"Marx had actually considered moving to the United States -- to newly annexed Texas -- but he discovered it was 'hellishly expensive' and dropped the idea."
--Kevin Peraino, Lincoln in the World: The Making of a Statesman and the Dawn of American Power (2023), p. 181; image from
"Confronted on Execution, Texas Proudly Says It Kills Efficiently"
--The New York Times Headline (May 13)
VIDEOS
Michael Davidson – Public Diplomacy - aubg.edu: "(October 16, 2013) Michael Davidson discusses international relations and how they really work in reality. He also talks about the people involved in the practical application of diplomacy and the way they take decisions. The speaker gives examples related to the European Union and the United Nations. Michael Davidson is the Head of the Political Section of the British Embassy in Bulgaria."
Russian State TV Anchor: 'Propaganda Is Journalism' - RFE/RL: "Andrei Kondrashov is one of 300 media professionals awarded by Russian President Vladimir Putin for their 'objective' coverage of events in Crimea. Speaking to RFE/RL in Moscow, Russian state television's leading news anchor defended his award and said he saw no difference between journalism and propaganda."
'Disinformation' Documentary Wins 'Telly' Award - "'Disinformation,' the stunning 2013 film documentary from WND Films that reveals, as never before, the wide-ranging Soviet-era disinformation campaigns against America that continue in effect even today, has been honored with a prestigious Telly Award.
‘The timing for the ‘Disinformation’ documentary and book couldn’t be any better, given the rise of Russian nationalism and the grave dangers this presents to the West and America,’ said WND Films’ George D. Escobar, who co-produced the film. ‘All of the threat and turmoil Russia is now suffering is fully revealed in this powerful movie directed by Emmy-winning director, Stan Moore.’”
ANNOUNCEMENTS
School of Diplomatic Skills - civic.md: "The European Academy of Diplomacy in Warsaw is accepting applications for the Schools of Diplomatic Skills and the Social Media for Public Diplomacy workshops to be held in July and cordially invite you and your colleagues to participate in those upcoming projects. The School of Diplomatic Skills is comprised of 2 week-long programs at different levels of diplomatic skills. ... The Social Media for Public Diplomacy to be held on 12 - 13 July 2014, is an intensive two-day program designed to improve professional capabilities to develop and implement successful social media campaigns... The Social Media for Public Diplomacy Workshop is designed for [inter alia] ... engaged individuals eager to gain invaluable experience in Public Diplomacy."
Young Diplomats Forum 2014, London - "Deadline: 30 June 2014 Open to: young leaders from across the world Venue: 1-5 September 2014, London, UK Description [:] The Young Diplomats Forum (YDF) is set up to recognise, enhance and develop the next generation of diplomats. This community
of exceptionally bright and accomplished future leaders will gain further insight, tools and opportunities to engage with key stakeholders at a crucial time in their careers and broaden their connections to influence global leaders. ... Our 2014 programme is varied from foreign policy, to sport and public diplomacy, to energy security and other topics." Image from entry
PUBLIC DIPLOMACY IN THE NEWS
America’s global leadership role - Anthony Manduca, timesofmalta.com: "America’s leadership role in the world, as well as its ability to deter would-be aggressors and troublemakers, has been in the spotlight lately, especially since the collapse of the Arab Spring (with the exception of Tunisia, the one bright spark in the entire region) and Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. Because the US is the world’s only superpower, as well as the most powerful global democracy, people expect it to act or to assume a leadership role whenever there is an international crisis or something goes wrong. America has the unenviable task of being considered the ‘world’s policeman’ and of being criticised for failing to act, either militarily or politically, whenever such action is needed on the world stage. Of course, when things go wrong as a result of its involvement, it is also heavily criticised. When Obama was first elected President of the US in November 2008 his foreign policy platform included an emphasis on global engagement, public diplomacy and multilateralism. His election came in the aftermath of a disastrous war in Iraq and an unpopular one in Afghanistan, which are expected to cost $6 trillion (€4.3 trillion), the equivalent of $75,000 for every American household, according to Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. ... On a more positive note, back in 2008 the US and Iran were getting nowhere in arriving at an agreement over Teheran’s nuclear programme; last November, however, Iran and the 5+1 countries (which includes the US) signed an interim nuclear accord and are currently negotiating a formal treaty. Hopefully, such a treaty will be signed; this has the potential to be the greatest foreign policy achievement of the Obama presidency, and would be a great victory for Obama’s belief in international engagement and the use of economic sanctions as a method of convincing countries to alter their behaviour. Time will tell, of course."
