US planning Arab-language broadcasts to Europe

[Moses]

February 27, 2005

U.S. Planning Arab - Language TV Broadcasts to Europe
By REUTERS

Filed at 4:10 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration plans to begin Arab-language satellite-television broadcasts to Europe later this year in a new escalation of its information war against Islamic extremism, officials say.

Three-and-a-half years after Islamic militants based in Germany helped mount the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, U.S.-backed TV channel Alhurra expects to transmit 24-hour programing to European Muslim communities seen as potential breeding grounds of extremism.

France and Germany, which have Western Europe's largest Muslim populations, would be a special focus for news and current affairs programs intended to promote an American ethic of free speech and open debate, officials say.

``The 9/11 hijackers came largely from Europe. [And that's why we invaded Iraq!] It's a significant gap that we were not broadcasting in Arabic to Europe,'' said Kenneth Tomlinson, chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, the U.S. agency in charge of U.S. civilian TV and radio broadcasts overseas.

The planned broadcasts, which would not include Russia, are also meant as competition for Qatar-based channel Al-Jazeera, which administration officials view as an anti-American rival for Muslim public opinion.

``The reason for being (in Europe) is the same as our reason for being in the Middle East: to provide a different perspective ... of America and the world,'' said Norman Pattiz, who chairs the broadcasting board's Middle East committee.

Start-up funding for the $3.5 million venture would come from President Bush's $81 billion supplemental budget request for military operations in Iraq.[Say what?!-- What is it doing in a supplemental for the Iraq war-- supposedly for "our troops"?!]

If Congress approves the request within the next several weeks as officials expect, Virginia-based Alhurra could begin broadcasting by next autumn to a Muslim population estimated at 11 million people in Western Europe alone, officials said.

'SOFT-POWER TOOL'

The Bush administration views satellite TV [i.e. PROPAGANDA!] as a so-called soft-power tool for building goodwill toward the United States, which has been deeply unpopular in the Muslim world in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington.

Since last year's Madrid bombings, intelligence officials have warned of an increasing threat from European-born Islamic extremists inspired by al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

``Obviously some of the people who are discontented and are recruitable for terrorism are Muslim minorities in Europe,'' said Harvard professor Joseph Nye, a noted soft-power advocate and former chairman of the National Intelligence Council -- the federal government's strategic intelligence think tank.

``The idea of appealing to these people to try to attract them away from an oversimplified view of America-as-villain seems to make sense,'' he added. [While here in the US, his compatriots propagandize Americans in black and white terms, good v. evil, about the "Existential evil of Islam". ]

Officials say Alhurra has grown to reach about 25 percent of satellite TV owners in the Middle East and viewers increasingly find its newscasts credible and reliable.

``If you can reach tens of millions in the Middle East who find your broadcasts reliable, why wouldn't you take that to other Muslim Arabic-speaking populations?'' said Pattiz.

But independent experts say Alhurra's mass-market appeal is a risky departure from a Cold War propaganda strategy that sought to influence decision-makers rather than general audiences.

``I just don't know how effective it's going to be. A better use of resources would be to work with moderate leaders throughout the Arab world,'' said Nancy Snow, a propaganda expert at California State University, Fullerton.

Copyright 2005 Reuters Ltd.

[Moses]

Weapons Of Mass Distraction: Soft Power And American Empire

Author Matthew Fraser
Publisher St Martins Pr
Publish Date February 2005
  
Annotation
An exploration of the role of American pop cultural industries in international affairs discusses the ubiquitous global presence of such networks as MTV and CNN, the influence of the fast-food industry in American foreign policy, and the history of American entertainment's role in promoting the U.S.'s influence in other countries. 17,500 first printing.

