US Sends Spin Doctors To Dubai To ‘Define’ Image
Looks like 9/11 and subsequent fiascos presented a golden opportunity for these companies. Makes you think long and hard about the role for-profit media should be playing in the news profession."We have, to our detriment, been defined by our critics." --State Department spokesman Adam Ereli.
[So, for] the last nine months a small U.S. military team has been laboring in Dubai to improve relations with Arab news agencies based there.
The mission has been so successful [that] an Arabic-speaking diplomat and staff will be sent to Dubai this fall to present United States' perspectives on Arab television programs.
The U.S. military team has been focusing on Dubai Media City, which since opening in 2001 become the Middle East's largest journalism hub, with more than 1,000 media-related companies, including bureaus for global and regional TV, radio and newspapers.
Army Capt. Eric Clark, one of two U.S. Central Command officers based in Dubai Media City said, "We were essentially allowing al-Qaida and other terrorists to run rampant with lies and propaganda. We're late in this fight."GOOD LUCK!!! You're gonna need it - your client works tirelessly against you!
"We're filling this huge vacuum that's existed in Arab countries for years. We're working to change the mind-set in the Arab world that America is this monolithic evil."
"We're hoping to stop the ability of al-Qaida to recruit future members. The pan-Arab media outlets in Dubai Media City were like a dry sponge. They didn't have access to U.S. military personnel for breaking stories."Get with it, man. That's the whole point.
The United States is already present in Dubai Media City, with the State Department's Arabic-language Radio Sawa and Al-Hurra satellite TV operating bureaus there.
Al-Arabiya TV news director Nakhle Elhage is skeptical about the mission, commenting, "They want one-way traffic. They want to give their message, but they don't want to listen."
posted by qrswave @ Monday, April 24, 2006
3 Comments:
Spin doctors...dont you mean ass kissers
The US should have its message spread throughout the Middle East.
The Repugs may have sullied the image of America, but that sullied image is still far superior to most Middle Eastern nations. America, and the values it stands for, is far superior to nations such as Iran and Saudi Arabia, and what THEY stand for. And the average citizen of these nations should be exposed to an alternative way.
I don't know if it is clear whether or not America and what it stands for is necessarily better than what a moderate Muslim nation like the UAE stands for, BUT, it is important to make nice with countries such as the UAE, and it is important than citizens of the UAE remain friendly towards America.
On the other hand, will this campaign to revive the image of America work? HELLLL NO! Not when the point person for reviving the American image in the Middle East is Karen Hughes. This campaign requires finesse and sophistication, which the Bush administration and those it employs simply lack.
I would like to add that for nations such as the UAE, it is important to have a dialogue, rather than a one way street. HOWEVER, the Arab media outlets are a major problem. They are part of what is fueling terrorism, and they are a major part in the crisis in Israel.
You heard of "hate radio" in Rwanda. The Middle East is filled with "hate radio" towards Israel, Jews, and America. Is it the only message of the Middle East? No. I am not saying the media is monolithic hate. But it is a crisis. We live in a bipolar world, with Fox News et al spewing their garbage in America, and various media outlets (Al Jazeera one of the more milder ones!) in the Middle East spewing their garbage.
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