NYT- U.S. Fails to Explain Policies to Muslim World, Panel Says

ASHINGTON, 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."

The study does not constitute official policy, but it is described by the Pentagon's civilian and military leadership as capturing the essential themes of a debate that is now roiling not just the Defense Department but the entire United States government. The debate centers on how far the United States can and should go in managing, even manipulating, information to deter enemies and persuade allies or neutral nations.

more: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/24/politics/24info.html?pagewanted=print&position=

The US has no crediblity left :(

newly powerful military machine and their goals very well.

Why does the Bush Corporation insist on thinking that everything comes down to PR?

No such position is explicitly stated, or even directly implied, but it seems to me that the US has pretty well failed to explain policy (in a non-self-contradictory way) to its own citizens, even. Some of us are okay with ambiguity as long as brown people are getting killed, others don't care one way or the other, but then again it's not our houses getting bombed.

:shrug:

The muslims should not have chosen to live over all that black gold - plain and simple - watch some of the old westerns, it's the same thing that happened to the American Indians and the bush cowards team will not stop until they end up with the same results as with the American Indian . Maybe they can find a few good swamps for the left over muslims that haven't been killed - oh, don't forget - they may give them casinos too and let them sell cigarettes tax free, that ought to pay for all the innocent muslims that are murdered for more profits. The American Indians were consiodered "evil" too, they were not Christians, did not do anything the rich white man liked, so they had to be taught to love freedom and the few survivors herded into reservations.

I think it's pretty obvious what the bloodthristy neocons are trying to accomplish. :puke: :-(

How many times does the word 'crusade' have to be bandied about before people start to catch on?

Everybody else in the world knows we are full of shit.

Muslims already know exactly what "US policies" means. As does the entire world. Which is why Muslims and the entire world oppose bush & Cartel.

It's a simple policy process. What's not to understand?

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MOSUL, IRAQ: An Iraqi boy walks past two unidentified bodies found dumped in the street in Mosul, 370 kms north of Baghdad, 21 November 2004. Nine men found murdered the previous day in central Mosul were confirmed to be Iraqi regular army soldiers as US and Iraqi troops continue a major operation to oust insurgents from the city. AFP PHOTO/TAUSEEF MUSTAFA (Photo credit should read TAUSEEF MUSTAFA/AFP/Getty Images)

From RBHam's thread:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2746475