2014-03-09

Abbreviated Edition



"I find this faith breathtaking; Americans making all those mistakes that can be avoided by being American."

--University of Manitoba Professor Vaclav Smil, reacting in his above volume (p. 24) to the quotation from the book by writer and editor Cullen Murphy, Are We Rome? (2007), p. 206, "Are we Rome? In important ways we just might be. In important ways we're clearly making some of the same mistakes. But the antidote is everywhere. The antidote is being American." Image from

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

Fact Sheets: Highlights of the Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development Budget - newsroomamerica.com: "Highlights of the Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development Budget[:] Fact Sheet Office of the Spokesperson Washington, DC March 4, 2014... Public Diplomacy and Education and Cultural Exchanges ($1.1 billion). Continues



to counter violent extremism, expand and strengthen people-to-people relationships, inform policy making, and deploy resources in strategic alignment with foreign policy priorities; fosters support for academic programs, professional and cultural exchanges, and continued growth for strategic partnerships around the world." Image from

Democracy, Human Rights, Refugees: Atrocity Prevention is a Core National Security Interest for the United States: High-Level Dialogue With Relevant United Nations Entities on the Promotion of Preventative Approaches Within the UN System (as delivered) [not clear by whom -- JB] - press release, EIN News: "We believe a structured inner organizational framework and effective assessments of early warning signs and indicators will give us a better chance to spot problems early on, and allow us to use the tools we have available to influence the context and actors that could trigger violence. This may include sharing information about early warning, establishing national and multilateral focal points, and coordinating responses – be those in the form of deploying mediators or public diplomacy — to stress the importance of preventing a situation from escalating into a mass atrocity."

Opportunities and Challenges in US-Japan and US-Republic of In Us-Japan and Us-Republic Of Korea Alliances – Testimony - Eurasia Review: "Secretary, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs Before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, Washington, DC [.] Chairman Cardin and Members of the Subcommittee, I am pleased to appear before you today to discuss this important topic. Early in his first term, President Obama began implementing his vision for the Asia-Pacific rebalance, based on America’s enduring stake in a prosperous and stable region. The United States has been, we are, and we will remain a Pacific power.



In the second term, the Administration is building out this strategy. The Department of State is focused on dedicating diplomatic, public diplomacy, and assistance resources to the region in a way that is commensurate with the truly comprehensive nature of our engagement. And under Secretary Kerry we are intensifying our support for U.S. companies, climate and energy cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, youth and exchange programs, education, women’s empowerment, and other initiatives." Image from

Ukraine: Is It Time for Public Diplomacy? - Brian Carlson, Public Diplomacy Council: "The U.S. and the European Union may not have military options to turn the Ukraine situation around. Therefore this is precisely the time to think creatively about public diplomacy."

Michelle Obama to Stress Education on China Trip - Bree Feng, New York Times: "Michelle Obama, the American first lady, will travel to China this month for a visit that will focus on 'the power and importance of education' and include a meeting with Peng Liyuan, the wife of President Xi Jinping of China, the White House has said. Ms. Peng is China’s most visible first lady in decades.

As a popular folk singer, she was better known than her husband for many years before he began ascending the top ranks of the Chinese leadership. The meeting of the two women is expected to be a high-profile, and popular, public diplomacy event in China." Image from entry, with caption: Michelle Obama with her daughters, Sasha, left, and Malia, who will travel with the first lady to China this month. See also.

Montana’s Role in Global Sports Diplomacy - Deena Mansour, mtpr.org: "The Mansfield Center is an academic unit of the University of Montana, which entails the usual conferences, research, and academic exchange. But one thing that is special about our Center is our emphasis on community engagement. This effort centers on public diplomacy: fostering people-to-people relations in a long-term approach to forestall global crisis. While we’ve worked with people across the state on such critical issues such as natural resources and trade, we’re excited to approach new territory for the Mansfield Center: the realm of Sports Diplomacy. ... Sports diplomacy is just one of many ways that the U.S. government follows U.S. law as regulated by the Fulbright Hays Act of 1961. This act requires the U.S. government to increase mutual understanding between the people of the U.S. and the people of other countries by means of educational and cultural exchange, and thus to assist in the development of peaceful relations between the United States and the other countries of the world. To fulfill this mandate, the U.S. Department of State has created the SportsUnited Division, which has involved thousands of people from around the world in sports exchanges. The Mansfield Center is honored to have been awarded the first SportsUnited grant in the state to manage an exchange between Montana and China. ... Our namesake Mike Mansfield understood the value of sports diplomacy. In November 1984, as U.S. Ambassador to Japan, he invited the UM football team to Tokyo to play against Army before a crowd of 50,000 people."

