U.S. Government

US Becomes "Part" of World

by Sheldon Rampton — November 29, 2001 - 2:23pm

In the aftermath of September 11, the United States will have to abandon its "go-it-alone" Fortress America policies, according to PR executive Robert Dilenschneider.

Main Source: 
O'Dwyer's PR Services Report, November 2001

Same Questions, Same Answers

by Sheldon Rampton — November 29, 2001 - 12:00am

President Bush has displayed a phenomenal memory: he has now learnt by rote entire sentences and phrases which he repeats endlessly. But the great wonder is that every word spoken by him about the war or Osama bin Laden or Al Qaeda is greeted by analysts as adding something significant to the course of events. The more cliched the president sounds, the greater the zeal of commentators to dissect his words and hold intensive discussions about the president's thoughts.

Main Source: 
The Dawn (Pakistan), November 29, 2001

Russia Checkmated Its New Best Friend

by Sheldon Rampton — November 28, 2001 - 12:00am

When Pakistan ditched its ally, the Taliban, in September, and sided with the U.S., Islamabad and Washington fully expected to implant a pro-American regime in Kabul and open the way for the Pakistani-American pipeline. But, while the Bush administration was busy tearing apart Afghanistan to find Bin Laden, it failed to notice that the Russians were taking over half the country.The Russians achieved this victory through their proxy--the Northern Alliance. Moscow, which has sustained the alliance since 1990, rearmed it after Sept.

Main Source: 
Los Angeles Times, November 28, 2001

The Mother of Ads Leads the Mother of PR Campaigns

by Sheldon Rampton — November 26, 2001 - 12:00am

PR Week profiles the career of Charlotte Beers, once nicknamed "the most powerful woman in advertising," now overseeing U.S. efforts to improve its image overseas. Beers made her name selling Uncle Ben's rice products before going to work for ad agencies including J. Walter Thompson, Tatham-Lair & Kudner and Ogilvy & Mather.

Main Source: 
PR Week, November 26, 2001

Selling the USA

by Sheldon Rampton — November 26, 2001 - 12:00am

Most of the new PR plan was ready to go. As the new moon ushered in the month of Ramadan last week, U.S. officials prepared "Mosques of America" posters, showing glossy images of domes and minarets, for distribution across the Arab world. President Bush and ambassadors in the Middle East and Asia would welcome Muslims into their homes to mark iftar, or the breaking of the fast. Muslim Americans were set to mingle with foreign Islamic journalists from the Washington area, no doubt to extol the virtues of the Bill of Rights.

Main Source: 
Newsweek, November 26, 2001

Beers Unveils "Dialog with Islam"

by Sheldon Rampton — November 19, 2001 - 12:00am

PR Week reports that U.S. undersecretary of state for public affairs and public diplomacy Charlotte Beers has unveiled her strategy for "telling America's story to overseas audiences, particularly in Muslim countries." Contrary to earlier reports, the campaign does not emphasize advertising.

Main Source: 
PR Week, November 19, 2001

White House & Hollywood Wage the Propaganda War

by John Stauber — November 18, 2001 - 12:00am

Hollywood was primed when Karl Rove, the senior Bush strategist, came calling. ... Mr. Rove made the case that Uncle Sam needs Hollywood to lend its creative talents to the national struggle by encouraging community service, boosting public morale, and entertaining the troops and by reinforcing the official stance that America is at war with terrorism and evil, not with Islam.

Main Source: 
Dallas Morning News, November 18, 2001

Can What We Know Hurt Us?

by Sheldon Rampton — November 18, 2001 - 12:00am

If you want to know if any toxic wastes dumps are near where you might soon buy a home, you can no longer find out. If you want to know just what is really being done to keep nuclear power plants safe, you can no longer find out. If you are interested in the design and construction of dams, you probably will not be able to get any information about them from the government any more. If you want to visit the reading rooms provided by many government agencies, such as the IRS, you now must make an appointment, and you will be chaperoned.

Main Source: 
Los Angeles Times, November 18, 2001

The Secretive Bush Administration

by Sheldon Rampton — November 16, 2001 - 12:00am

"Taken individually, each of the new national security policies adopted by the Bush Administration in recent weeks has its pros and cons, its potential excesses and mitigating factors," observes the Secrecy News, a publication of the Federation of American Scientists.

Main Source: 
Secrecy News, November 16, 2001

The Closed-Door Presidency

by Sheldon Rampton — November 15, 2001 - 12:00am

"Not since Richard Nixon went to work in the Oval Office has there been so concentrated an effort to keep the real work of a president hidden, revealing to the public only a scripted leader," observes former White House Counsel John W. Dean, whose testimony to Congress helped blow the lid off the Watergate scandal. "Such secrecy invites us to wonder what is being hidden, and why. I know from first-hand experience that a president acting secretly usually does not have the best interests of Americans in mind. Rather, it is his own personal interests that are at stake."

Main Source: 
MSNBC, November 15, 2001
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