February 10

"American public diplomacy, rest in peace."

--Patricia Lee Sharpe, Whirled View

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

A New American Strategy for the Middle East Is a Must - Saliba Sarsar and Hussein Ibish, Huffington Post:



"While continuing to promote its vital interests in the Middle East, our country clearly needs to develop a new American strategy, which will hopefully help engender a new, more democratic and stable Arab world and Middle East. The following principles should be central to this new approach, if events are not to overtake us completely and make it much more difficult for the United States to promote both our interests and our values in the region: [Among these principles:] Communicate American intentions and policies accurately and clearly, and avoid reserving pressure for real reforms to private meetings, out of the public perception. Conveying a consistent message on American expectation of its allies would counteract widespread misconceptions, misunderstandings, and conspiracy theories about the US role in the region. Leaks, too, would thereby be rendered largely irrelevant. ... Link economic assistance and military aid to the ability of governments to achieve country-specific goals, mainly concrete and transparent democratic improvements and economic measures aimed at improving the quality of life and opportunities for the general public. Ensure that our economic assistance reaches its intended target and is heavily complemented by public diplomacy and cultural outreach that also impact people's daily lives." Image from

US, Muslims must work together - Sara Israelsen-Hartley, Deseret News: "There are three ways to view the relationship between Muslims and the United States — one of confrontation, compatibility or complementarity. Noted peace scholar Abdul Aziz Said


remarked Tuesday at a BYU lecture that he prefers the third perspective, which does not involve a clash of civilizations or a mere tolerating of each other, but a relationship of 'exchanging the best for the best.' ... Said ... listed numerous steps to begin answering those questions and building greater Muslim/Western cooperation. They include actions such as strengthening diplomatic preparedness, fostering greater inclusion of Muslims in North American life, supporting change from within the Islamic world, using public diplomacy to listen as well as speak and advancing intercultural and interreligious dialogue." Abdul Aziz Said image from article

VOL. VII NO. 3, January 28- February 10, 2011 - VOL. VII NO. 3, January 28 - February 10, 2011 - The Layalina Review on Public Diplomacy and Arab Media:

The Social Media Revolution: Marvel or Myth? There is currently a debate in media circles that concerns the role of social media in shaping the political framework. Some experts deem Facebook, Twitter and its ilk to be pivotal, while others perceive social media to be more ancillary.

Taking Center Stage: The Role of Al-Jazeera The recent tumult in Tunisia and Egypt thrust Al-Jazeera into the international spotlight, as it has been central in documenting those events, hence prompting multiple interpretations of what role the network is playing on the world stage.

WikiLeaks Al-Jazeera-Style: The Palestine Papers Al-Jazeera’s release of the “Palestine Papers”, a series of confidential documents documenting Palestine/Israel negotiations, arouses suspicions as to the nature of the network’s intent in doing so.



Iran's Opposition Looking to Reignite Green Revolution The current Iranian regime is praising the anti-government movements cropping up throughout the Middle East, because they are allegedly representative of Islamic growth. Yet the Iranian government seems to have forgotten the Green Revolution of 2009.

Who’s Afraid of the Big, Bad Media? Journalists Targeted in Egypt Pro-government forces are targeting journalists and human rights activists in a series of brutal attacks, which do not reflect favorably upon the current Mubarak regime.

Jasmine Revolution Ignites Free Speech A couple of weeks after the initial uprising in Tunisia that was later dubbed as the Jasmine revolution, Tunisia's interim government faces growing pressure to replace security forces and former government of figures loyal to former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

Egypt: Missed Opportunity or Wise Diplomacy? Taken by surprise by the popular revolt against its major ally, the administration of US President Barack Obama is sending mixed messages on the escalating political crisis in Egypt.

Revolutions are like Colds – They Spread! Amidst the turmoil surrounding the fall of Tunisia's Ben Ali, the calls of protesters can now be heard throughout the entire Middle East-North African region.

The Social Media Revolution: Marvel or Myth? There is currently a debate in media circles that concerns the role of social media in shaping the political framework. Some experts deem Facebook, Twitter and its ilk to be pivotal, while others perceive social media to be more ancillary.