Ex-Time executive gets ethics waiver to communicate with press: Richard Stengel now media strategist - By Jim McElhatton, washingtontimes.com: "The Obama administration is waiving its ethics rules for former Time magazine managing editor turned State Department official Richard Stengel, one of a half dozen officials at Foggy Bottom who have received special exemptions from provisions aimed at cracking down on the revolving door between special interests and government. Mr. Stengel becomes the third former media executive now advising Secretary of State John Kerry to require a waiver that lets him communicate with journalists he’d otherwise be barred from contacting.

The waiver, released by the Office of Government Ethics last week, allows the former Time managing editor to 'engage in regular decisions and discussions' with more than 200 subsidiaries of Time Warner Inc. The four-page waiver portrays Mr. Stengel, the new undersecretary for public diplomacy and public affairs, as part media gatekeeper and strategist. 'Mr. Stengel may be asked to weigh in on high-level strategic decisions about which media outlets are best suited for certain access or interviews with Department officials, and on how best to frame news coverage of Department policies, operations, and activities,' the waiver reads. The waiver doesn’t extend to Time magazine or Time Warner itself, but covers Mr. Stengel’s ability to communicate with journalists at any of more than 200 other Time Warner subsidiaries. 'Many of these subsidiaries are regularly engaged in covering the department’s activities and require the Under Secretary to be able to weigh in on decisions that might impact individual outlets’ news coverage,' Richard Visek, deputy legal adviser at the State Department, wrote in a letter justifying the waiver for Mr. Stengel. A State Department declined to comment on the waiver Tuesday. ... In November, The Washington Times reported on Mr. Stengel’s financial disclosure forms, which showed he received a more than quarter-million dollar bonus around the same time he oversaw layoffs at Time magazine." Image from entry, with caption: The Obama administration is waiving its ethics rules for former Time magazine editor Richard Stengel, now an advisor to Secretary of State John Kerry.

Fact Checking Twitter: Venezuela Protests Highlight Key Weakness of Social Media - indypendent.org: "The adoption of  social media as a tool to advance
US
foreign policy objectives, including regime change, did not end with President George W. Bush’s administration. Actually, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton further developed it as a coherent policy tool labelled ‘21st Century Statecraft.’ I wrote about this and how
Venezuela
and other ALBA countries were targets for this new technological imperialism back in 2012.

In the article I noted how Judith McHale, former under secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs at the State Department, provided clarity about how exactly Washington planned to use these new technologies in a forum hosted by John Hopkins University in March 2011. “New media and connective technologies enhance our ability to listen...Social media provides new ways for us to keep our ear to the ground,” said McHale. ‘Of course, we are not interested in developing social media platforms for the sake of having them. We are interested in applying social media to promote our strategic objectives in the
Americas
.’ A few months later at a June 2011 Senate Hearing Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Roberta Jacobson said that the State Department ‘has programs that support media training in
Bolivia
,
Nicaragua
,
Venezuela
, and
Ecuador
; these programs address the use and impact of social media….’ McHale’s remarks and Jacobson’s admission seem salient now in light of the use of how social media in
Venezuela
has been used to spread misinformation in attempts to destabilize the country and delegitimize that country’s democratically-elected government." Uncaptioned image from entry

Humanitarian aid is the best, and only, solution for Syria: The US and international community have run out of other options for addressing Syria’s bloody civil war. Greater humanitarian assistance can have a stabilizing effect, brings factions together, and paves the way for future cooperation. Without it, broken societies never mend - Tara Sonenshine, csmonitor.com: "She [Sonenshine] was formerly ... served as undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs." See also.

