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John Brown aggregates all the most recent public diplomacy related news, including current issues in U.S. foreign policy, international broadcasting and media, propaganda, cultural diplomacy, educational exchanges, anti-Americanism, and the reception of American popular culture abroad.

PDPBR FOR SEPTEMBER 18-19, 2007
by John H. Brown

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY PRESS AND BLOG REVIEW, SEPTEMBER 18-19 “House of Wisdom.” —Name given by the US military to a facility in Iraq which provides “religious enlightenment” and other education programs for Iraqi detainees, some of whom are as young as 11; cited in Walter Pincus, “U.S. Working to Reshape Iraqi Detainees: Moderate Muslims Enlisted to Steer Adults and Children Away From Insurgency” (Washington, September 19) LINK “Youth Enrichment Program (YEP)” —A program, launched this summer in 13 countries and in the West Bank and Gaza, initiated by Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Karen Hughes, that reaches out to an audience of 8-to-14-years old; cited in Media Note, “Under Secretary of State Karen P. Hughes to Visit Youth Programs in Morocco “(Office of the Spokesman, U.S. State Department, August 13) LINK VIDEOS a) Keith Olbermann: “No Truth, No Consequences for Whitehouse’s Iraq Hawks.” Includes a brief clip picturing Under Secretary of State Karen Hughes. LINK b) The recent glut of video communiques from Osama bin Laden reminded us of this classic “Family Guy” spoof (truthdig, September 13) LINK BOOK REVIEW The New American Militarism: How Americans Are Seduced by War [review of Andrew Bacevich, The New American Militarism: How Americans Are Seduced By War] - Gerald Loftus (Book Review, USC Center on Public Diplomacy, September 19) LINK PICTURE OF THE DAY Picture of the Day—3—mikevotes (Born at the Crest of the Empire, September 19): PHOTO: Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Karen Hughes talks with members of military support organizations on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2007, as they waited for President Bush to arrive. COMMENT: Did you know that Karen Hughes is still working for this White House trying to win Muslim “Hearts and Minds?” LINK SITE OF INTEREST Zombie Defense Training LINK A) PUBLIC DIPLOMACY (1-27) (1-11): COMMENTS ON KAREN HUGHES ARTICLE IN THE WASHINGTON POST (SEPTEMBER 17), “SINKING IN THE POLLS” LINK 1. SPREAD THE WORD - HELLE DALE (WASHINGTON TIMES, SEPTEMBER 19): Under Mrs. Hughes a good deal of work has been done to remedy some of the damage done when the U.S. Information Agency was folded into the State Department in 1999. Yet, while Mrs. Hughes extols the empowering of young Arabs by teaching them English, the Bush administration has shortsightedly proposed effective cuts in its international broadcasting budget at a time when growth is needed. In the 2008 state and foreign operations appropriations bill, which is currently in conference, Congress added $14 million to the president’s budget for international broadcasting for a total budget of $682.3 million for 2008. This has meant not only a reduction in languages (Georgian, for instance), but also the elimination of English-language programs. What is needed in the fight for hearts and minds of Muslims throughout the world is coordinated leadership from the White House. LINK 2. MIS-CONGENIALITY - AL KAMEN (IN THE LOOP, WASHINGTON POST, SEPTEMBER 19): Polls overseas show Muslims’ views of…... FULL TEXT
 
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