It's the policy, stupid
Published April 24, 2003
"I don't think war was the answer," seconds Hammuda, speaking on the phone while serving baklava to his customers. "America has to do more positive steps to build bridges. Now they say, 'You guys don't care about us, you're just here to kill us and take our oil,' especially since we haven't found any weapons of mass destruction, any chemicals."
Asked if the negative opinion of the U.S. throughout the Muslim world is unfair, Hammuda says, "I had one view before the Iraq war. Now I have another."
However much they love their adopted country, neither Hammuda nor Ismail would probably make good spokespeople in the U.S.'s elaborate planned media campaign in Iraq. But their criticisms offer an insight into America's image problem as officials at the White House and State Department try to sell the benefits of democracy to the Muslim and Arab world. The American instinct is to try to sell it like a brand. But that approach — maybe best captured by a frustrated Rep. Henry Hyde, R-Ill., who asked a House International Relations Committee panel on Oct. 10, 2001, "How is it that the country that invented Hollywood and Madison Avenue has such trouble promoting a positive image of itself overseas?" — misses the point. The problem isn't that the United States is misunderstood; it's that we're understood quite well. Diplomacy can only be as effective as the policies it's trying to sell — and there are some fundamental policy differences between America and the world that no spin can gloss over. By not acknowledging that, America's international P.R. campaign hasn't helped our image in the Middle East and elsewhere ? it may actually have hurt it.
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Duh. TV shows aren't gonna do it. It's the policy, stupid.
- It's the policy, stupid
- Published: April 24, 2003
- Type:
- Section: Politics
- Writer: Brian Flemming
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Comments on this articleComments
In the rest of the world, "United States foreign policy" is equal to "the United States."
However, "United States foreign policy" is not equal to "our system in general."
If I had a problem with "our system in general," I would have written, "I have a problem with our system in general."
But I don't have a problem with our system in general. In fact, between now and the next election, I will be using our system in general to oust a dangerous President who has given the world such good reason to hate the United States of America.
yeah, because 9/11 was a direct result of Bush. oh yeah, so was the USS Cole,'93 WTC bombing and the attacks on our African embasies. those were because they KNEW bush was gonna be elected eventually.
people hated us a long time before bush took office, and if they fear us now? GOOD!! it's about goddam time the rest of the world knows were not gonna respond to their attacks with half-hearted Clinton missle attacks that were aimed at taking attention away from his numerous scandals. just look at that north korea nut. after iraq he's singin' a different tune and the rest of the world that "hates" us better follow his lead.
OK, now he's bragging about his nukes, so i take that back, we better go kick his ass now.
this is why there is so much hassle in the world. Violence just causes more violence.
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Brian, i know you were quoting, but the fact that you chose to quote, "The problem isn't that the United States is misunderstood; it's that we're understood quite well." shows your true intentions. as i have said before, it's seems to me that you are not simply voicing dissent about specific policies, but rather that you dislike our system in general. otherwise, why would you choose to quote that the rest of the world, that according to you, hates us, is right on the money??