PR Honcho (6/11):
Right on the money, Ms. McHale.
Joe Honick, GMA International Ltd (6/11):
Sorry, Honcho and Ms Mchale. Better both of you should dial up a story about "The Dangers of Irrelevance" that appeared here a year or more ago.
The combination of something called "American Exceptionalism" and amateurish diplomacy has cost us dearly in both the last administration and in this one which is confusing many.
President Obama's lyrical speech in Cairo was more comprehensible to Europeans and folks in New York than to Middle Easterners who know that how and what is said in that part of the world doesn't add up to precise meanings.
Wes Pedersen quite accurately pointed some time back that we would begin to see more and more anti-Israel stories of no benefit to the Palestinians but comforting to people like the guy who invaded the Holocaust Museum on June 10 and the fumbling four in New York who were going to blow up a synagogue not realizing the FBI was on to them.
So, while McHale is accurate we have to listen more, those of us who have traveled internationally for some time also know we have to become more conversant with what is meant by what is said to us when we get ready to make speeches.
Wes Pedersen (6/12):
We do tend to forget these days that our propaganda world extends far beyond the Middle East. Our attention to that area is commendable, though by now we should have established solid roots throughout that region that would make the word of America a high-value property everywhere there. It is not, thanks in gigantic part to our previous president's fumbled attempts to wage peace by invading Iraq.
With his speech in Cairo, President Obama has set the groundwork for trust by the Arab nation, but he has unsettled the mind and mood of Israel.
Meanwhile, we have enormous work to do in repairing America's image in countries elsewhere where our image should be, but is not, rock solid. Are we bold enough to Tweet the world?
By denying propagandistic intent, Ms. McHale embarrasses herself. Propaganda, of course, is precisely what she will be engaged in. Of course, every one of her predecessors has also denied culpability, but in most cases, the word need not have come up all.
Fed Up In NYC! (6/12):
As always Mr. Honick... perfectly said. Listen for sure... not to be afraid to take a position and stand up for said position is priceless...and our duty.
GOPlease (6/12):
Wait, let's apologize more. That will do the trick.
What? We already are?
Oh. Well, that should make those pesky Iranians and North Koreans give up their nuclear ambitions and saber rattling?
What? You mean they haven't?
And, this supposedly "superior" diplomacy finds itself EXACTLY where the Bush Administration did?
Oh. Well, maybe we should apologize MORE. Or find another opportunity to spout that "we're a muslim nation." Or bow to the Saudi king again.
Give me a break. We're now the laughingstock of the world. Such a shame all you Obamanauts keep thinking that now that we have Europe's approval, we're on the right path.
Joe Honick, GMA International Ltd (6/15):
GOP is partly right and much wrong. The problems we have and are exacerbating were there in the last Administration as Bush catered to the Saudi royalty, It is not better now because of the lack of sophistication and knowledge we had hoped would emerge.
|