Taking Center Stage: The Role of Al-Jazeera The recent tumult in Tunisia and Egypt thrust Al-Jazeera into the international spotlight, as it has been central in documenting those events, hence prompting multiple interpretations of what role the network is playing on the world stage.

WikiLeaks Al-Jazeera-Style: The Palestine Papers Al-Jazeera’s release of the “Palestine Papers”, a series of confidential documents documenting Palestine/Israel negotiations, arouses suspicions as to the nature of the network’s intent in doing so.

Iran's Opposition Looking to Reignite Green Revolution The current Iranian regime is praising the anti-government movements cropping up throughout the Middle East, because they are allegedly representative of Islamic growth. Yet the Iranian government seems to have forgotten the Green Revolution of 2009.

Who’s Afraid of the Big, Bad Media? Journalists Targeted in Egypt Pro-government forces are targeting journalists and human rights activists in a series of brutal attacks, which do not reflect favorably upon the current Mubarak regime.

Jasmine Revolution Ignites Free Speech A couple of weeks after the initial uprising in Tunisia that was later dubbed as the Jasmine revolution, Tunisia's interim government faces growing pressure to replace security forces and former government of figures loyal to former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

Egypt: Missed Opportunity or Wise Diplomacy? Taken by surprise by the popular revolt against its major ally, the administration of US President Barack Obama is sending mixed messages on the escalating political crisis in Egypt.

Revolutions are like Colds – They Spread! Amidst the turmoil surrounding the fall of Tunisia's Ben Ali, the calls of protesters can now be heard throughout the entire Middle East-North African region.

Crib notes for Harper on influencing the world - Campbell Clark, Globe and Mail: "Canadians often seem to dismiss the suggestion they have any power on the world stage, which cuts off national discussion about how best to wield it. Luckily, an American with an interest in both the role of power and Canada is not so shy. Influential scholar Joseph Nye, a former senior State Department and Pentagon official, has long had an interest in Canada. His new book, The Future of Power, isn’t about Ottawa’s influence, but it has some lessons about building it, and using it. ... The Future of Power outlines two major shifts in this century: a power transition from west to east, notably to Asia, and diffusion of power from nations to individuals or groups, aided by technology – such as the Egyptian protests that were fuelled by Twitter and texting. ... Diplomacy matters, and public diplomacy to reach Egypt’s Twitterverse, American workers or India’s students. A key for Canadian foreign policy is being close to Washington, but maintaining a distinct global role, Mr. Nye says, to attract other countries to deal with Canada, not bypass it."

America the Imperial: PD’s Dim Vision at the Kolkata Book Fair - Patricia Lee Sharpe, Whirled View: I was off to the annual Kolkata Book Fair, trying to reach there by two pm, when it opens each day, to avoid the crowds. This was a totally futile ambition. Already, miles away, the stop-start of a major traffic jam had begun, which gave me plenty of time to scan the horizon, where you would also have seen an enormous white dome lording it over the city. A gigantic mosque, minus minarets? A Vatican-sized cathedral? Neither, as I knew from previous visits and re-confirmed, when I reached the predictable sprawl of non-descript temporary structures that house the Kolkata Book Fair. It was the American Exhibit. So there it stood, a replica of the American Capitol!


A clever idea, perhaps, but ludicrously, embarassingly, out of scale. It loomed like the Second Coming of the Moghuls. Or maybe the Second Coming of the English, who built their neo-Moghul monuments to power in New Delhi. No wonder the curious were queuing to enter. ... [T]he only thing that mildly curious visitors were invited to contemplate, re computers, was the popularity of social networking. Now Facebook may be a global phenomenon. Millions belong. But it's hardly a gateway to worthwhile knowledge of the U.S. I wasn't surprised, though. I'd been told that the American public diplomats currently posted to Kolkata aren’t interested in purveying literature or lecturers or any kind of boring intellectuality. ... Although India has great writers and world class universities along with a vibrant print and electronic press employing courageous editors and many fine investigative reporters, the recently hired top local for the PD section in Kolkata used to head.... a fashion magazine! ... Once upon a time there was an exhibits division within U.S.I.A. It was abolished years ago, during one of many cost-cutting exercises. But frankly it doesn’t take much money or A.I.A. architects to create an appropriate presence at a book fair whose infrastructure is traditionally as modest at that at the Kolkata Book Fair."

