How Can America Clean Up its Image?

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A new report to the Congress from the United States Advisory Group on Public Diplomacy for the Arab and Muslim World says hostility towards the United States has reached "shocking levels" especially in Muslim countries. It concludes that "spin" and "manipulative public relations" are not the answer, but calls for a "radical transformation." The recent effort to "brand" America as warm and friendly fell flat when the State Department-s TV commercials were banned in Arab countries. Can propaganda be replaced by "public diplomacy?" Is the real problem not America-s image but its policies? We speak with a professor for peace and development, a former Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs at the State Department, an expert for International Relations and the Vice Chairman of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. Making News: Interview with Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright The scathing report on America-s image was produced in large part by the staff of former Republican Secretary of State James Baker. Madeleine Albright, Secretary of State during the second Clinton administration, is also very concerned about America's image. Reporter's Notebook: Sexual Misconduct Allegations against Schwarzenegger Less than a week before California-s recall election, the L.A. Times has reported sexual misconduct charges against Arnold Schwarzenegger by six women. The paper said friends and relatives knew about the incidents long before his campaign for Governor. Schwarzenegger accused the L.A. Times of last-minute "trash politics". He said most of the accusations weren-t true. Some women-s rights group called on Schwarzenegger to withdraw from the race.
A new report to the Congress from the United States Advisory Group on Public Diplomacy for the Arab and Muslim World says hostility towards the United States has reached "shocking levels" especially in Muslim countries. It concludes that "spin" and "manipulative public relations" are not the answer, but calls for a "radical transformation." The recent effort to "brand" America as warm and friendly fell flat when the State Department-s TV commercials were banned in Arab countries. Can propaganda be replaced by "public diplomacy?" Is the real problem not America-s image but its policies? We speak with a professor for peace and development, a former Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs at the State Department, an expert for International Relations and the Vice Chairman of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies.
  • Making News: Interview with Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
    The scathing report on America-s image was produced in large part by the staff of former Republican Secretary of State James Baker. Madeleine Albright, Secretary of State during the second Clinton administration, is also very concerned about America's image.
  • Reporter's Notebook: Sexual Misconduct Allegations against Schwarzenegger
    Less than a week before California-s recall election, the L.A. Times has reported sexual misconduct charges against Arnold Schwarzenegger by six women. The paper said friends and relatives knew about the incidents long before his campaign for Governor. Schwarzenegger accused the L.A. Times of last-minute "trash politics". He said most of the accusations weren-t true. Some women-s rights group called on Schwarzenegger to withdraw from the race.

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Warren Olney