Food and Foreign Policy: A Diplomatic Cuisine – Paul Rockower, Levantine: “Dr. Johanna Mendelson Forman, who teaches the course on Conflict Cuisine at American University, penned a piece with former Undersec Tara Sonenshine on the concepts of Food  and Foreign Policy meeting

Conflict Cuisine. And what is a discussion on Food and Foreign Policy without a blog from the Quai D'orsay- the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on wine and diplomacy." See also; image from

U.S. Senate Resolution: Sri Lanka's rare display of public diplomacy - Daya Gamage, asiantribune.com: "At a time Sri Lanka is battling the rise of 'Global Diplomatic Insurgency', well replenished by the former acolytes of Prabhaharan's terror-separatist group LTTE who are now covertly and overtly advocating a bifurcation of Sri Lanka within the Tamil Diaspora, Sri Lanka has displayed a rare public diplomacy victory in engaging in a fruitful dialogue with a group of U.S. Senators to move a resolution to bring the U.S. and Sri Lanka to the same page on 'national issues' concerning this South Asian nation. The significance is that the Senate Republican Resolution moved and tabled on 27 February urges the Obama White House to recognize Sri Lanka's sovereignty and maintain relations to safeguard it. The movers of the resolution expect the State Department to take note of what they have written in it. ... The evidence is that the handlers of Sri Lanka's external affairs and its Washington diplomatic facility seem to have done just that, to the delight of this Online Newspaper which has been advocating to use public affairs, public diplomacy and strategic communication in a more effective manner to 'explain Sri Lanka' to the rest of the world who have succumbed to misinformation, misrepresentation, half-truths and diabolical falsehood to haul the country all way to Geneva."

Ukraine partisans hire former U.S. lawmakers to lobby their case: It’s among a number of countries undergoing political upheaval that have turned to former elected and government officials to make their case in Washington - Jonathan D. Salant, kjonline.com: "For a decade, Democrat Jim Slattery and Republican Vin Weber represented opposing parties in the House. Today, the two former representatives are aligned in advocating for a western-leaning Ukraine. The two ex-lawmakers were among the lobbyists paid more than $1 million last year to represent partisans in the Ukrainian conflict, Senate records show. It’s a familiar tactical move as a number of countries undergoing political upheaval, including Egypt and Libya, are turning to former elected and government officials to make their case in Washington. ... The Egyptian government in October hired the Washington- based Glover Park Group, whose principals include veterans of former President Bill Clinton’s administration, for 'public diplomacy, strategic communications counsel and government relations services,' according to a Justice Department registration form. The current Egyptian government took power in July after a military coup ousted Islamist president Mohamed Mursi."

Post-Oscars, PM unveils tourism TV show in Hollywood: Israel-focused episode produced by ‘Travel Detective’ Peter Greenberg expected to bring 200,000 more to Israel - timesofisrael.com: "After meeting with US President Barack Obama, addressing American officials and speaking at this week’s annual AIPAC policy conference, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday made his way from Washington to California to unveil a TV tourism program that, once aired, is expected to bring hundreds of thousands more tourists to Israel. The program, produced and hosted by CBS travel editor Peter Greenberg, is an hourlong show

presenting Israel’s tourist sites in a new light. ... The show received support from the Tourism Ministry due to its contribution to Israeli efforts in the fields of 'public diplomacy, economy and tourism.'" Image from entry, with caption: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu floats in the Dead Sea with TV producer Peter Greenberg