America's Standing in the World Before and After Obama - Kılıç Buğra Kanat, dailysabah.com: "Six years ago when President Barack Obama was running for the presidency, one of his major foreign policy goals was to restore U.S. standing in the world, which was experiencing one of the steepest decline in its history. Popular opinion regarding the U.S. had started to turn negative in the aftermath of the war in Afghanistan. Although global public opinion and international organizations, such as NATO, supported the war in Afghanistan, several different procedures that U.S. security forces adopted in this period started to tarnish the image of the U.S. as well as the legitimacy of its actions on the ground. ... Now, when he only has 30 months left in his presidency, President Obama is facing a test on foreign policy regarding U.S. standing around the world. Although polls shows U.S. standing today in a better place than six years ago, many observers agree that it is way behind expectations. ... In this final phase of his presidency, President Obama's policies on these matters will have serious impacts on U.S. popularity in the world. Especially in Syria and Egypt, if he continues to follow his current policies, the U.S. may face another downward trend in its standing. Under those circumstances, public diplomacy campaigns will only waste money on U.S. foreign policy."
Tomgram: Ann Jones, How to Lose Friends and Influence No One (The State Department Way) - tomdispatch.com: "As Washington increasingly comes to rely on the 'forward projection' of military force to maintain its global position, the Fulbright Program may be the last vestige of an earlier, more democratic, equitable, and generous America that enjoyed a certain moral and intellectual standing in the world. Yet, long advertised by the U.S. government as 'the flagship international educational exchange program' of American cultural diplomacy, it is now in the path of the State Department’s torpedoes. Right now, all over the world, former Fulbright scholars like me (Norway, 2012) are raising the alarm, trying to persuade Congress to stand by one of its best creations, passed by unanimous bipartisan consent of the Senate and signed into law by President Truman in 1946. ... [T]he Fulbright budget, which falls under the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), seems to be on the chopping block. The proposed cut amounts to chump change in Washington, only $30.5 million. But the unexpected reduction from a $234.7 million budget this year to $204.2 million in 2015 represents 13% of what Fulbright gets. For such a relatively small-budget program, that’s a big chunk. No one in the know will say just where the cuts are going to fall, but the most likely target could be 'old Europe,' and the worldwide result is likely to be a dramatic drop from 8,000 to fewer than 6,000 in the number of applicants who receive the already exceedingly modest grants. ... This is scarcely the moment for Washington to knock one nickel off its budget for international exchange. Longstanding educational partners of the U.S. in Europe, Asia, South America, Australia, and elsewhere now have other excellent opportunities for intellectual, scientific, and artistic exchange. Meanwhile, the dysfunctional, militarized, pistol-packin’ United States has lost much of its global allure."
Will Someone Stand Up? - Brian Carlson, publicdiplomacycouncil.org: "Just at the moment when America is bringing the troops home, when Vladimir Putin is challenging us as no one has since 1939, and when the United States needs friends and partners more than ever before, the State Department proposes a 30.5 million dollar cut in the Fulbright Program, America’s flagship international educational exchange program. Why would State Department officials do this?
A low level spokesman said the Department needs to make some ‘strategic shifts.’ The strategic shift that needs to be made is a dramatic increase in public diplomacy of all kinds, but especially the kind that has proven to work. Over the years, Fulbright has arguably produced more friends and supporters for America than any other State Department expenditure." Uncaptioned image from entry
Promise of #Hashtag - Jake Robert Nelson, Freedom Fries for Lunch: "Many of the [State] Department’s missteps in executing social media diplomacy are the result of broader structural flaws––a fetishization of bureaucratic hierarchy, tensions from internal turf wars, a hesitancy towards innovation, a slow-churning process for creating new material––clashing with the reality of a media consumption climate requiring the instant and constant transmission of content. ... In an effort to improve the implementation of social media diplomacy, U.S. diplomats and policymakers should acknowledge the following general truths: 1. Social Media Diplomacy Requires an Understanding of the Target Audience [:] Like any other product, social media public diplomacy must reflect an understanding of its target audience. There is no one-size-fits-all model for sharing content. ... In countries with lower rates of medium-specific penetration, the self-selection bias that characterizes more traditional forms of public diplomacy undermines the claim that social media is a more democratic form of content dispersal. The tweet that may be wildly successful in Saudi Arabia, where Twitter penetration is 33 percent, may not circulate beyond a small circle of American-friendly elites elsewhere. 2. Social Media Diplomacy Requires Continuous Local Engagement [:] ... In most cases, an embassy’s public diplomacy officer or local staff, when appropriately trained, will be more likely to create lasting relationships over social media than a contractor working from Washington. 3. Social Media Diplomacy Requires Some Delegation of Authority ... How can the Department strike a balance between the desire to delegate the creation of content and the need for centralized supervision? By taking social media seriously, mainstreaming it into FSO training, and having a centralized hub in Washington that can provide clear guidance. Only when diplomats are properly trained in how to use social media will principals feel comfortable loosening up the reins."
Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Richard Stengel Travels to Kyiv, Ukraine; Riga, Latvia; and Brussels, Belgium - Media Note, Office of the Spokesperson, Washington, DC, May 11, 2014, state.gov: "U.S. Department of State’s Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Richard Stengel will travel to Kyiv, Ukraine; Riga, Latvia; and Brussels, Belgium on May 12-16. Under Secretary Stengel will use his trip to stress the need for greater regional engagement to support Ukraine’s upcoming May 25 elections, push back against efforts to delegitimize them and ensure that all Ukrainians are given the chance to decide their future for themselves. In Ukraine and Latvia, Under Secretary Stengel will meet with his counterparts in the Ukrainian and Latvian governments, members of civil society, and the media. His visit to Kyiv underscores U.S. support for Ukraine’s new interim government as it works to build an inclusive, transparent, and accountable system of government that is responsive to the needs of all Ukrainians. In Riga, he will focus on further strengthening the robust government-to-government and people-to-people relationships that exist between the United States and Latvia. In Belgium, Under Secretary Stengel will engage with a wide spectrum of European media and think tank leaders to discuss the current crisis in Ukraine; highlight U.S support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine; emphasize the importance of ensuring Ukraine’s upcoming elections are free, fair and transparent; and reaffirm the value America places on the Transatlantic partnership. As the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, Stengel provides global strategic leadership for all Department of State public diplomacy and public affairs engagement. These programs are designed to ensure an accurate understanding of America’s foreign policy, foster mutual understanding with publics around the world, and promote universal values, including respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of states, human rights such as the fundamental freedom of expression, and democratic principles of government." See also.
Southeast Ukraine Referenda Show Strong Support for Secession from the Coup Regime in Kiev - ainhoaaristizabal.wordpress.com: "Voters in two eastern Ukrainian provinces showed strong support for secession from the coup regime in Kiev, but the U.S. State Department and other regime supporters reject the outcome and vow to press ahead with a special presidential vote on May 25, Robert Parry reports. ... The next step for the State Department will be to promote a special Ukrainian presidential election called by the Kiev regime for May 25, with only regime supporters being given any chance of victory after major candidates representing the anti-coup east withdrew from the race, citing threats of arrest and physical attacks. Whereas State Department officials dismissed the legitimacy of Sunday’s referenda, in part, because of eastern Ukraine’s violence and disorder, that argument is sure to disappear in the run-up to the May 25 election. To guarantee that the West’s news media is reading from the right script, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy Richard Stengel left for Kiev and other European capitals 'to stress the need for greater regional engagement to support Ukraine’s upcoming May 25 elections,' the State Department announced, saying Stengel would 'push back against efforts to delegitimize [the elections] and ensure that all Ukrainians are given the chance to decide their future for themselves.' ... Stengel is the same official who on April 29 issued a sloppily prepared 'Dipnote' that made broad-brush criticisms of RT’s content, accusing the Russian network of painting 'a dangerous and false picture of Ukraine’s legitimate government.' But Stengel’s commentary failed to include citations to the offending articles and also revealed a stunning ignorance of the events surrounding the Ukraine crisis."
Burning Ukraine’s Protesters Alive - Robert Parry, english.farsnews.com: "Today, in Syria, many of the most aggressive fighters against Bashar al-Assad’s government are Arab jihadists recruited from across the region and armed by Saudi Arabia and other Persian Gulf oil sheikdoms. So, it fits with a pattern for the U.S. government to hold its nose and rely on neo-Nazis from western Ukraine to take the fight to rebellious ethnic Russians in the east and south. The key to all these unsavory alliances is for the American people not to know about the real nature of these U.S. clients. In the 1980s, the Reagan administration advanced the concept of 'public diplomacy' to intimidate journalists and human rights activists who dared report on the brutality of U.S.-backed forces in El Salvador and Guatemala and the CIA-trained Contra rebels in Nicaragua. Thus, most Americans weren’t sure what to make of recurring reports about right-wing 'death squads' killing priests and nuns and committing other massacres across Central America. Regarding Afghanistan, it took the American people until Sept. 11, 2001, to fully comprehend whom the Reagan administration had been working with in the 1980s. Similarly, the Obama administration has tried to maintain the fiction that the Syrian opposition is dominated by well-meaning 'moderates.' However, as the brutal civil war has ground on, it gradually has become apparent that the most effective anti-Assad fighters are the Sunni extremists allied with al-Qaeda and determined to kill Shiites, Alawites and Christians. So, it should come as no surprise that the Kiev regime would turn to its Maidan 'self-defense' forces – formed around neo-Nazi militias – to go into southern and eastern Ukraine with the purpose of burning to death ethnic Russian 'insects' occupying buildings. The key is not to let the American people in on the secret."
