May 6

“[T]he transformation of ink into electrons has reached a critical mass.”

--Gloria Goodale, Christian Science Monitor; image from

"Your institutions will be irrelevant by 2020."

--Professor of psychology and instructional technology at Brigham Young University David Wiley, speaking in front of a room full of professors and university administrators

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

Science Envoy, Public Diplomacy Bills Clear Committee – American Chronicle: "The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee today unanimously passed S.838, U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar´s bill establishing 'United States Science Envoys.' The bill would highlight our nation's commitment to scientific research and education, as well as our willingness to collaborate with other countries to promote advancements in these fields throughout the world. … Lugar's legislation establishes the Science Envoy program and directs that it be run by the Department of State through its Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Envoys will be selected by the Secretary of State. … Lugar's S. Res. 49, a resolution to express the sense of the Senate regarding the importance of public diplomacy, also passed the Committee. It calls for the Secretary of State to initiate a reexamination of the public diplomacy platform strategy of the United States with a goal of reestablishing publicly accessible American Centers, and consider placing United States public diplomacy facilities at locations conducive to maximizing their use, consistent with the authority given to the Secretary in the Secure Embassy Construction and Counterterrorism Act." Image from

The Science of Diplomacy - Vaughan Turekian, Kristin M. Lord, Foreign Policy: "Foreign publics admire American science and technology far more than they admire America. Indeed, an analysis of Pew polling data from 43 countries shows that favorable views of American science and technology exceed overall views of the United States by an average of 23 points. This presents the United States with a public diplomacy opportunity: to remind foreign people of what they like about the United States and to highlight constructive partnerships between Americans and foreign scientists, engineers, doctors, and technology business leaders. … [T]he Obama administration must change current approaches. Foreign-policy leaders -- especially Secretary of State Hillary Clinton -- must recognize the power of this means of engagement. The United States has emphasized in past weeks its commitment to the globally shared goals of healthier populations, a cleaner environment, safer societies, and a better life for all. Recognizing the potential of science diplomacy will certainly help maximize the United States' realization of these goals."

Lugar To The Rescue: Senate Committee Backs ‘Science Envoy’ Plan - Nicholas J. Cull, Public Diplomacy Blog, USC Center on Public Diplomacy: "[T]he ranking minority member of the Foreign Relations Committee, Dick Lugar …[l]ong an enthusiast for public diplomacy, Lugar led off his campaign to save America’s public diplomacy on 13 February, 2009 with SR 49 which called for attention to public diplomacy and a revival of the old network of American cultural centers. … Then on April 21, 2009, Lugar introduced SR 838 'a bill to provide for the establishment of science envoys.' This bill seeks to make better use in public diplomacy of the undisputed leadership of the United States in the fields of science and technology; to expand the existing science component of State Department exchange activities, and specifically to add a new category of cultural ambassador called a 'Science Envoy'. … One of the limits on Science Diplomacy in the past has been the absence of a single institution to lay claim to the field. Initiatives were divided across half a dozen agencies and many more private organizations in civil society at large. Lugar’s bill should address this by firmly placing the ball in the court of the Secretary of State.” Image from

Recommended Reading: Cull on Lugar's leadership in America's leaderless Public Diplomacy - Matt Armstrong, MountainRunner: "Senator Dick Lugar, Republican, is serious about moving America's public diplomacy forward. In fact, I would hazard to think the good Senator from Indiana would be happy to any movement, even sideways, at this point. I think it will be safe to say that the Senator's most critical comments at Judith McHale's confirmation will be 'why has it taken this long?!' followed by 'tell me how you will be hitting the ground with your wheels already spinning'. The bustling going on behind the curtain is not much and it will not make up for the last 100 days of opportunity lost. One of the initiatives I'm most interested to see followed up is how Jim Glassman's initiative to take the leadership reigns of the interagency process will be picked up. Also, with the abolishment of Defense Support for Public Diplomacy, how will the State Public Diplomacy plug-into Defense (and vic versa, which was helpful for funding projects State beyond State's meager budget)."

Analysis-Russia-U.S. ties have tentative start - Sue Pleming, Reuters:

"Russia expert Charles Kupchan, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, said [:] … 'I think it is important for (President Barack) Obama to begin to be able to show the pay-offs of his public diplomacy and for reaching out to the Russians.'" Image from

Ethiopia: Are BBC, VOA and AP Being Used for Propaganda by Ethiopian Regime? -Gadaa.com Oduu: "AP, BBC and VOA should not be tricked into disseminating propaganda crafted and disguised as 'sensational news' by the Ethiopian brutal regime of Meles Zenawi and Bereket Simon."