Scream and shout that Iran is lying - Dan Margalit, israelhayom.com: "Israel disrupted its neighbors' afternoon nap on Wednesday. In fact, the nuisance had the world wake up from its siesta. That West, that sleeping beauty that has all but passed out, had been dreaming about Iran being gradually transformed into a moderate nation when those rude Israeli commandos raided a Panamanian-flagged merchant vessel some 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) away from home, seizing M-302 missiles that had been dispatched from Syria to the Gaza Strip, by way of Iran. ... Yes, the news of the operation was made public before the troops were safely back home. Was the decision motivated by a desire to improve the coverage of Netanyahu's trip [to the U.S.]? If I were speaking on behalf of the government, I would have this answer: Yes! Many Israelis have lamented that Israel's public diplomacy efforts have lacked a proactive posture that prepares public opinion rather than reacts to it. Remember that botched operation to divert the Gaza-bound Turkish-led flotilla in 2010? This time around, public diplomacy took a front-row seat. The world may be tuned out, but Israel must nevertheless scream and shout. The attempted shipment of arms through the Klos C was in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions (why has the Israeli Foreign Ministry yet to lodge a complaint with the U.N.?). The intercepted delivery shows that Tehran is engaging in illicit activity behind Egypt's back, forging new ties with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Eventually people will realize that for the ayatollah regime, lying is just part of its daily life, part of a routine."

The Objective: To Embarrass Iran: Amir Rapaport's interpretation of the IDF Navy's raid on the Iranian weapons boat: what really happened and what Israel wanted to achieve through that naval action off the coast of Sudan - israeldefense.com: "[T]he military effort in Africa was accompanied immediately

by a political effort against Iran, and a wide Israeli public diplomacy effort." Image from entry, with caption: The Minister of Defense and Chief of Staff during the operation

Pope Francis forced to cancel Israel visit: Foreign Ministry source confirms trip planned for May scrapped due to ongoing strike by Israeli diplomats - timesofisrael.com: "A source at the ministry confirmed to The Times of Israel on Thursday that the pontiff’s trip was cancelled because Foreign Ministry workers are currently on strike and are unable to make the necessary arrangements

for the high-profile visit. ... No diplomatic cables are being sent by diplomats and the cadets course and distribution of pro-Israel public diplomacy materials has been put on hold." Image from entry, with caption: Pope Francis dines with Argentine Jewish leaders.

Why the United Nations’ policies on Israel matter now - Danny Ayalon, Jerusalem Post: "[R]ecognizing the fact that the anti-Israel campaign in what should be the world’s preeminent international organization has continued largely unchallenged for years, I would argue that countering the

UN deserves to be among our most pressing public diplomacy agenda items – even more so than fighting BDS [boycott, divestment, sanctions)." Image from entry, with caption: The meetinghall of the United Nations Human Rights Council

Moscow engages with ‘Old Europe’ to calm Ukraine - M K Bhadrakumar, Indian Punchline: "Diplomats may say one thing while facing the camera while knowing fully well that facts do not bear out what they say. Call it propaganda and posturing — or, ‘public diplomacy’ — but at the end of the day, the sensational disclosure to the effect that the violence and bloodshed that Kiev witnessed in the crucial run-up to the fall of President Viktor Yanukovich was not due to ‘repression’ ordered by him but was perpetrated by the ultra-nationalist elements and their hit men completely demolishes the narrative propounded by the United States."

As Sochi 2014 comes to close, ‘New face of Russia’ is celebrated - Alan Abrahamson, PD News–CPD Blog, USC Center on Public Diplomacy: "Sochi didn’t boast the raucous atmosphere of some Games."

Uzbekistan
Equally Important All The Countries Of
Central Asia
! [Google "translation"]: "The 'Central Eurasia' in partnership with Internet magazine 'Time of the East '(
Kyrgyzstan
) and informational support agency 'Regnum' (
Russia
) continues to virtual expert forum on cooperation in Central Asia (CA), involving the discussion of the various specialists spheres: it is only on the basis of an interdisciplinary approach can be close to solving the key regional issues. ... [T]he project 'Central Eurasia' deeply grateful to experts from Uzbekistan, who volunteered to take part in the next part of the discussion: Nazokat Kasymova, Saodat Kasymova, Aybek Kimsanbayev and Azamat Seitova. ... Nazokat Kasymova, Doctor of Political Sciences, Professor: I think that is difficult to determine which of the post-Soviet Central Asian countries closer and priority for