Use the Cold War playbook to keep Russia in line - James Jay Carafano, washingtonexaminer.com: "There’s no need to swing from the current toothless response to full-bore militarization to bring Moscow to heel. Putin commands a second-rate Soviet Empire. U.S. strategy should be to get back to the place where America can ignore Moscow. ... Two more suggestions: [a] Play the human rights card. The Magnitsky Act is a powerful tool to name and shame Russian leaders — much better than the silly sanctions game going on now. [b] Fix the dysfunctional U.S. public diplomacy operation. It’s time we went after the Kremlin's lies and disinformation and set the record straight. Moscow employs every trick in the Soviet-era book of Winning Through Intimidation. It's time the West showed that, we too, can work from the same playbook."
How Free Is Myanmar? - Walter Russell Mead and Staff, the-american-interest.com: "Concerns over Myanmar’s commitment to its professed 'democratic' reforms have increased over the past few months . … Burma’s government often tries to claim great strides toward a more open, free society, and celebrates its advance in international press freedom rankings. U.S. and other Western officials sometimes join this back-slapping celebration. U.S. Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Richard Stengel said last week that ‘the [Burmese] political space has opened significantly in the last three years, and the government has taken important steps to cultivate an environment conducive to free, fair and independent media, a critical element of a vibrant democracy.’ But it still sits at 145 on the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index, a dismal rating, and the police can arrest journalists who make too much of a stir."
Coordinator Macon Phillips Travel to the United Kingdom, Moldova, and Austria May 12-16 - Media Note, Office of the Spokesperson, Washington, DC, May 9, 2014 - state.gov: "Coordinator Macon Phillips of the Bureau of International Information Programs will travel to the United Kingdom, Moldova, and Austria from May 12-16. In London, U.K., Coordinator Phillips will deliver a keynote address on digital diplomacy at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Annual Leadership Conference. He will meet with representatives from the public and private sectors on innovation in social media. In Chisinau, Moldova, Coordinator Phillips will meet with representatives from civil society, as well as the public and private sectors, to discuss capacity building in new and traditional media. In Vienna, Austria, Coordinator Phillips will visit the U.S. Embassy and meet with the U.S. Mission to the OSCE. For updates on Coordinator Phillips’ trip, follow him on Twitter @Macon44."
Top US Entreprenuer Hassan To Share Vital Business Tips In Zim - radiovop.com: "The United States Embassy is assisting a local tech-hub bring one of the world’s eminent entrepreneurs, Fahad Hassan, as it steps up efforts to enhance the potential of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in Zimbabwe, Ambassador Wharton announced on this week. 'We are bringing Forbes Top 40 young entrepreneur
Fahad Hassan from the U.S. to Zimbabwe to serve as a mentor for the 'Startup Weekend Harare' to be held in mid- May that even,' Ambassador Wharton to the 'Zimbabwe Going Forward' Conference hosted by SAPES Trust, a local think-tank. ... 'I believe so strongly in the potential of ICTs to offer opportunities and growth and…I remain optimistic about Zimbabwe’s future,' said the U.S. Ambassador who prior to his assignment in Zimbabwe supported the development of one of the first tech hubs in Kenya while serving as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Diplomacy in the Bureau of African Affairs at the Department of State." Image from entry, with caption: Fahad Hassan one of the world's eminent young entrepreneurs will be in Zimbabwe to share results-based business ideas
US, no example to media freedom despite its rhetoric to Sri Lanka - Daya Gamage, asiantribune.com: "The United States Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs Doug Frantz through digital video conference from Washington addressing a gathering on May 8 at the American Center, Colombo to mark the World Press Freedom Day, highlighted that his country never punishes news organization for doing their job while lecturing Sri Lanka it should follow the American example. Quite familiar with this type of public affairs events organized by the American Embassy where this writer was public affairs and political specialist for two and a half decades, the message the American Ambassador Michele Sison, in organizing this event, endeavored to communicate to the Sri Lankan authorities is that - while projecting 'media freedom' in the U.S. - Sri Lanka does not have press freedom and that it should ensure the freedom of expression to the Fourth Estate. To have this discourse with a Sri Lankan gathering which included the media, the American Embassy exclusively takes the initiative - not the assistant secretary Frantz - to send messages to the host country authorities while enhancing the image of the United States.