An open court system? Tell it to the judges - Bill McClellan, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: "Ten judges from Kazakhstan are visiting St. Louis as part of a program developed by the U.S. Agency for International Development. The program is designed 'to promote public diplomacy through exchanges of cultural ideas and values.'"

University of Hawai‘i and the East-West Center signal closer collaboration - UH Mānoa News:

"In an effort to strengthen their already-close collaboration and increase operational efficiencies, University of Hawai'i System President David McClain and East-West Center President Charles E. Morrison today announced the formation of a new joint committee for institutional collaboration. … Morrison [said] that although the East-West Center is an independent national institution, its very existence depends on its relationship with UH. 'Our partnership with the University of Hawai'i is a long and highly valued one,' he said. 'It helps set the East-West Center apart from other public diplomacy programs.' Established by the U.S. Congress, the East-West Center is charged with building trans-Pacific understanding and relations through cooperative research, study and exchange activities. It is headquartered in Honolulu, but also has a Washington office." University of Hawaii watch image from

Cal Ripken Documentary Premieres - Denise Koch, WJZ, Baltimore: "A documentary about former Oriole Cal Ripken premiered Tuesday night. You know him as the Iron Man, the career Oriole and Hall of Fame shortstop, but Cal Ripken Jr. is also a public diplomacy envoy for the State Department. For the past two years, he has been creating connections with young people around the world using the language he knows best--baseball. That journey has been made into a film, 'The Shortstop in China' and it had its premiere Tuesday night. Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made the appointment."

A U.S. Hog Giant Transforms Eastern Europe - Doreen Carvajal and Stephen Castle, New York Times: "Almost unnoticed by the rest of the Continent, the agribusiness giant [Smithfield Foods, based in Virginia] has moved into Eastern Europe with the force of a factory engine, assembling networks of farms, breeding pigs on the fast track, and slaughtering them for every bit of meat and muscle that can be squeezed into a sausage. … 'We understand public diplomacy and political lobbying,' noted Steen Steensen, an agriculture expert at the Danish Embassy, whose country has also expanded hog farms into Eastern Europe. 'But we trust that the business and commercial channels operate in a normal and fair way.' 'Smithfield’s dominance and manifest aggressive approach is worrying,' Mr. Steensen said in one agricultural report." Image from

UK minister meets Marshall Scholars in Washington DC (May 05, 2009) – Newsroom, UK in USA: "British Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Bill Rammell met local Washington DC Marshall Scholar alumni at a reception held in his honour at the British Ambassador's residence yesterday evening. … The Rt. Hon. Bill Rammell emphasised at the reception that 'the Marshall Scholarship Programme is the premier public diplomacy programme for the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office.'"

Top Article: New Rules Of Engagement - Ramesh Thakur, Times of India: "The example par excellence of a country using its overseas people as a valuable diplomatic tool to advance national interests is the Israeli lobby in the US. Indian ambassadors with an interest and the skills to exploit the vast Indian diaspora are as rare as those skilled in the arts of public diplomacy and modern communications. Most seem to expect the same level of deference from overseas Indians they are accustomed to at home."

Nigeria: Rebranding - Another Dimension Maiyanga Alfred, Vanguard: "We rebrand to get the things being asked or during the course of rebranding, some of the things being asked get done. … One of the editors of Place Branding and Public Diplomacy, Simon Anholt, who coined the 'national branding' phrase in 1996 says exactly what some Nigerians have been saying about the Rebranding Nigeria Project. Simon Anholt provided the following examples of national branding: 'South Africa rebranded when it ended apartheid; Ireland when it became a prosperous nation . . . Slovenia when it embraced democracy, joined the European Union and showed that a historically unstable part of Eastern European could be different'." Image from

Ha Noi to host Europe Days celebrations again - Viet Nam News: "Europe Day is … a celebration of the bonds that Europe has established with nations around the world, including Viet Nam. Europe Days in Viet Nam seeks to promote public exchange between the European Union and Viet Nam in the cultural arena."

Netanyahu: Arabs And Jews Unite…Against The Persians – Matt Duss, The Wonk Room: "Over the several years, Iranian President Ahmadinejad has had considerable success in positioning Iran as the standard bearer of Islamic 'resistance,' against the U.S., Israel, and authoritarian regimes in the Middle East. In a recent interview, University of Tehran professor Hossein Seifzadeh, who is now a fellow at the Middle East Institute in Washington, said that Iran’s anti-Israel rhetoric has been 'a successful exercise in public diplomacy in the Arab world.'”