Uzbekistan. Each country has its own significance, again looking at what angle and in what plane to put a question in terms of economy, security, culture, traditions, or from the point of view of the state of the people and civil society. What you need to do to at least preserve and strengthen the relationship as a maximum? Unequivocally that the most problematic are the issues that we identify with a national perspective. These interests, of course, will be different once defined as national, although, of course, we can speculate about the national, state and other interests. Therefore, in my opinion, the only way towards strengthening relations with our neighbors - is respect and civilized approach to addressing issues as well as the appropriate choice of policy instruments. There are likely to be good so-called folk / public diplomacy (public diplomacy), the emphasis on general, regional interests, and can not exist outside of close and friendly relations. [Здесь, скорее всего, хороша т.н. народная/общественная дипломатия (public diplomacy), акцентирование на общих, региональных интересах и невозможности существования вне тесных и дружественных связей.]" Image from, with caption: The last Emir of Bukhara: Photographer Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky captured Russia on the brink of modernisation. Pictured here in lavish robes is Emir Seyyid Mir Mohammed Alim Khan, the final Emir of Bukhara (present-day Uzbekistan), ca. 1910.

China's Top Political Advisor Pledges to Help Deepen Reforms - womenofchina.cn: "China's top political advisor Yu Zhengsheng pledged to further efforts to contribute to the deepening of the country's reforms in a comprehensive manner on March 3, 2014. ... He said the CPPCC should have members from Hong Kong and Macao play an active role and improve exchanges between the mainland and the two regions. Exchanges and cooperation across the Taiwan Strait should also be expanded, he said.

He also called on the CPPCC to play a more active role in foreign contacts and public diplomacy." Image from entry, with caption: Yu Zhengsheng, Chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), delivers a report on the work of the CPPCC National Committee's Standing Committee at the second session of the 12th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 3, 2014. The second session of the 12th National Committee of the CPPCC, the national advisory body, opened in Beijing on March 3.

Sun Ping: Women Play an Important Role in Public Diplomacy - womenofchina.cn: "Executive Director of Renmin University National Opera Study Center and celebrated Peking Opera artist Sun Ping stressed women's role in public diplomacy and expressed her views about public diplomacy during an interview to a Women of China reporter on March 3, 2014. As for morality and civilization in the family, Sun defined what she believes to be a woman's role. 'Women are the core of a family and take responsibility for caring for both the old and the young, and building harmonious relations in the family. If women can endeavor in promoting morality and civilization of family, serious incidents will reduce in the society because a woman's role is irreplaceable,' explained Sun. 'We will work on making Renmin University a Think Tank of public diplomacy. By integrating domestic universities, we are hoping to create a platform. We believe the institute can provide resources for public diplomacy for the whole country. It can spread relative knowledge among college students,' said Sun. The phrase 'public diplomacy' was included in Chinese President Hu Jintao's report, delivered at the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Spokesman Zhao Qizheng also outlined the diplomatic work of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the first press conference of last year’s annual session. Renmin University of China research institute on public diplomacy was founded in Beijing on February 26, 2014. The institute, which will be headed up by Zhao Qizheng the former director of the State Council Information Office, will consist of research teams from the School of Journalism and Communication, the School of International Studies and the Peking Opera research center of Renmin University. Executive Director of Renmin University National Opera Study Center and celebrated Peking Opera artist Sun Ping will hold the post of vice president of the institute. Public diplomacy has become a key issue at the annual Session, and CPPCC members have all made their contributions in this respect. Sun is active in international cultural exchange activities among different countries, and has a deep understanding of diplomatic policies and the importance of public diplomacy. As part of her proposal, Sun reveals that she hopes Peking Opera will become an elective course in universities. Sun concluded the interview with the comment. 'As a professional woman, I usually give consideration to both my family and work. Only if you take them as main tasks to grasp can you do good work overall.'" Image from entry, with caption: Executive Director of Renmin University National Opera Study Center and celebrated Peking Opera artist Sun Ping stressed women's role in public diplomacy and expressed her views about public diplomacy during an interview to a Women of China reporter on March 3, 2014.

