A Pentagon-appointed advisory panel has issued a harsh report on America’s failing middle-east policies and “urged the creation of a ‘strategic communication’ apparatus within the White House and an overhaul of public diplomacy, public affairs and information dissemination efforts by the Pentagon and State Department.”
The report, made available by the Pentagon just weeks after the U.S. Election, charges what so many of us have been charging for some time; namely, that the “US is losing the war of ideas” in the middle-east and the Islamic world in general. From The Australian’s article on the report:
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“If we really want to see the Muslim world as a whole and the Arabic-speaking world in particular move more toward our understanding of ‘moderation’ and ‘tolerance,’ we must reassure Muslims that this does not mean that they must submit to the American way,” the report stated.
The toughly worded report said that while America’s efforts to explain its policies have failed, improved public relations efforts cannot sell faulty policies.
“Muslims do not hate our freedom, but rather they hate our policies,” the panel stated.
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“Thus, when American public diplomacy talks about bringing democracy to Islamic societies, this is seen as no more than self-serving hypocrisy,” the report stated.
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US intervention in the Muslim world, including wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, had actually elevated the stature of radical enemies of America, the report stated.
“In the eyes of Muslims, American occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq has not led to democracy there, but only more chaos and suffering. US actions appear in contrast to be motivated by ulterior motives, and deliberately controlled in order to best serve American national interests at the expense of truly Muslim self-determination,” the report stated.
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“American efforts… may also have achieved the opposite of what they intended,” the report said.
Duh…do ya think?!
it’s the NO DUH report!
gee, i coulda told ’em *that* — and for a lot less money.
since i came to the same conclusions as this Pentagon report, and i figured out the results of Bush Administration’s misguided policies months and months ago, does that mean that i am now qualified to work at the Pentagon as an analyst?
the ideological blindness of the Bushies would be endlessly entertaining if it weren’t so dangerous to the world and damaging to our country.
des wrote: "since i came to the same conclusions as this Pentagon report, and i figured out the results of Bush Administration’s misguided policies months and months ago, does that mean that i am now qualified to work at the Pentagon as an analyst?"
and the answer of course is:
NO you’re not qualified. You’re OVERQUALIFIED!
There’s no such thing as America. It’s as meaningless to say "I hate America." as it is to say, "I Love America.". The problem is Hatred. If it wasn’t America we were hating it would be something else. So love. Because God is Love.