Review
What is soft power? The term refers to "the global appeal of American lifestyles, culture, forms of distraction, norms, and values." According to Fraser, the U.S. uses its soft power, its pop culture, to increase its global influence. In Fiji, where female beauty was traditionally linked to one's plumpness, teenage girls watching American soap operas began to believe thin was in, and suddenly bulimia and low self-esteem were major problems. In 2002, in the Middle East, the White House established an Arabic radio station that pumps out Britney Spears in an effort to show Middle Eastern kids American values are A-OK. This is a very scary book. It's not a matter, Fraser argues, of American culture assimilating other cultures. It's more like American culture steamrolling other cultures--a blitzkrieg not with tanks but with movies, television, music, and fast food. Fraser is editor in chief of Canada's National Post newspaper, which has often been accused of having a right-wing bias, but here he handles himself in an evenhanded, even-tempered manner. Consider it food for thought. ((Reviewed February 1, 2005)) Copyright 2005 Booklist Reviews.

[Moses]

Published on TaipeiTimes
www.taipeitimes.com/News/edit/archives/2005/02/28/2003224941

President Bush goes soft

There's a difference between using `hard' coercive power and `soft' attractive power. In his second term, US President George W. Bush is employing the rhetoric of public diplomacy -- a big change in tactics from his first term

By Joseph Nye

Monday, Feb 28, 2005,Page 9



ILLUSTRATION: YU SHA

The first term of George W. Bush's presidency was marked by unilateralism and military power. The US was the world's only superpower, so others had to follow. The result was a dramatic decline in America's "soft" or attractive power. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said he did not know what soft power was. Now it is back in fashion in Washington.

Bush's second inaugural address was devoted to the power of liberty and democracy. Such rhetoric is not new to American presidents. [neocon co-opoted heroes]Harry Truman spoke of defending free people everywhere, and Woodrow Wilson spoke of promoting democracy. The neo-conservatives in Bush's first administration were in that tradition, but ignored the fact that both Wilson and Truman were also institution-builders who consulted other countries. In dropping that half of Wilson's approach, they stepped on their own message, reducing its effectiveness.

The tone at the beginning of the second Bush administration is different. As Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said recently in Paris: "I use the word `power' broadly, because even more important than military and indeed economic power is the power of ideas, the power of compassion, and the power of hope." Bush not only chose to visit Brussels, the capital of the EU, on his February trip to Europe, but stated that what "we seek to achieve in the world requires that America and Europe remain close partners." Even Rumsfeld is trying to be conciliatory!

Will Bush's new approach succeed? On a recent trip to Europe, I encountered both encouragement and skepticism. Many people welcomed the new tone, but wondered if it was simply sugarcoated cynicism. Words must be matched by deeds before people are convinced.

One place to look to see if deeds are forthcoming is in Bush's latest budget. The budget cuts discretionary spending (other than defense and homeland security) by nearly 1 percent, and slashes as many as 150 domestic programs.

Yet, in this climate of fiscal stringency, he calls for increased contributions to international organizations, the Millennium Challenge Account to provide assistance to countries with a commitment to making progress in poverty reduction, and the Global HIV/AIDS Initiative.

Bush's new budget also includes an increase in funding for public diplomacy. The allocation for the State Department's educational and cultural exchange programs, including overseas research centers, libraries, and visitor programs, is boosted by nearly 25 percent.

As Bush's budget request to Congress puts it, "Rarely has the need for a sustained effort to ensure foreign understanding for our country and society been so clearly evident." This comes after a first term in which public diplomacy was a neglected stepchild, and a Pentagon advisory panel summed up the situation as a "crisis."

Even with these increases, there is a long way to go to improve America's standing. A recent non-partisan report by the Public Diplomacy Council called for a new Agency for Public Diplomacy within the State Department, 24-hour English-language broadcasts by the Voice of America, and a fourfold budget increase over the next five years. The Bush administration still has much to do in promoting ideas, but early indications suggest a change from the neglect of the first term.

But it will not be enough for Bush to start his second term with grand rhetoric about values and increased investment in public diplomacy. A country's attractiveness or soft power stems partly from its culture and values -- where they are attractive to others. But it also grows out of a country's policies when they are seen as legitimate, consultative, and inclusive of the interests of others.

Unless the policies fit the values, the discrepancy will give rise to charges of hypocrisy. At a minimum, Bush will need to pursue policies - in a more consultative manner - that seek a political solution in Iraq and progress in the Israel-Palestine peace process.

