The US needs to "do more to harden our soft power" to best combat Russia's 24/7 propaganda machine and counter the rise of ISIS, according to Rick Stengel, US Undersecretary for Public Diplomacy.
 Stengel in Malaysia in April. Photo: State Dept. |
The Russian media are "nothing like what we think of as objective news," he told the American Security Project think tank on Sept. 16.
He was "surprised and displeased" by the power of Russian media at home and in surrounding regions.
The US recently launched a Russian language, narrowcasting messaging service aimed at individuals who are deemed to be "swing voters," according to Stengel, a former managing editor of Time.
On Russia's intervention in Ukraine, Stengel said it's absolutely indisputable that Russia violated the territorial integrity of an independent nation and trashed norms that are considered universal.
Unlike Russia, Stengel said the US is not engaged in a propaganda battle with ISIS because the terror group is "bankrupt of ideas" and not animated by them. "It's a criminal, savage, barbaric organization."
He said ISIS' ability to recruit members has more to due with the lackluster economic condition of the Arab World.
In Stengel's view, social media presents the biggest challenge to public diplomacy because it is empowers "bad guys" too.
"Social media enables conversation to happen in a way it was never able to happen before," said Stengel. "I want us to be in that conversation."
There is no maturity and should be no pride in the oft used and abused expression "I told you so," but US outreach to Iran conjures such feelings.
July 11, 2015 marked the 20th year since President Bill Clinton announced normalization of relations with Vietnam and, over the past two decades, the US and Vietnam have developed a relationship encompassing business and travel, as well as strong academic, cultural and foreign policy ties.
The Obama Administration wants to turn Radio and TV Marti, the US-controlled broadcaster of news/information to Cuba, into a 'private, non-profit' organization.
Britain's Portland PR has recruited Scott Nolan Smith from the UK embassy in Washington to handle media/digital engagement, diplomatic communications and international affairs.
The U.S. Senate, 90-8, on Tuesday confirmed former Time magazine managing editor Richard Stengel as Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, the country's top foreign propaganda slot.