Sir Winston Churchill once very famously said: 'If you have an important point to make, don’t try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time – a tremendous whack.' We intend to do just that in this Media Analysis to find out how much of media freedom is allowed by the current Obama administration under which assistant secretary Doug Frantz, and the organizer of this Colombo American Center event Ambassador Michele Sison serve as public affairs and public diplomacy envoys. ... It is not amusing to poke fun at a country like Sri Lanka which is still endeavoring to balance national security and civic liberties when there are still threats of the revival of the separatist movement - clearly visible in the global arena and evidence of regrouping domestically - even after five years of its defeat when dissenting voices in the United States are either silenced or harassed so much for the media freedom it proudly boast of. For the news documentary film maker journalist Laura Poitras, it not a joke to be arrested, confiscation of documents and notes, harassed on arrival at many American airports for well over forty times because of her dissenting views expressed in those footage the Obama administration and its intelligence officials decry. And she is not a foreigner but a born American." Uncaptioned image from entry
2013 Forum: Countering Violent Extremism and Terrorism -- Contesting Radicalization through Public Diplomacy - Jeselle Macatiag, Public Diplomacy Council: "After 9/11, U.S. foreign policy and U.S. Public Diplomacy faced a sharp ideological challenge from radical extremism and terrorism, empowered by nimble communication from tech- and media-savvy non-state actors. The speakers in this session discussed how U.S. government communicators have responded through different programs and approaches and what remains to be done to refine and improve these efforts. The U.S. government has tried various communication techniques to counter the influence of terror groups. The breakout session focused on a fairly recent enterprise: the interagency Center for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications (CSCC) in the U.S. Department of State. The CSCC makes use of new media and targeted communication online as well as programming in the field to specifically engage people vulnerable to radicalization. There was general agreement on the need for continuing interagency collaboration and further streamlining best practices of intervention in the cycle of radicalization. Speakers emphasized the need for counter-propaganda campaigns at the tactical level and fostering strong U.S. programs to complement counterterrorism efforts in target countries."
After Delaying Runoff, Afghan Taliban Announce Start Date of Fighting Season, Targets - Jim White, emptywheel.net: "Don Bacon on May 8, 2014 at 1:32 pm KABUL, Afghanistan (5 April 2014) — 'The International Security Assistance Force congratulates the people of Afghanistan on today’s historic election. Today’s success clearly demonstrates that the Afghan people have chosen their future of progress and opportunity. ... Battle for the Narrative: The US was slow to recognize the importance of information and the battle for the narrative in achieving objectives at all levels; it was often ineffective in applying and aligning the narrative to goals and desired end states. ... U.S. propaganda is defined as 'public diplomacy' at State and 'strategic communication' at Defense. Neither definition has anything to do with truth, but rather 'informing and influencing' and the 'advancement of United States Government interests, policies, and objectives.' ... State: The mission of American public diplomacy is to support the achievement of U.S. foreign policy goals and objectives, advance national interests, and enhance national security by informing and influencing foreign publics and by expanding and strengthening the relationship between the people and government of the United States and citizens of the rest of the world. ... DOD: Strategic communication is focused United States Government efforts to understand and engage key audiences to create, strengthen, or preserve conditions favorable for the advancement of United States Government interests, policies, and objectives through the use of coordinated programs, plans, themes, messages, and products synchronized with the actions of all instruments of national power."
Counterinsurgency: A Weight on American Military Effectiveness - defensestatecraft.blogspot.com: “In Malaya, the British fought with a colonial government widely seen as legitimate against an insurgency largely made up of minority ethnic Chinese, and the war effort involved the forcible displacement of approximately 500,000 rural people to closely guarded camps. Similarly, the arguably successful counterinsurgencies of the Boer War, the US in the Philippines, and the Dutch in the Aceh War all involved displacement of large portions of the population and acts which would be no doubt considered ‘war crimes’ by modern standards. Because such tactics are untenable in the
United States, it must employ resource and training-intensive methods such as public diplomacy. Such expenditure in money and man-hours reduces resources dedicated to maintaining and improving the military’s core warfighting competency. While advances in war-fighting, such as advanced communication technology, certainly are useful tools in prosecuting a counterinsurgency, the tactical, operational and strategic overlap between population-centric counterinsurgency and conventional 21st century warfare is minimal." Uncaptioned image from entry
RFE/RL And VOA Affiliate Stations Forced Off The Air In Ukraine, IBB Ignored Lithuanian AM Option - BBG Watcher, BBG Watch: "As predicted by many critics of the International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB), the Broadcasting Board of Governors’ (BBG) powerful management and technical arm, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and Voice of America (VOA) affiliate stations were forced off the air in eastern Ukraine by pro-Russia rebels.
