing Christianity in Afghanistan - Shawn Powers, The Media Law Assistance Website: "Al-Jazeera is reporting that members of the US military, led by Lieutenant-Colonel Gary Hensley, the chief of the US military chaplains in Afghanistan, have been 'proselytizing' the Christian faith in Afghanistan. … Over at the Huffington Post, Jeremy Scahill notes how this story will confirm wide-spread perceptions in the region that US troops in Afghanistan and Iraq are fighting a 'war on Islam,' Indeed, it is precisely this meme that has made US public diplomacy outreach to Muslims since 9/11 so difficult." See also. Image from

Walking Iraq, Part II - Aaron Snipe, Public Diplomacy Officer, U.S. Embassy Iraq, America.gov item posted at By the People: A Citizen-Led Conversation: "Many American policy makers and public diplomacy professionals have argued, 'If they only knew us, they’d love us,' as the reason we need to get out from behind the walls and meet people. For the most part, I think this is true.

Many of the cultural differences that divide us can be undone when people from different backgrounds break bread together. There are, however, those in Iraq who don’t want a better relationship. During my eight months here, I have encountered a few who have refused to 'unclench their fist' as I extended an 'open hand.' But, that is to be expected. The majority of Iraqis I’ve met do want a better relationship with America and Americans, and all of the respect I’ve given Iraqis has been reciprocated ten-fold." Image of author from his article.

Greasing the Presses - César Hildebrandt, La Primera, Peru, posted at Watching America: "Nor is the Department of State idle here [Peru], maintaining various subordinate operations – in addition to deciding which countries USAID emphasizes. One of these offices, called the Office of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs (OPDPA), is tasked with directly financing certain specially chosen journalists. The list of these privileged few remains a secret but there are bloodhounds on the trail."

Report: expanded jamming of Radio Martí - Kim Andrew Elliott Discussing International Broadcasting and Public Diplomacy

VOA's precarious Uzbek service - Kim Andrew Elliott Discussing International Broadcasting and Public Diplomacy

Book Review: Cyber-Diplomacy - Mark S. Valtierra, Media And Foreign Policy: "Cyber-Diplomacy: Managing Foreign Policy in the Twenty-First Century[:]The book Cyber-Diplomacy talks about the advancements in information and communication technologies (ICTs) and its influences in diplomacy. … The challenges that the book cites are the reduction of hierarchy in favor of horizontal networking, the reduction of secrecy, the increase of transparency, the increased ability for global movements and non-state actors to become mobilized, and the escalating significance of public diplomacy in foreign affairs. The book makes clear that the primary facilitators and accelerators of change are the improvements in ICTs. … The book also challenges the notion that in an age where information is abundant, the need for foreign ministries will disappear. On the contrary, the profusion of information will make the role of the diplomat even more important, as it will be increasingly difficult to ascertain which information is credible." Image from

Remembering that it's not about you - Matt Armstrong, MountainRunner: "One of the great ironies of the last several years has been the complaint that the so-called Madison Avenue approach to public diplomacy was a failure. It wasn't a failure because neither Hughes nor Beers really practiced the Madison Avenue approach. Instead, they attempted to brand America as they felt it should be branded. … For the most part, we have since realized the question to be asked was not 'why do they hate us?' but 'why do they support extremism?' For those who think this song is about you, it's not."

France 24 Arabic expands from France 4 [hours a day] to France 10 (updated) - Kim Andrew Elliott Discussing International Broadcasting and Public Diplomacy

Baku Calling for Openness in Turkish-Armenian Relations - Fariz Ismailzade, Eurasia Daily Monitor: "Both countries [Turkey, Armenia] will increase their public diplomacy in order to avoid any future misunderstandings similar to those experienced in relation to the anxiety triggered over Turkish-Armenian rapprochement." Image from

‘Europe Days’ to bring pleasurable experience on entertainment - Nhan Dan: "The sixth Europe Day in Vietnam will bring local audiences an entertaining and intellectually refreshing cocktail of 16 events reflecting many aspects of a Europe which is “united in diversity”. … A seminar on EU-Vietnam Trade relations, two talks by EU Ambassadors at universities in Hue and Da Nang named ‘Reaching out to Youth’ , and a writing contest on climate change, complete the array of events that promote public diplomacy and awareness- raising on issues of interest to Vietnam and the EU."

