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October 01, 2003
News items Iraq, a few more items
U.S. Must Counteract Image in Muslim World, Panel Says
By STEVEN R. WEISMAN
Published: October 1, 2003
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/01/politics/01DIPL.html?hp=&pagewanted=all&position=
The article largely covers the failings of public diplomacy, panel in question asks for more promotion of US.
Strikes me that the view of the panel is only half right, policy content is indeed a problem. On the other hand, as mentioned towards the end of the article, there is an almost total absence of US figures on the major Arab Sat TV networks, and when they do appear, they're often in translation and people with no background to address Arabs. That is, the rhetoric is all wrong.
Spending some serious money recruiting people who can engage Arab news programs, talk shows in Arabic (or even if one needs translation assistance, has the Arabic background to know how to frame one's arguments) would be a useful thing to ensure at least the US POV or some reasonable facimile gets across.
Now tangentially connected is this inane, and may I say moronic OP Ed by a George Dem Rep.
Don't Play Politics on Iraq
By Jim Marshall
Wednesday, October 1, 2003; Page A23
This comment in particular is particularly droolingly moronic:
"For Iraqis, news of America's resolve is critical to any decision to cooperate with coalition forces, a decision that can lead to death. Newspaper start-up ventures and sales of satellite dishes absolutely exploded following the collapse of Saddam Hussein's regime. With this on top of the Internet, Iraqis do get the picture from America -- literally."
Right, Amer. TV is a fine source for your average Mohammed.
It's idiocy like this that makes it painful to read commentary about the Middle East by such clowns. No doubt he is one of the know-nothing quasi-isolationist liberal whankers who wants the 20 bill for reconstruction to be a loan.
Posted by The Lounsbury at October 1, 2003 05:54 PM
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Jan-Dec 2003
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