Earlier, the Russian government stopped rebroadcasts of VOA Russian radio program in Moscow after it had terminated also all RFE/RL Russian rebroadcasts. Critics accuse the IBB of not planning for such an eventuality and not being ready with AM and possibly also increased shortwave broadcasts to Russia and Ukraine, or being able to launch new satellite television programs in Russian on a short notice." Image from entry
Russia’s RT retweets on Voice of America website draw criticism from former BBG members - BBG Watcher, bbgwatch: "Two former Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) members have criticized Voice of America (VOA) practice of posting retweets without any explanation from President Putin’s propaganda media outlet
RT and from other anti-US shadowy sources, including a Twitter user who regularly retweets RT and calls herself 'Pro-#Russia,#Assad,#Gaddafi. F**k the #EU,#US.' The obscenity is spelled out on a Twitter account called 'Steiner1776' with the additional description: 'A frustrated #german and #socialist.' True identity of this person or persons could not be established by BBG Watch, but this Twitter users posts daily multiple tweets, all of them pro-Kremlin and often repeating Kremlin’s key propaganda claims and themes that are known to be false. Former BBG member Blanquita Cullum wrote that the Voice of America practice of 'retweeting something from Putin’s propaganda outlet RT without a legitimate news purpose–such as to expose propaganda–is UNACCEPTABLE!' Former BBG member Ambassador Victor Ashe called it 'disgraceful' and called on VOA head David Ensor 'to take control and remedy this or resign.'” Image from entry
BBG can be proud of its journalists working under defunct bureaucracy - BBG Watcher, bbgwatch: "Not all is defunct at the Voice of America (VOA) and the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) when it comes to Ukraine and Russia. Some VOA services and BBG grantees provide outstanding news coverage in some areas, but they could do much better if the agency were reformed and had better leaders. If more resources, which are now tightly controlled by the International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB), were given to program producers, U.S. media outreach in Ukraine and Russia could be greatly enhanced. The IBB has been responsible for major strategic mistakes and is still a bureaucratic nightmare and a black hole for valuable but limited resources. The most mismanaged among BBG program producing entities, the Voice of America (VOA),lacks any kind effective leadership. Its language services do not get adequate support from the enormous VOA and IBB bureaucracy."
Spread The Word - lobotero.com: “there is a new role for the VOA………. According to a report at Foreign Policy, a new piece of legislation due for a vote on Wednesday of this week would force Voice of America, the federally funded news media organization, to toe the U.S. line even more closely and become an explicit propaganda tool of Washington. A powerful pair of lawmakers in the House of Representatives have agreed on major legislation to overhaul Voice of America and other government-funded broadcasting outlets that could have implications for the broadcaster’s editorial independence, Foreign Policy has learned. The new legislation tweaks the language of VOA’s mission to explicitly outline the organization’s role in supporting U.S. ‘public diplomacy’ and the ‘policies’ of the United States government, a move that would settle a long-running dispute within the federal government about whether VOA should function as a neutral news organization rather than a messaging tool of Washington. ‘It is time for broad reforms; now more than ever, U.S. international broadcasts must be effective,’ said Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, in a statement. A demand that VOA broadcast propaganda….now that is humorous….why? It has always been an outlet for propaganda……but for decades we have pretended that it was only for the broadcast of ‘real’ news…..and now have have a bi-partisan bill that blows that pretense away.”
At VOA, Ken Tomlinson ‘helped bring down the Evil Empire’: Reagan-era Voice of America chief edited American values back into nation’s news - William Schulz washingtontimes: "In 1960, 16-year old Kenneth Tomlinson boarded a Trailways bus in the southwestern Virginia mountain town of Galax. The following morning, he got off the bus in Washington, D.C., and began a journey that would take him from a summer internship to journalistic and governmental heights that he could not have imagined. ... [I]n 1982 ... President Reagan asked Ken to ... head the Voice of America (VOA). He was the agency's third director in a year and sweeping reforms were necessary for an agency that Reagan wanted to play a key role in the Cold War. ... The attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, would change Ken's life once more.
Aware of Ken's success at VOA, President George W. Bush asked him to chair not one but two presidential boards — the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which oversees U.S. international broadcasting, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which controls both the Public Broadcasting Service and National Public Radio. ... At the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Ken sought to bring a semblance of balance to public radio and TV programming. To counter what he called the 'preposterously left-wing' Bill Moyers show 'NOW,' Ken fought for, and won, approval for a weekly right-of-center show revolving around the editorial board of The Wall Street Journal." Image from entry, with caption: Kenneth Tomlinson Illustration by Greg Groesc
Brzezinski endorses arming Ukrainian junta, to no avail - voiceofrussia.com: "Among the strongest advocates of American aggression is former National Security Advisor and influential policy activist Zbigniew Brzezinski (incidentally, the strategic founder of the Mujahedeen), who in a recent article argues that the US needs to step up its military commitment to Ukraine.
