Different Shade of Lipstick, Same Pigheaded Policies
A new report [1] from the Council on Foreign Relations [2] suggests that better U.S. communications with Muslim countries [3] require "listening more, a humbler tone, and focusing on bilateral aid and partnership, while tolerating disagreement on controversial policy issues [4]." The report, which was based on focus group [5]s held in Morocco, Egypt and Indonesia, says U.S. tsunami [6] relief, the Iraqi election [7] and new Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts provide "a window of opportunity to change Muslim attitudes." Specific recommendations include engaging "local and regional media via press releases, interviews, Op-Eds, press conferences, and site visits," and launching "an advertising campaign [8] on U.S. aid and support [9] for reform in local and regional media, and acknowledge the U.S. government as the source." Focus group members "do not take seriously U.S. government media [10], such as Radio Sawa, al-Hurra TV [11], and Hi magazine, as information sources [12]."
Links:
[1] http://www.cfr.org/pub8109/press_release/better_communications_efforts_can_significantly_improve_americas_image_in_the_muslim_world_says_new_council_special_report.php
[2] http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Council_on_Foreign_Relations
[3] http://www.prwatch.org/node/761
[4] http://www.prwatch.org/prwissues/2002Q4/war.html
[5] http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=focus_group
[6] http://www.prwatch.org/prwissues/2005Q1/indo.html
[7] http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Iraqi_national_elections
[8] http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Shared_Values
[9] http://www.prwatch.org/node/853
[10] http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Iraqi_Media_Network
[11] http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Al_Hurra
[12] http://www.prwatch.org/node/2178