RELATED ITEMS

Guest Post: PSYOP for everyone - Christopher Paul, MountainRunner:

What if we change the way we think about PSYOP to be inclusive instead of exclusive, and make a corresponding change in how we employ PSYOP personnel? Image from

264, 263, 262 . . . Can Obama meet his self-imposed deadline for closing Guantanamo? - James Taranto, Wall Street Journal: On Jan. 22 President Obama issued an executive order pledging to close the detention facility at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base within a year. With 262 days to go, the effort is running into some serious complications.

Spain considers prosecuting U.S. officials for torture: How and why a Spanish judge might put Bush administration lawyers on trial for actions at Guantanamo Bay –

Opinion, Los Angeles Times

Obama's Prosecutions by Proxy - John R. Bolton, Washington Post: Spanish Magistrate Baltasar Garzón opened a formal investigation last week of six Bush administration lawyers for their roles in advising on interrogation techniques. If Obama is attempting to end the Garzón investigation, it is one of our best-kept secrets in decades.

Govt to counter West's negative propaganda - Zamir Sheikh, The Nation, Pakistan

IMAGE


--WWII propaganda poster from

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

May 2-4

“I could not agree more with you that USIA and other related public education mechanisms were very unfortunately marginalized.”

--Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in answer to a question from a retired Foreign Service officer, after her remarks on Foreign Affairs Day (May 1); on USIA see; image from

"We didn't torture.
We DID use the technique called waterboarding.
Therefore waterboarding isn't torture."

--Princess Sparkle Pony, providing the Aristotelian logic behind Dr. Condoleezza Rice's answer to a fourth grader at the Jewish Primary Day School in Washington, D.C. about the methods the Bush administration used to get information from detainees; image from

EVENT

Public Diplomacy: Reaching Difficult Audiences: May 14, 2009, 2:30 - 5:00 PM - Hudson Institute, Washington, D.C. Headquarters. Hudson's Center for Political-Military Analysis cordially invites you to a panel discussion on Public Diplomacy: Reaching Difficult Audiences

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

Clinton: U.S. Needs to Get Smarter About Public Diplomacy – Salfordonline: "U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave the keynote address at a ceremony to celebrate Foreign Affairs Day on May 1. In her speech, Clinton emphasized the need to expand connections beyond 'government-to-government' and was adamant that the U.S. needs to get smarter about public diplomacy. According to Clinton, 'public diplomacy is not just lecturing at other people and telling them how great we are and what we hope they will believe about us. It is actually having a real dialogue and listening as much as talking.'" Image from; see also John Brown, "Smart Power in, Public Diplomacy Out?" Notes and Essays.

A President Goes Friending - Jim Hoagland, Washington Post: "Establishing direct strategic presidential communication with the populations of other countries -- especially other countries ruled by hostile governments -- is a top foreign policy priority for the new administration. … [T]here is an increasing tendency in all countries for diplomatic expertise to be devalued, or at least bypassed, in the rush for 'unfiltered' communication and governmental blogging." See also.

‘Stop Explaining!’: A Response - James K. Glassman - Economics, Investing, Public Diplomacy, and More: “William Rugh, former ambassador to Yemen and the UAE, and now an adjunct scholar at the Middle East Institute, wrote a long rejoinder [included in this posting] to my speech at InfoWarCon on April 24 (included in my post, 'Stop Explaining!'). He makes some excellent points, but it is a strangely defensive response. He seems to be criticizing a speech that I didn’t give. … Public diplomacy had a glorious past, especially in the 1950s and 1960s. It helped win the Cold War. Then it severely deteriorated with the fall of the Berlin Wall. My predecessors and I have been rebuilding it. The present of PD is a critical juncture. Are we serious about scaling it up? Will we adopt a mature approach?" See also. Rugh left image from; Glassman right image from

Building Capacity Not Resentment in Pakistan - Taha Gaya, Huffington Post: "Where the U.S. can make progress is in building a long-term relationship with the people of Pakistan by targeting our assistance to those areas most crucial to winning their support including enhancing and strengthening Pakistan's judicial system and law enforcement, creating broad-based and sustainable economic development with an emphasis on increasing local capacity, support for the public education system, refugees and internally displaced persons, and support for healthcare and public diplomacy."

BBC examines Obama's first 100 days. VOA, not to be outdone, examines his first 105 days - Kim Andrew Elliott Discussing International Broadcasting and Public Diplomacy

U.S. sends musicians to make overtures in war zones - Kim Thai, USA TODAY: "Though U.S. musicians have visited other countries on cultural exchange missions for years, [the State Department’s] Musical Overtures [program] is the first to take them into the dual war zones of Iraq and Afghanistan, says Alina Romanowski, the State Department's deputy assistant secretary for professional and cultural exchanges. The State Department had wanted to send such delegations to both countries for years, but only recently have 'situations on the ground' allowed for enough safety to send musicians, Romanowski says.