What is most striking, however, is that Brzezinski's attempts to paint Russia in a negative light betray a self-conscious guilt on the part of the American ruling establishment. As such, Brzezinski’s latest blather into public diplomacy should be seen as nothing more than the thinly disguised psy-op that it is." Uncaptioned image from entry
Cherry blossoms and Yasukuni: clashing images of Japan's public diplomacy - Takeshi Yamawaki, asahi.com: "A cherry tree by the Potomac River measures 2 meters around its trunk. Looking at the young leaves, you would never guess this tree was more than 100 years old. A nearby sign states that this is the first cherry tree that Tokyo gifted to Washington, D.C., in 1912 as a symbol of their friendship. Nearly 4,000 cherry trees were in full bloom just a few weeks ago. This season, more than 1 million tourists visited Washington, D.C. 'Did you know that these trees were originally a gift from Japan?' I asked 10 people from a variety of backgrounds including elementary school students, young couples and grandmothers, who were visiting from Maine and Colorado as well as other distant states. I was surprised that all of them knew. They had learned about it in school, read about it online, or were told by their tour guides. ... There is a term called 'public diplomacy.' It refers to the type of diplomacy used by nations to create a positive image for itself in other countries. This includes disseminating information to the foreign media as well as cultural exchanges, basically a diplomatic initiative aimed at the public, as the name suggests. People and information from all over the world gather in Washington, making it a competitive city for public diplomacy. A senior staffer at the Japanese Embassy in Washington says, 'The cherry blossoms are Japan's trump card when it comes to public diplomacy.' When they are in bloom, the Japanese ambassador is extremely busy, making appearances at many Japan-related events in an effort to bolster his nation's image. China is strategically working to isolate and vilify Japan to enhance its own image. After Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to Yasukuni Shrine in December, the Chinese ambassador to the United States contributed an op-ed piece to The Washington Post, stating, 'We see the homage at Yasukuni as nothing less than a challenge--not only to us but to the world.' Regarding Yasukuni, Chinese ambassadors in more than 70 countries and regions contributed similarly critical pieces to local papers. There is no denying that the U.S. media were swayed by this. There was a noticeable increase in negative coverage of Japan and Prime Minister Abe. Nevertheless, various polls show that Japan still holds a much better image than China. Meanwhile, the U.S. image around the world isn’t particularly positive. Especially since the war in Iraq, the United States has been viewed very unfavorably in the Middle East. Recently, the State Department appointed Richard Stengel, the former managing editor of Time magazine, as undersecretary of state for public diplomacy. The choice of a top journalist underscores U.S. efforts at ameliorating its image abroad. A quiz tournament called the National Japan Bowl takes place every year during the cherry blossom season. High school students who study Japanese gather from all over the country to face off in a battle over knowledge of all matters Japanese. This year approximately 40 schools participated. At the competition, William Breer, a former director of the Office for Japanese Affairs at the State Department, was cheering on the students. His wife, Margaret, took part in preparing the questions. Breer expressed his disappointment about the two Japanese Cabinet members and about 150 lawmakers who visited Yasukuni Shrine during and around its annual spring festival. 'I have no objection to their will to pay their respects to the war dead,' Breer said. 'But I would like them to be aware of how people abroad see their tribute to Yasukuni right before President Obama’s visit to Japan.' The global battle over public diplomacy marches on."
Men At Work: Polls do not mean a break for babus. They continue to toil behind the scenes - Joe C. Mathew, businessworld.in: "In the first week of May, when external affairs minister and Congress leader Salman Khurshid was in the midst of a heated election campaign in Varanasi — the high-profile constituency where party nominee Ajay Rai is taking on BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi — his ministry forged ahead with its diplomatic business. The public diplomacy division of the ministry worked equally hard on a campaign of sorts — fighting the negative perception of India’s pharmaceutical industry created by its global rivals. The ministry organised a special screening of a documentary, Fire In The Blood, before representatives of foreign embassies and the international media.
It was intended to showcase the life-saving role the Indian generic drug industry has played in making anti-AIDS medicines available to millions of poor patients in Africa at a fraction of the cost charged by innovator brands. The film was screened two days after the United States Trade Representative (USTR), in its annual Special 301 Report, put India on the 'priority watch list', indicating the serious concern that the USTR had about India’s 'intellectual property rights (IPR)' compliance levels. India’s response to the USTR report was not limited to this act of public diplomacy. The commerce ministry — the administrative ministry for trade and IPR issues — has already conveyed its stand. Rajeev Kher, commerce secretary, has informed USTR that the right forum to discuss the concerns of the US industry will be the bilateral Trade Policy Forum (TPF) that is already in place." Image (of India's Ministry of Foreign Affairs) from entry
NSA, Israel, GVEs, Hasbara, and Gun Massacres in the USA and Beyond - Michael Gillespie, dissidentvoice.org: "Because broadcast media news outlets in the USA seldom if ever mention Israeli espionage in their news coverage or in their ever more rare investigative reports related to matters of public interest, most Americans are unaware of and unconcerned about Israel as an espionage threat. Nevertheless, Israel has long been at or near the top of the list of nations with active and robust intelligence and espionage programs aimed at the USA and is by far the single worst offender among nations with propaganda campaigns directed at American audiences. Israel calls its public diplomacy efforts hasbara, and it is well-nigh impossible to overstate the influence of Israeli propaganda on American audiences. Likewise, because Israeli leaders and their political and media operatives exercise truly extraordinary influence over them, the vast majority of US elected officials seldom if ever mention the Israeli espionage threat or criticize Israel in any way. Rather, currying favor with Israeli leaders, media operatives, and spies is seen by many as a fast lane to success in government service and longevity of tenure in Congress. ... As long as the Israeli political and media machine wields such wildly inordinate and inappropriate influence over US politicians, political institutions, and what passes for popular culture and a public discussion in America, it is very difficult to imagine that the NSA, CIA, FBI and other US law enforcement agencies will find the guidance and political support necessary to address effectively these increasingly problematic espionage-related-and-driven public health, public safety, and national security challenges."