Opportunities: Grants for Youth NGOSs (CIS) – Posted by Chris Schuepp, Young People’s Media Network: "The National Youth Council of Russia in cooperation with the Ministry of Sports, tourism and youth policy of the Russian Federation, the Foundation 'Russian world' and the Foundation for international cooperation fives grants for the joint youth projects of youth organizations form Eastern Europe, South Eastern Europe and CIS countries. The aim of the programme is to contribute to the intercultural dialogue between young people from Russia and CIS countries and South Eastern Europe. Objectives: - to study and support innovative methods of organization of youth, exchanges, internships and projects; - to develop and realize bilateral projects of youth cooperation in the sphere of culture, awareness, non-formal education and public diplomacy; - to develop common information space." Image from

Readings: Public Diplomacy - Glenn Scott, Media International: A Freedom Culture Blog of Elon University Students: "Please read these articles [listed in entry] prior to our class on Wednesday when we play out our roles to get a good grip on how public diplomatic programs really work."

Identities: Final Identifications Test Study Sheet - F Gov Thank You: "63. United States Information Agency (USIA)- Founded in 1953, the USIA was dedicated to 'public diplomacy.'

Its mission was 'to understand, inform, and influence foreign publics in promotion of the national interest, and to broaden the dialogue between Americans and U.S. institutions, and their counterparts abroad.' It served as an instrument of 'soft power,' but was also accused of being a propaganda machine. Its function was absorbed by the Under Secretary of State for Public Affairs and Public Diplomacy in 1999." Image from

Karen Hughes, Karl Rove, Scott Pelley Address Spring Graduates: Two former White House aides and a national journalist will speak at Texas Tech University commencement ceremonies - Cory Chandler, Texas Tech Today: "Hughes served as counselor to President Bush from 2001-2002 and as under secretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs from 2005-2007. … She currently serves as global vice chair of public relations and communications firm Burson-Marsteller."

RELATED ITEMS

Don't Forget About Foreign Aid: Prosperity depends on stability- Madeleine K. Albright and Colin L. Powell, Wall Street Journal: At the Initiative for Global Development National Summit in Washington, D.C., on May 6, business and government leaders will gather to advance new strategies for reducing global poverty. Participants will focus on ways to promote better public policies, and to integrate the best practices of business and government in order to lift up the lives of the world's poorest people through economic growth.

A Starbucks State of Mind - Anne Applebaum, Washington Post: With the opening of a Warsaw Starbucks, one might even say we have reached the end of a cycle.

Born in Central Europe, where it embodied an ideal of luxury and a certain set of aspirations; landing in Seattle, where it came to embody a different kind of luxury and a different set of aspirations; now reimported to Central Europe, aesthetically transformed but essentially fulfilling the same function, the coffeehouse appears to have come full circle, at last. Image from

South Korea: Korean food goes global - Donald Kirk, Christian Science Monitor: First there were Korean cars, television sets, and semiconductors. Then came the “Korean wave” as a flood of K-pop, Korean films, and other manifestations of Korean culture lapped up on the shores of other Asian countries before drifting to the United States and Europe. Now it’s time for Korean cuisine to get “globalized,” in the view of Korean government officials, restaurateurs, and chefs.

America's Essential Political Insanity - Ian Welsh, Huffington Post: Americans went along with going to war with Iraq then because they thought Iraq had attacked them and had nukes and could attack them again. A complete propaganda tissue of lies. But if you believe it all, well of course Iraq needed to be attacked. What looked to the rest of the world as crazy was entirely logical. It was, however, still insane.

Image from Attitude, Insanity or Tattoo Removal

AMERICANA

Senior use of psychiatric drugs spikes - Marilyn Elias, USA TODAY: About 15% of elderly Americans had prescriptions for psychiatric drugs in 2006, double the percentage a decade earlier, according to an analysis of federal databases out today. Image from article.

IMAGE


Image from: Stanford Alumni Nail Condi War Crimes Petition to Door of Stanford President's Office, nbcbayarea.com