Barack Obama entered the Oval Office implicitly promising to single-handedly reinvent America's image in the world. And if his administration had a strategy for reducing the long-term threat of violent extremism, it boiled down to this: Put the president in front of a microphone, and let his natural charisma do the work.

The new framework rests on the core mission of public diplomacy 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.

CRDF applauds the extraordinary work spearheaded by Representatives Howard L. Berman (D-CA) and Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), with their introduction of legislation to enhance and expand the role of science in American foreign policy.

The White House has condemned Israel's approval of 1600 new settler homes in east Jerusalem and says the timing of the move is not helpful with US Vice President Joe Biden in the country.