This kind of cultural diplomacy dates back to the Cold War, says Dan Morgenstern, director of the Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers University in New Jersey. Music was considered 'a good cultural weapon' and the government sponsored jazz musicians specifically because 'jazz was an internationally known, admired and a respected art form identified with the United States,' he says. … Funding for the State Department bureau that runs Musical Overtures and other cultural programs expanded under President George W. Bush from $900,000 to $10 million in 2008. The budget for 2009 is at $8.5 million. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has cited the need for cultural exchanges as part of the Obama administration's emphasis on 'smart power': using non-military means as a way to expand American influence." Romanowski image from

Dancing towards diplomacy: American dispatches dancing troupes – Gwen Gwilym, Cultural Diplomacy News: "Dance companies from all over the U.S. will tour Africa, Asia and South America in a bid to deepen dialogue and exchange with foreign audiences. This week, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), in partnership with Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), announced the launch of DanceMotion USAsm, an initiative that hopes to share America’s dance culture with the world. Members of dance companies from Brooklyn, New York and San Francisco, California will embark on performance and cultural exchange tours in January next year.

They will also participate in various outreach projects including workshops, master classes and discussions with foreign artists and local audiences. At a press conference recently, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Professional and Cultural Exchanges Alina L. Romanowski emphasized the importance of cultural diplomacy and announced the three dance companies selected to inaugurate DanceMotion USAsm will tour to nine countries including Thailand, Venezuela, Cambodia and Senegal. DanceMotion USAsm is modelled on the Department of State’s very successful music-based exchange program, The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad — administered by Jazz at LincolnCenter — which shares American roots music around the world. See also; Romanovski image from

Two Brooklyn troupes to engage in diplomacy through dance - Erin Durkin, New York Daily News: "From Brooklyn with love. Washington diplomats want to sell the rest of the world on the USA by sending out some special emissaries - two small modern dance troupes from Brooklyn. The Fort Greene-based African-American modern dance companies will head overseas early next year as part of DanceMotion USA, a cultural diplomacy program launched Wednesday by the State Department and the Brooklyn Academy of Music. A company from San Francisco will also make the trip." Image from

Daily News: Two Brooklyn Troupes To Engage In Diplomacy Through Dance – sfcg, The Common Ground Blog - "Question to the Blogosphere: In what ways can public diplomacy enhance awareness around the world of the common humanity the US shares with the rest of the world? Do you think that dance troupes will be a particularly effective tool for public diplomacy in places like Brazil, Venezuela and Nigeria–by whom American dance has been inspired over time? What other types of public diplomacy should America be investigating to improve her image overseas?"

Willis Conover Honored: A Good First Step – Doug Ramsey, all about jazz: "The White House has yet to award a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom to Willis Conover. But there has been progress toward that goal. I was delighted to learn when I got off the road this week that Congress proclaimed April 25 Willis Conover Day. He was honored during celebrations on the National Mall. Finally, his nation has given official recognition to the Voice Of America broadcaster who sent jazz to the world and, without indulging in propaganda or politics, helped to end the Cold War." Courtesy MC. Conover Image from

British Culture Invades Moscow With AngloMoskva Fest: Elmira Kuznetsova - The Moscow Times: "Composer Michael Nyman and film director Stephen Frears are among the guests flying in for the AngloMoskva festival in Moscow from May 1 to 3. 'We relied on our own tastes when choosing the guests,' said Aliona Muchinskaya, the director of Red Square PR company, which is organizing the event. 'We wanted to present culture in its widest aspect possible.' … Organizers said they hope to continue bringing over British cultural figures after the festival. 'We think that ‘cultural diplomacy’ is very efficient,' said Muchinskaya."

As the U.S. Retreats, Iran Fills the Void - Amir Taheri, Wall Street Journal: "The Khomeinist public diplomacy network includes a half-dozen satellite television and radio networks in several languages, more than 100 newspapers and magazines, a dozen publishing houses, and thousands of Web sites and blogs controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The network controls thousands of mosques throughout the region where preachers from Iran, or trained by Iranians, disseminate the Khomeinist revolutionary message." Image from

Governing by Theory is a Bad Idea - Bob Ra, Embassy, Canada: "More of our diplomats and aid workers need to be in the field. We need to increase our support for public and cultural diplomacy. We have to embrace both soft power and hard power, understanding the roles and limitations of each." Bob Rae is the Liberal Party's foreign affairs critic. Image from

