On numerous levels, the United States continues to fall farther behind China in public diplomacy. This is yet another indication that for all its protestations about its commitment to reach out to foreign publics, the U.S. government is unwilling to commit the resources needed to do so effectively.

I am delighted to be here with such a distinguished group of citizen diplomats from communities across the United States to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the National Council for International Visitors. You are important partners of the Department of State, and the work you do is critical to supporting U.S. public diplomacy and foreign policy.

Many of the causes, consequences and implications of the popular unrest sweeping the Arab world and Iran are topics of heated debate. However, one outcome is without dispute: the "freedom to connect" has become the newest, high-profile irritant in United States-China relations.

The White House announced last night that they sent four nominations for the U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy to the Senate. This includes the two the White House announced an intent to nominate in November, Ambassador Ryan Crocker and Mr. Sim Farar.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has called on Bahrain to show restraint when responding to peaceful protests by its citizens. Speaking to reporters Thursday on Capitol Hill, she urged Bahrain to keep its commitment to hold accountable those who have used excessive force against peaceful demonstrators.

It's been Diplomacy in the batter's box and Community on the pitcher's mound. The count is two strikes against Diplomacy...Diplomacy is used to winning, probably because it normally plays against itself, or else with Dictators, to whom it lobs balls that they have been able to hit out of the park, collecting billions each time they passed home plate. Now along comes Community, a real competitor.

The U.S. Department of State and the NBA announced yesterday that they will tip off their 2011 sports envoy program next week with a trip to India that will feature the Mystics' Katie Smith and NBA Hall of Famer Gervin.

After a pre-dawn raid on protesters in the capital of Manama killed four and injured hundreds, Bahrain's government has emerged as surpisingly less moderate than the Obama administration had estimated a few months ago.