U.S.: "Can I shoot myself in the head and live, too?"

["Marc Rodrigues" <cuito61@xxxxxxxxxx>]

[Incredible stupidity and arrogance as a new office of propaganda is
proposed to put a positive spin on imperialism]

U.S.: Can Image Abroad Be Changed Without Altering Foreign Policy, Too?

The White House looks set to make a major effort to improve its international
image by creating a new office to coordinate the U.S. foreign-policy
"message" and to help shape its image overseas. But can a superpower
improve its standing in world opinion without significantly changing
its policies, the source of much of the ill will?

Prague, 30 July 2002 (RFE/RL) -- "Why do they hate us?"

U.S. President George W. Bush posed that question to Americans in his
address to a joint session of Congress nine days after the 11 September
terrorist attacks.

Bush was referring to the rage in the Muslim world that fueled the suicide
plot by Islamic militants to fly jetliners into the World Trade Center
and the Pentagon, killing some 3,000 people. But Bush's answer to his
own question -- "They hate us because of our freedoms" -- appears simplistic
to many of America's allies, let alone its enemies.

Indeed, critics counter that U.S. foreign policy is the main source of
international anger and resentment toward Washington. And such anti-U.S.
sentiment has actually risen since 11 September, due to a wide range
of White House policy decisions that followed. These include what is
seen by many as a largely unilateral war on terrorism to an unbalanced
Middle East policy and the rejection of key treaties on global warming
and a new international war crimes court.

Now, however, the White House looks set to launch a major effort to improve
America's image overseas. The U.S. newspaper "The Washington Post," citing
unidentified senior White House officials, reports today that the Bush
administration is preparing to create a permanent Office of Global 
Communications
to coordinate America's foreign-policy "message" and to shape its image
abroad.

[Full: http://www.rferl.org/nca/features/2002/07/30072002152730.asp]



---
Marc Rodrigues
Voicemail/Fax: 866.206.9067 x4217
SFS: http://qcsfs.tripod.com

"Settle your quarrels, come together, understand the reality of our situation,
understand that fascism is already here, that people are already dying
who could be saved, that generations more will live poor butchered half-lives
if you fail to act." -George Jackson


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