The Latest Round of China’s Panda Diplomacy: Winning Hearts in Belgium - Falk Hartig, PD News–CPD Blog, USC Center on Public Diplomacy: "The international star of animal diplomacy ... is and will remain the giant panda, as will be seen in early April when Xing Hui and Hao Hao make their public debut in Belgium."

Ethiopia: Ministry Signs a Cooperative Agreement On Transboundary Resources With Addis Ababa University - allafrica.com: "The State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dewano Kedir and the President of Addis Ababa University (AAU), Dr. Admasu Tsegaye, signed on Friday (February, 28) a cooperative framework agreement on the promotion of equitable and reasonable use, development and utilization of transboundary natural resources including the Nile waters. Mr. Dewano noted that the joint partnership and cooperation between the Ministry and AAU would support Ethiopia's efforts in making the transboundary resources as drivers of peace, stability and prosperity in the Horn of Africa and beyond. ... He underlined that the Ministry was committed to work with AAU in the areas of public diplomacy, Diaspora affairs, business diplomacy, international law and other diplomatic activities."

Qatar cont. – Paul Rockower, Levantine: “Years ago I wrote a term paper on Qatar's public diplomacy and its niche diplomacy in conflict resolution. It looks like all of Qatar's muckraking has made it some enemies among its Gulf neighbors.”

The new era of diplomacy: communication technologies and international relations - Annalisa De Vitis, ilcaffegeopolitico.org: "Abstract - Communication and Information Technologies are considerably impacting the way we engage in international relations: the practice of diplomacy seems to evolve towards a ‘mediated’ interaction amongst leaders as well as between leaders and populations. As international relations and diplomatic practices change quickly, it is difficult to understand their real impact on diplomacy. And it is even hard to understand the relation between ICTs and diplomatic activities. In the history of diplomacy, the invention of new media has always affected diplomatic practices by increasing the speed of information.

We cannot deny that the speed of information is important in contemporary diplomacy but the newest technological impact, nowadays, consists in the possibility that information reaches almost any place in a very short time. As a consequence, the broad accessibility of information could be: (a) a challenge to those political and diplomatic processes which policy-makers have always kept secret to the public (b) the reason why the limit between diplomacy and public diplomacy is blurring. In fact, at the moment it is not that clear how much policy-makers are able to hide secret information to the media and societies as well as it is hard to trace a clear limit between public and traditional diplomacy." Image from entry, with caption: I social media sono diventati parte della “toolbox” della diplomazia

We’ve Upgraded to Public Diplomacy 2.1, but Does it Matter? - Michael Ardaiolo, PD News–CPD Blog, USC Center on Public Diplomacy: "The rise of Web 2.0 tools created a new, easy-to-use channel for diplomats and public diplomacy bureaus to reach far-flung publics. Many foreign ministries adopted the new technology almost immediately, creating a field called public diplomacy 2.0. ... We now know that social media is not a public diplomacy panacea. ... Public diplomacy 2.1 practitioners are exposed to more information and viewpoints than thought humanly possible just a decade or two ago. "

Annenberg holds conference on cultural diplomacy - Helen Baik, dailytrojan.com (March 2):"On Friday, the Center on Public Diplomacy at the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism held its 10th annual research conference, 'A New Era in Cultural Diplomacy: Rising Soft Power in Emerging Markets.' The event was co-sponsored by the Center for International Studies, and its purpose was to help students better understand the global environment.

It explored the cultural diplomacy efforts pursued by a number of countries with emerging economies." Image from entry, with caption: Cultural speakers · Yasemin Yilmaz, co-founder of the Los Angeles Turkish Film Festival, spoke with students about the global environment.

Naomi Sakr's New Book on Egyptian Journalism - Joseph Braude, Huffington Post: "Naomi Sakr's Transformations in Egyptian Journalism (I.B. Tauris, 2013), should be required reading for American public diplomacy specialists who want to engage Egyptians through the media."

Moroccan king plays up business, religious ties on African tour - france24.com: "The Moroccan King’s status as a traditional Muslim leader in West Africa is another sign of Rabat’s influence in the region.