A Syrian view on the future of relations with the U.S. – Marc Lynch, Foreign Policy: "This afternoon I headed over to the Middle East Institute to hear Syrian Ambassador Imad Moustapha talk about the future of U.S.-Syrian relations. … His low point came in his response to a Syrian man who asked him to speak about human rights abuses and repression inside of Syria. His response, equating the Syrian questioner with the Israelis and WINEP and then going on about Israeli war crimes, drew audible grumbling from the audience. If the Obama administration has indeed adopted such a fresh new style with Syria, it does not yet seem to be reciprocated in Syrian public diplomacy." Image from

Peres, Livni Heading to the US – matzav.com: "President Shimon Peres flew out to the US in the early hours this morning for a four-day diplomatic visit. … The president's office stated that Peres would also use his visit to embark on a broad campaign of public diplomacy on behalf of Israel."

Israel's Next Ambassador to the United States - The Jager File: “Michael Oren [is] about to be appointed Israel's ambassador to the United States. … There's a sense among some in the US pro-Israel community that while Oren is a fine appointee in terms of public diplomacy and hasbara, he still needs to master the art of the 'Washington insider' - someone who can work behind the scenes to enable American decision-makers to understand what Netanyahu wants, and why.'”

Three new government ministries created - Rebecca Anna Stoi, Jerusalem Post: "The cabinet on Sunday approved the establishment of three new government ministries, and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu appointed fellow Likud MKs to lead them. The new Intelligence Ministry will be headed by Dan Meridor; the Strategic Affairs Ministry, by Moshe Ya'alon; and the Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Ministry, by Yuli Edelstein. The total price tag for the three ministries is expected to surpass NIS 100 million per year."

Japan, Iran agree to work together for reconstruction of Afghanistan - Hamid Golpira, Tehran times: "Later on Saturday, Yasuhisa Kawamura, the deputy press secretary and deputy director general for press and public relations of the Public Diplomacy Department of the Japanese Foreign Ministry, gave a press briefing to reporters in Tehran in which he described some of the details of Foreign Minister Nakasone’s official visit to Iran."

Rebuilding America’s Relationship with the Muslim World - RSA Thursday: "Former director of the Political Islam Strategic Analysis Program at the CIA, Emile Nakhleh comes to the RSA [Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce] to make the case for a renewal of American public diplomacy in the Muslim world.Nakhleh investigates recent U.S. policy toward Islamic nations and offers the new Obama administration a ten-point plan for rebuilding America's relationship with the Muslim world."

Today’s Image of Sudan and Its Long-Term legacy - Alex de Waal, Making Sense of Darfur: Comment by reader Jibreel Mohamed: "The [Sudanese] government is spending millions of dollars on public relations firms. All 100% wasted. The best propaganda is the truth which doesn’t need any spin. If this government is serious about having a better image in America it would make it easier for Americans to get visas so they can come and see for themselves. (Forget about this tit-for-tat harassment: just because the U.S. makes it almost impossible for a Sudanese who is not on official business to come to the U.S. doesn’t mean we should be doing the same.) Remember the British teachers who used to teach in our secondary schools? That was the best ever exercise in public diplomacy. They are all lifelong friends and advocates of Sudan. Bring them back!"

EU calls for Saudi, GCC investments in N-projects - Shahid Ali Khan, Saudi Gazette: “EU officials underscored the need for creating awareness among the people of both the GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council] and the EU of each others cultures. A public diplomacy program will also be launched to educate the people of each region about diverse cultures. Under the program a number of visits will be exchanged between leaders of both sides."

What Role for Diplomacy in Reconstruction and Stabilization? Presented by The American Academy of Diplomacy, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and the RAND Corporation – events at the Center, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars: "[Among the speakers is] Ambassador Thomas Boyatt, chair of the 'Foreign Affairs Budget of the Future: Fixing the Crisis in Diplomatic Readiness' report, will discuss budgetary needs to enable the State Department and USAID to accomplish their missions in classic diplomacy, training, public diplomacy, development diplomacy, and reconstruction and stabilization."

Fellowship awarded – NewsPress: "Kyle Ensley of Valliant, a senior at Oklahoma State University, is one of 60 students in the nation to receive a $5,000 Phi Kappa Phi Fellowship Award for 2009. …

Perrigo interns with Sen. Lieberman - Rick Miller, Olean Times Herald: "For the past three months, Maggie Perrigo has had a front seat view of politics in Washington, D.C., as a press intern for Connecticut Senator Joseph Lieberman. Friday was her last day as an intern and next Sunday she's scheduled to receive her master's degree with a dual major in public relations and public diplomacy from Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs."