Here too, the early signs are encouraging. The 60 percent turnout in the January elections and the scenes of Iraqis risking their lives to vote has led to hopes that a political settlement in Iraq may be possible. The elections are but a first step; the insurgency continues; civil war remains possible. Nonetheless, the elections may have softened some of the sense of illegitimacy that has clouded Bush's Iraq policy.

Similarly, with regard to the Middle East peace process, the replacement of Palestinian president Yasser Arafat by Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian elections, and the meetings between Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon suggest progress. On difficult nuclear issues, such as North Korea and Iran, Bush has pursued multilateral consultation and coordination with other powers. [Nye is such a slick-- ]

Of course, this still leaves unresolved other multilateral issues, like the International Criminal Court and global climate change. There is little prospect that Bush will reverse his rejection of the Kyoto Treaty, but it will be interesting to see how far he accommodates British Prime Minister Tony Blair's efforts to make climate change a priority during Britain's period as chair of the G8 major economies.

It is much too early for a verdict on Bush's second term policies. As he looks ahead to the verdict of history, he seems to realize that hard power alone will not consolidate his reputation, but he remains hostage to incidents and accidents that could drive even his best-laid plans off course. Nonetheless, the most striking thing at this point in Bush's second term is his belated discovery of the importance of diplomacy and soft power.

---

Joseph Nye, a former US assistant secretary of defense, is a distinguished service professor at Harvard, and author of Soft Power: The Means to Success in World Politics.

Copyright: Project Syndicate

Copyright ´´ 1999-2005 The Taipei Times. All rights reserved.

[Moses]

U.S. plans to expand TV broadcasts to Iran

Mon Feb 28, 2005 05:52 PM ET

By David Morgan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration is planning to expand its Persian-language satellite-television broadcasts to Iran as part of an initiative to press for democratic reforms in the Islamic Republic, officials say.

As U.S. President George W. Bush ponders incentives to encourage Tehran to abandon its nuclear ambitions, Voice of America plans to go from a 30-minute to a four-hour daily news and information broadcast to Iran within the next few months.

"Iran is an information-deprived society, much like the former Soviet Union," said Kenneth Tomlinson, chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, the federal agency that oversees international civilian broadcasts including VOA.

"A large percentage (of Iranians) appear to be thirsting for information," he added. "What we propose to do is exactly what Radio Free Europe, Voice of America and Radio Liberty did in the Cold War, and that is provide a window on the world."

The new initiative comes as the Bush administration reviews options for dealing with Iran's nuclear program that range from economic incentives to military action.

Washington accuses Tehran of seeking to develop nuclear arms under the guise of civilian energy, a charge Iran denies.

Officials say the Bush administration also plans to begin Arab-language satellite-television broadcasts to Europe later this year in a new escalation of its information war against Islamic extremism.

But VOA broadcasts are unlikely to have much effect in Iran any time soon, independent analysts say.

"Expanding Voice of America might have some marginal impact. But I don't think it's going to create the climate for a popular uprising," said Shireen Hunter, an Iran expert at the Washington-based Center for Strategic & International Studies.

Analysts also warned that expanded broadcasts could stir nationalist distrust of the United States and inadvertently strengthen the current government.

"People could see it as a sign that an invasion is coming. It's the sort of thing that happens before nations build up their war effort," said Nancy Snow, a propaganda expert at California State University, Fullerton.

CHIPPING AWAY

U.S. officials believe VOA TV broadcasts could chip away at Iran's unpopular religious leadership over time by emphasizing issues of economic and political opportunity.

"We're trying get people to say ... what do we want opportunity to be in Iran? Do we want a government controlled by mullahs? Do we want a government of the people?" said Tomlinson, who expects the expanded TV format to include close coverage of Iran's presidential election in June.

VOA already has a 24-hour Persian-language radio service called Radio Farda, which offers a pop-music format geared toward Iran's large youth population.

The administration is seeking money for the expanded telecast in Bush's $81 billion supplemental budget request for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as other U.S. efforts abroad.