'In the Middle Ages, the Moroccan empire used to spread all the way to Timbuktu and Senegal, and the Tijaniyyah brotherhood still recognizes the king as their spiritual leader,' Ismaïl Régragui, the author of 'Moroccan public diplomacy: a religiously branded strategy?' told FRANCE 24." Image from entry, with caption: Mohammed VI in Conakry on March 3, 2014

Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Al-Sabah awarded 'Robert and JoAnn Bendetson Public Diplomacy Award' - kuna.net.kw: "Former Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah was awarded late Sunday the 'Robert and JoAnn Bendetson Public Diplomacy Award'

by the 'Institute for Global Leadership', Tufts University, in recognition of his 'truly accomplished and dignified diplomatic career.' The University established the Award in 2011, under the leadership of the Institute for Global Leadership, to recognize global leaders who have dedicated their efforts to fostering the development of a united and peaceful future for all peoples." Image from entry, with caption: Former Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah

Third Women in CE Career Forum Event Set For June - dealerscope.com: "Women in CE has announced that its third annual Women in CE Career Enhancement Forum will take place June 24 at the Rubin Museum of Art in New York, as part of CE Week. The all-day event will feature a networking breakfast, sessions, workshops, and keynote speakers, before wrapping up with a closing reception. The opening keynote will feature Charlotte Beers, the longtime business executive who served as Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs in the Bush Administration from 2001 to 2003."

The Six States of 
California
 – Paul Rockower, Levantine: "’I love 
Germany
, so much I'm glad there are two of them.’ - Francois Mauriac [.] A modest proposal to break California up into 6 states.  As the Undersecretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs for the State of 
Jefferson
, I agree. Thanks Abba.”

Information Mercenaries: The New Soldiers of Fortune - Justin Rashid, PD News – CPD Blog, USC Center on Public Diplomacy: "Private security companies would do well to recognize the need for public diplomacy and recruit individuals who can handle it."

Here she is ... Miss Washington County - Ellen Spitaleri, portlandtribune.com: "Three young women with ties to Washington County were crowned Saturday evening, advancing them to the Miss Oregon pageant in Seaside June 21 to 28. ... [Among them] Twila Tschan has a bachelor’s degree in international studies from the University of South Alabama, and hopes to attend graduate school and eventually become a U.S. Foreign Service officer in public diplomacy."

Image from entry, with caption: Twila Tschan, 24, is Miss Washington County. Elizabeth Denny, 23, is Miss Metro West. Kennedy Ho, 16, is Miss Washington Countys Outstanding Teen.

Juniata International Student Wins Bailey Oratorical Second Consecutive Year - juniata.edu: "Brenton Joo Mitchell, a 2006 graduate of

Juniata, is training program manager for Penn State University's World in Conversation; A Center for Public Diplomacy. His responsibilities include managing and training dialogue facilitators, researching the center's initiatives, and supporting program development opportunities." Image from entry

RELATED ITEMS

Russia’s information warriors are on the march – we must respond: A robust campaign to tell the truth about Crimea is needed to counter Moscow’s lies - Anne Applebaum, telegraph.co.uk: "A few days ago, the US State Department put out a statement entitled 'President Putin’s Fiction: 10 False Claims about Ukraine.' Hours later, the Russian foreign ministry fulminated against the list, calling it 'shocking, not as much for its primitive distortion of reality as its cynicism and overt 'double standards’…' In other words, the statement hit its mark. I hope there is more to come."

Russia slams US for using 'low-grade propaganda' against Putin - globalpost.com: Russia's foreign ministry on Thursday angrily dismissed as "low-grade" propaganda a list published by the US State Department of alleged false statements in President Vladimir Putin's comments to journalists this week on Ukraine. "We won't descend to arguing with low-grade propaganda," the foreign ministry said in a statement, referring to the State Department list published Wednesday titled: "President Putin's Fiction: 10 False Claims About Ukraine."