Public Relations Society of America National Chair/CEO Available for Comment on Imus / Rutgers Situation; PRSA Response to Recent Comments by Don Imus / Perspectives on Effective Apologies Required in Crisis Situations - U.S. Asian Wire: "Rhoda Weiss, APR, Fellow PRSA – the National Chair and CEO of the Public Relations Society of America ... [i]n January 2007, she participated in the U.S. State Department’s Private Sector Summit on Public Diplomacy and was a delegate to the National Security Forum."

RELATED ITEMS

The Mellow Doctrine - Roger Cohen, New York Times: The truth is that foes of the United States have been disarmed by Barack Obama’s no-drama diplomacy. Call it the mellow doctrine. Neither idealistic nor classic realpolitik, it involves finding strength through unconventional means: acknowledgment of the limits of American power; frankness about U.S. failings; careful listening; fear reduction; adroit deployment of the wide appeal of brand Barack Hussein Obama; and jujitsu engagement.

U.S. has a 45-year history of torture: The difference between American involvement in South American atrocities in 1964 and 'enhanced interrogation' now is that some modern-day officials appear proud of themselves - A.J. Langguth, Los Angeles Times

Why the Taliban is Winning the Propaganda War - Jason Motlagh, Time: To counter the Taliban advances in the propaganda war


the Pentagon has reportedly launched a broad "psychological operations" campaign in Afghanistan and Pakistan to take down insurgent-run web sites and the jam radio stations. The Afghan government, for its part, has opened a new $1.2 million media center with international support. Staffed by a team of Western-trained spin doctors, the facility includes a high-tech media monitoring wing and an outreach department tasked with building better working relations with journalists. Image Fox News: It's been likened to Al Qaeda's "Vanity Fair," a new English-language Internet magazine called "Jihad Recollections" that focuses on the terrorist group, its founder, Usama Bin Laden, and how to commit jihad. “What started off as some angry kids in their basement has transformed over the past several years into a robust Al Qaeda propaganda outlet right here in our backyard,” says Jarret Brachman, an Al Qaeda specialist and author of the new book, “Global Jihadism.” Image from

Murphy’s Law: Penetrating Palestinian Propaganda Ploys - Strategy Page: Israeli researchers continue to pick apart Palestinian claims that the 22 Day War last January "indiscriminately killed civilians."

The 10 Worst Countries to be a Blogger‏ - Committee to Protect Journalists. Courtesy Len Baldyga

May 1

“I'll tell you this, if I thought I might catch swine flu by going to work or a movie or the mall or something like that, I sure as heck wouldn't."

--Vice President Joe Biden

"Obama Orders Emergency Quarantine of Biden"

--Headline of article by Andy Borowitz, Huffington Post; image from

SYMPOSIUM

“Mutual Interest and Mutual Respect: Ideas for U.S. Public Diplomacy toward the ‘Muslim World’” Thursday, May 7, at this year’s Soref Symposium, held by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, 1150 22nd St., N.W., in Washington. An invitation-only event; to find out about attending, contact zsnyder@washingtoninstitute.org.

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

The First 101 Days – d-day: "Obama has restored a measure of respect for the United States around the world, by rejecting the cowboy diplomacy of the past and asserting that America is part of a community of nations. … This worldview is very refreshing. But has it been met with results? Well, we're starting to see a thaw of relations in Cuba, and low-level conversations on a more comprehensive solution. The Latin American Cold War has ended, with new initiatives like microfinance grants supplanting the neoliberal demands and hemispheric meddling. Obama has clearly cheered relations with allies in Europe, and even made strides toward agreements on arms limitation with Russia. … [In the words of Juan Cole] 'Obama's public diplomacy extended to Iran, which he addressed on the occasion of the Persian New Year.'" Image from

State Dept. trumpets Clinton's first 100 days: Matthew Lee, Associated Press, San Francisco Chronicle: "Friday marks Hillary Rodham Clinton's 100th day as the top U.S. diplomat. The State Department is commemorating the occasion with a 13-page list praising what it considers her early achievements. The lengthy document posted on the department's website this week extols the secretary of state's hectic travel abroad and the appointments of four high-profile special envoys to deal with trouble spots and climate change. The assessment says "early and significant progress" has already been achieved in Afghanistan-Pakistan policy, the Middle East, Iraq, Asia, Russia, North Korea, Latin America, climate change and public diplomacy through the use of new media." See also(1)(2). Image from

Roundup: Hillary Clinton's first 100 days – Foreign Policy

Beyond 100 days…: Arsalan Iftikhar, Malay Mail: "During his January 2009 presidential inaugural address, Obama has done a remarkable job in his outreach to the greater Muslim world, where perceptions of the US had suffered immensely from the garbled rhetoric and actions of the George W. Bush administration. Many American leaders are also following suit in the quest to help bridge

the public diplomacy gap with the greater Muslim world. For example, a bipartisan leadership group of 34 American political and civic leaders – including former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and former Republican Congressman Vin Weber – recently published a report, Changing Course: A New Direction for U.S. Relations with the Muslim World, which suggests concrete ways to improve US-Muslim relations in the future." Image from

Hillary visits foreign country: Texas – kai, kaapro.NET: “Let’s also recall the 'significant progress' State has made in … [e]ngaging in public diplomacy - Yes, like telling the Europeans that she [Clinton] doesn’t understand multiparty democracy, that our system is better, and Europeans didn’t have democracy before the US.

