Karen Hughes is not as visible as when she worked at the White House, or on
two presidential campaigns, but her 16 months as undersecretary of state for
public diplomacy and public affairs have given her opportunities to counter
what she calls the "propaganda" that the media in many Arab and Muslim
countries convey to their people about the United States.
In a meeting (Dec. 19) in her State Department office, Hughes told me she
recognizes the difference between the Cold War, when "we were trying to get
information into largely closed societies whose people were hungry to hear
from us," and today, when "we're competing for attention and credibility in
a very crowded communications environment."
She points to three big areas on which she is focusing: (1) exchanges that
allow people who have never been to America to come and see for themselves
what we are like; (2) communications, which promote the policies of the
American government in nations where they have been mostly unheard, or
twisted for the political ends of the rulers; and (3) what she calls "the
diplomacy of deeds," that is, focusing on America's actions that help people
improve their lives.
Hughes has told American ambassadors around the world to get on local
television more and articulate official policy to counter propaganda that
communicates a false view of America. That's all well and good, but would
most Americans accept the pronouncements of an ambassador from, say, Iran?
The United States continues to believe that because we see ourselves as
objectively good, the rest of the world can be persuaded of our goodness and
not take up arms against us. I'm sure some can be so persuaded, but probably
not nearly enough and very likely not soon enough to prevent more attacks.
Hughes mentions a group of Saudi clerics who made their first visit to
America at the State Department's invitation. She says she had been told
their Friday sermons "had been very negative, very anti-American." They
visited American synagogues, mosques and churches. Hughes says she was told
by "our people on the ground" in Saudi Arabia that the clerics now have a
"much different and changed view of our country."
I ask if Hughes has checked on the content of their sermons since their
return to Saudi Arabia. She says she has not, but has received reports that
there has been a "difference" and that the clerics have a different view of
America. I wonder if this is part of the propaganda ploy, to tell us what we
want to hear so we will let down our guard. Can they be converted, if not to
our point of view, than at least to foreswear violence in pursuit of their
political objectives?