Defense Panel Delivers Harsh Review of US "Ability to Persuade" Arab World

[BurtWorm]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/24/politics/24info.html?pagewanted=print&position=
November 24, 2004
U.S. Fails to Explain Policies to Muslim World, Panel Says
By THOM SHANKER

WASHINGTON, Nov. 23 - A harshly critical report by a Pentagon advisory panel says the United States is failing in its efforts to explain the nation's diplomatic and military actions to the Muslim world, but it warns that no public relations plan or information operation can defend America from flawed policies.

The Defense Science Board report, which has not been released to the public, says the nation's institutions charged with "strategic communication" are broken, and calls for a comprehensive reorganization of government public affairs, public diplomacy and information efforts.

"America's negative image in world opinion and diminished ability to persuade are consequences of factors other than the failure to implement communications strategies," says the 102-page report, completed in September. "Interests collide. Leadership counts. Policies matter. Mistakes dismay our friends and provide enemies with unintentional assistance. Strategic communication is not the problem, but it is a problem."

...

"Today we reflexively compare Muslim 'masses' to those oppressed under Soviet rule," the report adds. "This is a strategic mistake. There is no yearning-to-be-liberated-by-the-U.S. groundswell among Muslim societies - except to be liberated perhaps from what they see as apostate tyrannies that the U.S. so determinedly promotes and defends."

The report says that "Muslims do not 'hate our freedom,' but rather they hate our policies," adding that "when American public diplomacy talks about bringing democracy to Islamic societies, this is seen as no more than self-serving hypocrisy."

In the eyes of the Muslim world, the report adds, "American occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq has not led to democracy there, but only more chaos and suffering."

[gnofg]

1. Isolationism

The U.S. is so self congratulatory that it is pitiful. The typical American has no earthly idea about any other culture and think our is superior in every way. We are fed this absolute rubbish i school all the time. What always gets me is when people say history is "boring" or "I avoid reading newspapers" and these are college educated people. Of course, they all vote for the moron. I feel like I am surrounded by mass ignorance

[BurtWorm]

2. It astonishes me how honest and accurate this Defense Dept. report is.

This from the people who brought the world Donald Rumsfeld and shock and awe! :wtf:

[wtmusic]

3. We need to learn how to package this liberty thing

Downplay the tragedy, emphasize the payoff...just need some insight into what makes the Muslim mind tick...</sarcasm>

[BurtWorm]

4. How about we throw in a free can-o-ham to everyone who votes

in the election in January! :think:

[wtmusic]

5. Didn't work with chickens

"We would rather eat rocks than eat chickens from Americans," he spat out. "Even the poorest person in Fallujah doesn't want chickens from you."

From one of my favorite stories of clueless, misguided American appeasement:

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/07/15/1058035002197.html?oneclick=true