Oh, and let’s not forget getting the names of her EU counterparts wrong. Thank goodness all that happened in public! 'Other core issues' — Well, they did get an iPod to the Queen, and bowed to Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah." Image from article.

Special Press Briefing and Release: Country Reports on Terrorism 2008 - Richard Aker, Acting Coordinator for counterterrorism Deputy Director for Information Sharing and Knowledge Development of the National Counterterrorism Center Russell Travers Bureau Of Coordinator For Counterterrorism, U.S. Department of State: Acting Coordinator for Counterterrorism Ronald Schlicher: "Economic and development assistance, education, and public diplomacy are also crucial to effective counterterrorism efforts."

GAO Reports on International Students - Quick Takes, Inside Higher Ed: "The Government Accountability Office has released a report comparing national strategies to attract and fund international students across a number of countries. The report offers no recommendations, but aims to offer better insight, the authors write, 'on how higher education is used to advance public diplomacy and development assistance goals.'" Image from

Stop Explaining! - James K. Glassman - Economics, Investing, Public Diplomacy, and More – "Last Thursday, I gave a speech at InfoWarCon, a major gathering of the I/O (Information Operations) community. After noting that I was happy to see the I/O folks did not cower at the word 'war' in describing the conflict of ideas in which much of the world is engaged, I expanded on my arguments in favor of a new approach to strategic communication — what I call Public Diplomacy 2.0, or, more broadly, the Grand Conversation. …“[W]e should be to facilitate and convene a Grand Conversation, taking advantage of the best new social-networking technology. This is a strategic conversation — actually, thousands of conversations — in which our views are heard but do not necessarily dominate and are not necessarily voiced by us. And, at any rate, we need to remember that the subject is not the USA. It is you, the audience; the others; the ones who, in fact, are engaged in the civil war that is convulsing Islam.”

Towards a more efficient international broadcasting sliver - Kim Andrew Elliott Discussing International Broadcasting and Public Diplomacy: "International broadcasting remains vital to many parts of the world because dictators, terrorists, and other miscreants thrive amid disinformation, misinformation, and missing information. Reliable news and information helps people develop democracies and to participate in democracy. … [S]ince 1989, I've pointed out the duplication and redundancies in the feudal system of US international broadcasting entities. And the fact that Britain spends less on international broadcasting than the United States, but has more audience." Image from

Employee Poll Makes VOA's Parent the Worst Place to Work - Joe Davidson, Washington Post: "BBG stands for the Broadcasting Board of Governors. But it could just as well mean 'bottom of the barrel in government.' The BBG oversees Washington's international broadcasting operations, including the Voice of America. … In a poll of employees in 37 agencies, the BBG came in last place in three of four categories -- leadership and knowledge management, results-oriented performance, and talent management." Via

Brigade, PRT relationship creates opportunity in Salah ad-Din - Multi-National Division – North:

"Provincial Reconstruction Teams have often been hailed as a crucial component to creating stability in Iraq and Afghanistan. ... Many civilian and military members …. described the recent successes in assisting the provincial government in areas including rule of law, health, public diplomacy, economics and governance." Image from

Battlestar Galactica: The Human Rights Envoy of a Gravely Violated Generation - Burak Tansel, SciFiDimensions: “There has been a tiresome influx of discussion about the recent United Nations special session, in which the organization utilized the critically acclaimed science fiction show Battlestar Galactica to transmit its most fundamental missions to a new and probably a larger audience. … Human rights violations, as dreaded as they are, still occupy one of the major agendas of global politics and despite the increasing efforts of civil society organizations - and of course the UN’s own efforts, the problem persists throughout the world. … [H]ow can the UN’s 'intergalactic' move improve the situation? This panel alone cannot make any drastic changes, yet it sets a template for those who are interested in finding solutions to these problems through public diplomacy."