Tomorrow Is Armed Forces Day‎ - Melissa Chea-Annan, The Inquirer - The Commander of the United States Africa Command, General William E. 'Kip' Ward will also grace tomorrow's ceremony [marking Armed Forces Day] at the Barclay Training Center and the Coast Guard Base. General ward became the first Commander of AFRICOM on October 1, 2007. The U.S. Africa Command is one of six unified geographic command within the Department of defense unified command structure. General Ward will also address newly trained soldiers of the AFL, officers of the Liberia National Police and youth leaders from Liberian Universities today at the public Diplomacy Section of the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia. The US General will speak on the topic 'African Americans in the United States Military.'”

BBG chairman Walter Isaacson on international broadcasting providing the "oxygen of democracy" - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting: "Well, which is it? 'Accurate, trustworthy information," or 'support [for] democracy and ... civil society'? Yes, the former supports the latter, but in an indirect way that must be explained. Otherwise, we are left with the ambiguity that causes US international broadcasting to fall short in perceived credibility. Egypt was more than 'partially successful' in blocking the internet. For a few days, finding a modem and dialing in to internet providers in Europe, or a personal satellite node, was the only way to connect. Al Jazeera was taken off Nilesat, the most popular satellite.


Al Jazeera's channels on Arabsat and Hot Bird were subject to interference. Egypt was pretty well bottled up. Still getting though were the Arabic-language broadcasts of Radio Sawa, BBC Arabic, and France's Monte Carlo Doualiya, all from medium wave relays on Cyprus. Radio, however, is old media, unhip, uncool, and therefore unmentioned." Isaacson image from

The usual propaganda from the Voice of America - cubaajournal.blogspot.com: "It is a well established fact that Yankee imperialism hates Cuba. Their favorite SOB no longer rules the Pearl of the Antilles. The imperialists are beginning to believe their own propaganda. Who are they trying to fool? Do they really believe that people around the world are that stupid?"

Jazz Diplomacy: a Cold War Relic? - Candace Burnham - Mountainrunner.US "If State wants to continue exporting jazz, it should focus on artists who are innovating within the genre."


Burnham image from article

Belarus Hopes for Public Diplomacy in Dialogue with EU - telegraf.by: "Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus commented on the decision of Germany and Estonia to make free national visas for Belarusians. According to the spokesman of the Republic of Belarus Andrei Savinykh, Belarus will able to convey the truth about the situation in the country to the Europeans 'at least at the level of public diplomacy.' 'Belarus's


readiness to engage in constructive dialogue with Europe remains unchanged. We perceive these steps positively, as any others, aimed to develop contacts between our countries,' BelTA quotes the head of the information of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry." Image from

Joint Statement between Japan and the Republic of Uzbekistan, 9 February 2011 - isria.com: "6. Both sides decided to cooperate in the fields of public diplomacy, aiming at enhancing mutual interest and further promoting mutual friendship and understanding between the two countries in 2012, a milestone year marking the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries."

ASAIF Annual Forum program released‎ - APA: APA. "Azerbaijani Students and Alumni International Forum (ASAIF) will gather in Strasbourg, France for its Annual Forum 'Azerbaijan 20 – Visions 2020' on March 11-12, 2011. The annual forum’s program has been already released... . Chief


of the Political Analysis and Information Provision Department of Administration of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Elnur Aslanov will make report at the third panel discussions entitled 'Youth and Public Diplomacy'." Image from article

House Demolitions‎ - Ari Bussel, Canada Free Press: "For Israel to withstand the attacks against her, she must respond. Truth is on her side, so are the facts and the laws. Even if very few are interested in listening to the facts, when a vacuum is created by Israel’s noticeable absence from the public diplomacy front, one must go by the only information with which they are presented."

