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.
A White House official told Reuters the proposal has nothing to do with restoring diplomatic ties to the communist-ruled island; rather it's an effort to modernize the operation.
Radio and TV Marti, which is now part of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, would become a new entity with parts of Voice of America's Spanish language service.
The Miami-based operation would be received US funds as a "grantee."
Members of the Cuban-American community and their conservative backers are expected to object to the Obama scheme, fearing that it's nothing more than a sop to the Castro Government.
Congress would need to approve the Obama plan. Radio and Marti's transition from the BBG would take about two years.
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.
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 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.
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.