Securing the West: The U.S., the U.K., and Present Dangers - Robin Harris, Special Report #51, Heritage Foundation: "[N]ation-building, poppy-field destruction, sanitation, education, and the emancipation of women, however desirable in themselves, are less persuasive arguments for the sacrifice of British blood and treasure. … Since the new Administration places a high value on public diplomacy, here is an early and urgent opportunity to practice it. Whatever the dangers in Afghanistan, the greatest danger remains, as it was from the start, the danger of failure." Image from

Further Setback to GCC-EU Talks - The Media Line: "Ongoing talks between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the European Union regarding the creation of a free-trade agreement have hit a snag … there were disagreements over human rights and the customs duty to be levied on exports from the Gulf. ... The official communiqué issued following the meeting does not hint at the problems: 'The two sides noted with satisfaction the progress achieved at the meetings held between the GCC and EU experts on energy, environment, climate change, economy, and higher education. They welcomed the results of the ongoing activities to promote public diplomacy and outreach between the two regions.'"

Misinformed New York Times and Sri Lanka’s failed overseas public diplomacy: Daya Gamage – Asian Tribune

Renegade no more May 2009 - A Angelo D'Silva, Himal Southasian: "Zhang Yimou [is the] former cinematic rebel and director of the massive ceremonies book ending the Beijing Olympics. … That his work in films have been both critically and commercially successful in the West make Zhang an apt choice for ambassador for what some commentators have labelled as an endeavour of ‘public diplomacy’. It has also earned Zhang the moniker of China’s Leni Riefenstahl, the gifted cinematographer and Nazi propagandist." Zhang Yimou image from article.

Presidential Classroom—Not Your Ordinary Week in Washington – Buddah’s Temple: "Presidential Classroom is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, civic education organization that since 1986, more than 110,000 high school students—from the United States and abroad—have traveled to Washington, D.C. to witness the federal government at work. With the help of Boynton Beach Community High School’s Social Studies Teacher and Sponsor of Presidential Classroom Club, Linda Friedman, enabled seven Boynton High School students to travel to Washington to experience this amazing week…. Along the way meeting some of the most influential people such as … Public Diplomacy Officer—Mark M. Schlachter."

Last week of the First Year - Levantine: "[W]ent off to Cultural Diplomacy for our last class and discussed my final project proposal based on my lunch. Our final project is to devise a cultural diplomacy event in LA, working with a Consulate. … I had my first Association of Public Diplomacy Scholars (APDS) meeting, of which I am now Communications Chair. … I received an honorable mention for my Qatar Public Diplomacy paper in an essay contest at the Center for International Studies at USC."

RELATED ITEMS

ABC Defends Obama's 'New World View,' Touts Supposed Successes - Media Research Center, Wall Street Journal: ABC decided to defend Obama's foreign-policy mettle -- with his only failure coming where he has followed Bush's policy.

Torturing for Propaganda Purposes – Dan Froomkin, Washington Post:

Despite what you've seen on TV, torture is really only good at one thing: eliciting false confessions. Image from

Torture ---Real or Propaganda: Lee Ellis, Opinion Editorials: It is time for all combat veterans from all past wars to explain to our unknowing government officials what actually constitutes torture. We who have served know that America has never used the torture that has been practiced by many other nations and non-uniformed terrorists who represent no one nation or country. Most of us who believe in our Republic and its Constitution think that this furor or controversy has been created by just one thing: clever propaganda. It has been spread by our far left enemies here in the U.S.

Torture? "No No, Dear," Says Condi - Princess Sparkle Pony's Photo Blog I STILL keep track of Condoleezza's hairdo so you don't have to:

Condi's defense of torture in a nutshell is 1. We didn't torture, so whatever it is we did, it therefore could not have been torture, and 2. Anything the President of the United States wants to do is automatically legal. Well, that pretty much covers it. Catchy! Image from

Book Review: Behind the Afghan propaganda: Invisible History: Afghanistan's Untold Story by Paul Fitzgerald and Elizabeth Gould - Reviewed by Anthony Fenton, Asia Times: A chronically disinformed US public should leap at the chance to familiarize themselves with an honest overview of their country's historically scandalous involvement in the region.

Hanoi displays propaganda posters on Vietnamese women - SGGP: More than 40 posters are on display at “The image of Vietnamese women on propaganda posters in the period of 1954 – 1975” exhibition at the Vietnam Women Museum.

Exposed: Director of Nazis' anti-Jewish propaganda - Haaretz: A new German film turns the spotlight on a man many in the country would rather forget: Veit Harlan, director of infamous Nazi propaganda movie "Jud Suess," a wartime hit which helped set the tone for the Holocaust. Harlan, whose Jewish first wife later died in Auschwitz, claimed after the war Goebbels had forced him to direct, and refused to take responsibility for "Suess" and other Nazi films.

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