Pentagon says "Muslims do not 'hate our freedom,' but rather they hate our policies

chewy

'This is a strategic mistake'

The report says that "Muslims do not 'hate our freedom,' but rather they hate our policies," adding that "when American public diplomacy talks about bringing democracy to Islamic societies, this is seen as no more than self-serving hypocrisy."

U.S. Fails to Explain Policies to Muslim World, Panel Says
November 24, 2004
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/24/politics/24info.html
username: mediajunkie password: mediajunkie

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 report compares the national security challenge of the post-Sept. 11 world to the decades-long struggle against Soviet Communism. But the study then argues that the government's cold-war-era communications institutions have not understood that the Islamic world - and extremists operating in the Islamic world - present different challenges. The report scolds the government for casting the new threat of Islamic extremism in a way that offends a large portion of those living in the Muslim world.

"In stark contrast to the cold war, the United States today is not seeking to contain a threatening state empire, but rather seeking to convert a broad movement within Islamic civilization to accept the value structure of Western Modernity - an agenda hidden within the official rubric of a 'War on Terrorism,' " the report states.

"Today we reflexively compare Muslim 'masses' to those oppressed under Soviet rule," the report adds. "This is a strategic mistake. There is no yearning-to-be-liberated-by-the-U.S. groundswell among Muslim societies - except to be liberated perhaps from what they see as apostate tyrannies that the U.S. so determinedly promotes and defends."

The report says that "Muslims do not 'hate our freedom,' but rather they hate our policies," adding that "when American public diplomacy talks about bringing democracy to Islamic societies, this is seen as no more than self-serving hypocrisy."

In the eyes of the Muslim world, the report adds, "American occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq has not led to democracy there, but only more chaos and suffering."

Ivan

Um. Wouldnt this mean that they are agreeing with the Anti-Bush movement?
Although he is not alone in his dabbling in foreign politics, he is certainly the most noted.

Will anyone listen?

In the eyes of the Muslim world, the report adds, "American occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq has not led to democracy there, but only more chaos and suffering."

Oooh, burn.

Moriarty

There's a massive flow of experienced CIA people leaving after the new chief took office over the summer. The white house was wincing more and more because they weren't On Message enough, so they sent in Porter Goss to teach those leftist pussies a thing or two.

In other news, the white house has drafted in top fashion designers to create a new uniform for the executive branch. From what I've heard, it's most revealing. I hope condi has been doing those situps.

Hobbes

Moriarty wrote:

I hope condi has been doing those situps.

I wouldn't worry too much. I doubt her "husband" would make her wear it.

sovtek

I wonder how much time and money was spent to generate a report that is blantantly obvious ( to the average 9 yo.)
Not that it isn't a good thing....just doubt it will be heeded and not be taken as a signal to hire a better PR firm... 'cause ya know it's all Al-Jazeera's fault.