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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.

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY PRESS AND BLOG REVIEW, JANUARY 30-31, 2008
by John H. Brown

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY PRESS AND BLOG REVIEW, JANUARY 30-31 “Our enemies are eating our lunch in terms of getting the word out in digital technology.” —James Glassman, nominated by President George W. Bush to be Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, a position described by Senator Joe Lieberman as “the closest thing to a supreme allied commander in the war of ideas and one of the most important posts in Washington”; cited in Charley Keyes, “Official: U.S. enemies ‘eating our lunch’ online” (CNN, January 30) LINK “We were hypnotized by the enemy propaganda as a rabbit is by a snake.” —Erich Ludendorff, Germany’s chief strategist during World War I, cited in David Welch, Germany, Propaganda and Total War, 1914-1918 (2000), p. 250 VIDEO Jon Stewart: President Bush’s State of the Union Message LINK via LINK WAR ON TERROR SITE “Kuma War is a series of playable recreations of real events in the War on Terror. Nearly 100 playable missions bring our soldiers’ heroic stories to life, and you can get them all right now, for free. Stop watching the news and get in the game!” LINK IMAGES French President Sarkozy’s new companion LINK see also “Public Diplomacy Goes ‘Pubic’” LINK A) PUBLIC DIPLOMACY (1-20) 1. US Public Diplomacy Nominee to Counter Extremist Islamic Views - Dan Robinson (VOA, January 31): President Bush’s choice to head U.S. public diplomacy programs says he will work to ensure that the United States is able to aggressively counter Islamic extremist messages. But in testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee considering his nomination, James Glassman, nominated as Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, said the U.S. should not employ propaganda in these efforts. LINK see also LINK 2. Official: U.S. enemies ‘eating our lunch’ online - Charley Keyes (CNN, January 30): The man nominated to head public diplomacy at the State Department, James Glassman, said Wednesday that al Qaeda is doing a better job than the Bush administration in winning friends over the Internet. Glassman’s comments Wednesday echoed a November speech by Defense Secretary Robert Gates in which he said the United States needs more speed, agility and cultural relevance in its communications. LINK see also LINK LINK LINK 3. What would you ask Jim Glassman? (Updated) - (MountainRunner, January 29): “If you had the opportunity to ask a question of James Glassman at his upcoming Senate confirmation hearing as Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, what would it be?“ LINK 4. Is Bad PR Really the Problem? – Charles Peña (antiwar.com, January 30): Sadly, more than four years later, it would seem that we haven’t made much—if any—progress in how to wage the war of ideas. It’s still more about style over substance. According to Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Support to Public Diplomacy Michael Doran, “The military on the ground is very much aware of the fact that when they carry out an operation it has a huge impact on how people…... FULL TEXT
 
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