The supplemental is expected to win congressional approval over the next several weeks.

Officials hope to receive $1.5 million to expand Voice of America's "News and Views" current affairs service into a one-hour program that would be rebroadcast three times a day with hourly news updates.

A further $5.5 million would be spent on studio construction and other investments that could pave the way for further Persian-language programming expansions.

[Moses]

Iraq's Television Revolution



By David Lomax

One of the ironies of the new Iraq is that the man who once controlled the media can't watch the television which his fellow countrymen - assuming that they have electricity - now enjoy.

Saddam Hussein, who exempted himself and his ministers from his own ban on satellite TV, has now been banned from having a set in his cell.

The great dictator can't savour, for instance, Modern Day Pashas, a soap opera that goes out on the Al-Sharqiya channel for an hour every afternoon in Baghdad. It's a satire with heavy pantomime overtones in which corruption is pilloried with exuberant knockabout.

Or perhaps Saddam might have preferred to watch the astrologer taking calls from Iraqis who are seeking advice about important decisions or events in their lives. "No, I'm afraid that the planets will not help. You must work hard for your examination."

Like much of this channel's output the programme is generated from the safety of media City in Dubai. The distance leaves a strange gap and echo on telephone calls but this is obviously something to which viewers have adjusted.

The channel, which uses sophisticated graphics and pop videos, has built an enthusiastic following. There are new lifestyle programmes like Labour and Materials, a format which has clearly been imported from the West and has a strong Iraqi flavour.

The channel interviews families who have suffered during the war and lost their houses. It chooses one case, pays for the rebuilding of the home and makes a series about it. In a country where there are so many dangers and difficulties there is an understandable appetite for any kind of escapism.

It's also a cheap way of filling airtime.


Satire


Another popular show is the Caricatura programme. Its satires about police trying to bribe drivers or of children kidnapping adults and demanding ransoms, are widely enjoyed.

They certainly make a change from endless military parades.

No longer are there sequences of the great man letting off his shotgun into the air, reviewing military parades or kissing babies. "We might as well have stuck a picture of him on the outside of the screen and not bothered to switch the set on," was a popular jibe.

When Saddam fell there was a sudden mushrooming of demand for television sets, decoders and satellite dishes. Banned under Saddam's rule, or at least only available to senior Baathists, these were bought as fast as they could be imported at $350 a time.

Entrepreneurs made millions as new dishes sprang up on apartment blocks. 7 million were sold in less than a year. "I thought this country was hungry for food," one Iraqi sociologist told me, "but they were hungry for television."

The biggest change in what viewers could watch during the war was the growth of Al Jazeera and Al-Arabiya, both fiercely critical of the Americans and the channels chosen by the insurgents for their uncompromising messages.


Iraqi conservatives alarmed


President Bush in his State of the Union address promised to try to correct what the US saw as the excesses of the media hostile to the coalition. Millions of dollars were poured into various new channels in an attempt to counterbalance the sort of coverage viewers were exposed to.

But many Iraqis seem to have ignored the new output from Virginia. They have turned off because Al Iraqiya is seen as either too American or containing too many bought-in shows from Cairo and Beirut instead of the all Iraqi offerings of the new Al-Sharqiya channel.

It was also somewhat tactless of the US funded channel to show pictures of mosques to the accompaniment of western music. The opposition to the new media is more than mere academic criticism. Last month an Iraqi working for the US-funded Al Hurra channel was murdered in Basra.

The explosion of new satellite channels may soon revive debates about whether there should be limits on Iraq's new media. From Ayatollah Sistani's sophisticated new web site it is evident that there are conservative religious elements which might be alarmed.

The non-stop waves of pop videos and men and women being portrayed together don't easily co-exist with Iraqis who want to ban chess and are worried about temptation.

Sistani's supporters won most of the votes in the recent elections and the Shia influence will obviously dominate the new government.

But trying to control TV may not be at the top of their agenda. In any case, as one Iraqi TV observer puts it "there's nothing they can do; the genie is out of the bottle now."




Source: BBC News

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