Oren: Claims the FBI warned Israeli diplomats about spying are baseless - turkishweekly.net: "Claims that Israeli diplomats were summoned by the FBI dozens of times in the decade since 9/11 and told to stop spying on the US are 'utterly without foundation,' former ambassador to the US Michael Oren, who served in Washington from July 2009 to September 2013. ... He said that he did not foresee any public diplomacy damage as a result of these stories, because while they are front page news in Israel, their resonance in the US was much, much less." See also.
How Israel's Dusty Zionist Bureaucracy Survives: Jobs for Cronies — and Ties to Deep-Pocketed Diaspora - Anshel Pfeffer, forward.com: "Research showing that anti-Semitism in Europe and North America have actually gone down is disregarded, as is the expert view that the threat to Israel from delegitimization and the pro-Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement has been blown far out of any proportion. 'Thirty years ago, Jewish officials were talking about the poisonous atmosphere on campuses in America, exactly as they are today,' says one Israeli who works with American-Jewish organizations. 'But if you look at things from a historical perspective, nothing has changed.
It’s just the Internet that’s magnifying the threat. Meanwhile, Israel’s diplomatic and commercial ties with the world have improved exponentially and there’s absolutely no sign of any reversal of that trend.' The argument over the severity of the threat has combined with a turf war between the Foreign Ministry and other government departments trying to get in on the hasbara act. In the previous Netanyahu government, Yuli Edelstein’s Diaspora and Public Diplomacy Ministry tried to lead the charge and push campaigns on campuses. Funding that it transferred abroad was blocked by the consulates and Edelstein had to get Foreign Minister Lieberman to intervene. A hasbara activist complains, 'The Foreign Ministry wants everything to stay with them, that’s why Israel’s image is so bad. They block initiative and resources because of the diplomats’ prestige.' In the current government, the standard-bearer is Strategic Affairs Minister Yuval Steinitz. His office has prepared an ambitious plan to fight delegitimization, which demands a budget of 100 million shekels. 'All they want to do is fight the whole world,' says a dismissive diplomat. 'We have to engage with people, but they are convinced we’re facing an existential threat.' Netanyahu has yet to decide whether to award Steinitz the budget. While the squabbling within the government continues, the freelance organizations are representing Israel. They all claim to be non-political and 'pro-Israel,' but the reality is they hew to a hard-right agenda, often creating absurd situations. Earlier this year, a group of British Jewish students backed by the Stand With Us movement expelled from the Israel Society at Oxford University Israeli students who were unhappy with their obsessive focus on fighting pro-Palestinian groups on campus. 'Only the right-wingers are on the frontline' says a British left-wing Zionist activist. 'I wish groups like Peace Now and J Street were prepared to confront the anti-Israel far-left. Instead the right-wing has totally monopolized hasbara and it’s all become very violent and theatrical. The whole world now believes the far-right represents Israel.'” Uncaptioned image from entry
Constant threats, constant progress - Evelyn Gordon, jpost.com: "Israel will need to improve its public diplomacy if it is to keep the delegitimization movement in check."
Changing the presidency - Yosef I. Abramowitz, jpost.com: "Shimon Peres has redeemed the institution of the presidency and there are no more leaders of his stature or generation in Jewish life, other than Elie Wiesel and Natan Sharansky. ... Since we have historically been surrounded by enemies, Israel has correctly focused on building 'hard power' – the kind represented by planes, tanks, missiles and soldiers.
Today, as we are losing the hasbara (public diplomacy) and BDS (boycotts, divestment and sanctions) battles country by country, the president should be the leader in building soft power in the world to bolster our diplomatic standing as well as our brand equity." Image from entry, with caption: President Shimon Peres on state visit to Austria, March 3
Gülenist Diaspora and the Discourse of Authoritarianism - Burhanettin Duran, setav.org: "Turkey is faced with a public diplomacy problem which it has never faced before in all of its history: A diasporic opposition that is hierarchically organized and ruled from
the USA. ... The Gülen Movement, accused of founding a parallel state nestled in the government, is frequently in the limelight through its international connections. Investigated for illegal wiretapping and espionage in Turkey, the Movement's strategy has b