Propaganda and nonsense: Even more New York Times hypocrisy: What the New York Times and John Kerry pretend to forget is the real history of America's noxious role in the world - Patrick L. Smith, salon.com: “You just don’t in the 21st century behave in 19th century fashion by invading another country on a completely trumped-up pretext.” Thus spoke Secretary of State John Kerry on NBC’s “Meet the Press” last Sunday, just as
Russia
took control of Crimea in the latest escalation of the
Ukraine
crisis. We have before us a full-dress campaign to persuade the world that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s military advances into Ukraine this week come as an unwarranted intrusion into the affairs of a nation struggling to find its way to a remade polity on the model of the liberal Western democracies.

This is the explicit part. Implicit are the clean hands of American and European policy cliques and the broad approval enjoyed by the provisional government that appointed itself after President Viktor Yanukovych was hounded across the border with Russia two weeks ago. This is the Good Housekeeping perspective on Ukraine. Kerry’s silly remark last weekend is one among countless in the service of this wholesale rewrite of events. In the old days — when Washington undermined Mossadegh in Iran, say, orArbenz in Guatemala, or even Allende much later in Chile — we had to wait years before the truth was unearthed beneath the macadam road of propaganda and lies laid quickly atop it at the time of events. Uncaptioned image from entry

Huh? Washington Post runs Russian propaganda as world eyes Ukraine stand-off - dailycaller.com:

The Washington Post on Wednesday ran a nice, big, paid section of Russian propaganda in its newspaper. Thanks Vladmir Putin! Weird timing, eh? It’s not like there’s a tense international standoff going on in
Ukraine
involving Russian troops. Several countries have threatened to impose sanctions on
Russia
, and the
U.S.
may pull out of the June G8 Summit in
Sochi
. President Obama warned on Feb. 28, “The United States will stand with the international community in affirming that there will be costs for any military invention in the
Ukraine
.” So does the Post senses any possible conflicts of interest here?

US Media Escalates Propaganda Offensive on Ukraine - Joseph Kishore and David North, globalresearch.ca: In the wake of the right-wing coup in Ukraine organized by the United States and the European powers, the American media is responding with a torrent of inflammatory war propaganda directed against Russia.

Propaganda has people viewing Ukraine conflict very differently - Jordan Chittley, knlive.ctvnews.ca: We in North America and even the Western world see the current situation in Ukraine one way – often as a justified uprising to overthrow a tyrant leader and Russia using an inappropriate amount of force to insert their influence.

But things are viewed very differently in Russia and other former Soviet Union countries. Image from entry, with caption: Ukrainian riot police officers block pro-Russian supporters of activist Pavel Gubarev during a rally in Donetsk, Ukraine.

Ukraine, Putin TV and the Big Lie: You won't believe what the Russian media is saying about America right now - Leonid Ragozin, politico.com: Never mind that

Kiev’s pro-democracy movement was overwhelmingly liberal, tolerant and, toward the end of it, increasingly Russian-speaking: to Putin’s propaganda machine, it’s all an American and European plot to destabilize Russia and turn the Russian people into slaves of the West. Uncaptioned image from entry

Swedish Foreign Minister Bildt: “massive propaganda war” in Ukraine|Radio Sweden - BBG Watcher, BBG Watch.

Uncaptioned image from entry

Propaganda in Ukrainian conflict jumbling news report - Jack Werner, Metro Sweden: Online activist Martin Löwdin calls this a ”war of information.”

Putin’s Crimea Propaganda Machine: To justify its invasion of Crimea, the Kremlin and state-run media went into full fabrication mode this weekend - Here are the lies that Russia is telling its viewers back home - Oleg Shynkarenko, Daily Beast: No one in Ukraine or in the West doubts that the Russian invasion was provoked by anything other than Putin’s desire to reestablish the USSR 2.0. But every invader wants to look like a liberator, and in order to do so, Putin needs his scary extremists, his scared Ukrainians and his Crimean soldiers welcoming him with open arms.

Exposing Putin’s Propaganda - Cliff Kincaid, canadafreepress.com: A rule of thumb for understanding Vladimir Putin’s propaganda regarding the Ukraine is to assume the truth is usually the opposite of what he says.

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