Globalization of Trade In Health Services and Workforce - Pastirahmat's Blog: "Tackling the developing world’s diseases has become a key feature of many nations’ foreign policies over the last five years, for a variety of reasons. Some see stopping the spread of HIV, tuberculosis (TB), malaria, avian influenza, and other major killers as a moral duty. Some see it as a form of public diplomacy. And some see it as an investment in self-protection, given that microbes know no borders. Governments have been joined by a long list of private donors, topped by Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett."

Southern Culture - porkquoi: "Last week it was like I won some sort of contest when I found out that the Southern University marching band was coming to Algiers! I was able to experience not one, but two up close and personal performances. They played a surprise performance at the Embassy, which I must admit did not have the appropriate acoustic set up for it. I think I was left vibrating for about an hour after they finished. Then on Friday they played a half time show at a local basket ball game.


This means I can now also say that I have sat through half a basketball game in my life. Mike said they played well. I was too busy trying to figure out why the security guards didn’t want the Red Bull girls coming in. It was awesome and I something I don’t think we would have ever experienced in the US. Still don’t know if we’ve got the courage to go to a Howard event when we return. ... [T]he point of the visit was public diplomacy." Image from article

Gov 2.0 LA - Presented Live by TechZulu - techzulu.com: "Here is a peek of what to expect at Gov 2.0 this year. ... February 13 ... 10:30am – 11:30am Public Diplomacy and the New World with Lovisa Williams of the U.S. State Department, Gina Evans of the UK Government and Martha McLean of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, Government of Canada and Dan Abele, Embassy of Canada, Washington, DC."

2nd International Security Conference - taxalia.blogspot.com: "DAY 1 - Thursday, February 10, 2011 ... 09:30 - 10:00 Introduction & Opening Remarks Efthymios Efthymiopoulos, Vice-President, Strategy International. Ino Afentouli NATO Public Diplomacy (PDD) South-East Europe."

Administrative Assistant (Embassy of Canada, 501 Penn Ave NW) -
washingtondcjobz.us: "The Embassy is seeking someone who is innovative, skilled and ready to work with employees in the Embassy and the United States to implement an innovative new approach to service delivery. ... DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS: ... 3. Knowledge of the principles of advocacy and public diplomacy."

RELATED ITEMS

U.S. must take the walk to democracy with Egypt - Eugene Robinson, Washington Post

From freedom agenda to freedom doctrine - Charles Krauthammer, Washington Post: A freedom doctrine is a freedom agenda given direction by guiding principles. Truman did it. So can we.

With help from the U.S., Egypt can gain a republic - David Ignatius, Washington Post: Benjamin Franklin famously answered a question about what had been accomplished at the Constitutional Convention of 1787, "A republic, if you can keep it." King George III (meaning Mubarak) may be holding on. But he won't last. America should do everything it can, publicly and privately, to help the protesters gain their new republic.

Do Egypt's protests mean American decline? - Michael Gerson, Washington Post: Democratic transitions are difficult and uncertain, especially in places with shallow democratic roots. But it is strangely disconnected from American history and ideals to regard a popular revolt against an oppressive ruler as a sign of American decline

Hosni Mubarak offers Egyptians far less than they demand - Editorial, Washington Post

Mubarak Misses His Moment By clinging to power, Egypt's president abdicates leadership - Peggy Nooman, Wall Street Journal

Why Washington was blindsided by Egypt's cry for freedom - Cynthia P. Schneider and Nadia Oweidat, google.com

If members of Congress support this Georgian television station [PIK], they can form the First Caucasus Caucus (updated) - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting

Taliban Propaganda Watch(RC South) – 090130UTC Feb 11 - milnewsca

Wael Ghonim vs. Barack Obama: Change we Can Believe in, Yes we Can - juancole.com: It is no secret that President Barack Obama has been in some regards a profound disappointment to the American Left,


and his erratic and often disgraceful performance on the Egypt crisis exemplifies his faults in this regard. (Tom Engelhardt puts it best regarding the administration: “It has shown itself to be weak, visibly fearful, at a loss for what to do, and always several steps behind developing events.”) Cole image from his blog.

IMAGE

Dreams about possible future US-Russian cultural/culinary interaction; courtesy of master interpreter SV

ONE MORE QUOTATION FOR THE DAY


"Stop lying and talking nonsense."

--Chant of Egyptian protesters