October 2, 2007
STEVE HUNTLEY shuntley@suntimes.com
An encouraging, albeit modest, downturn in violence in Iraq inspires hope that the Pentagon finally has found the right military strategy in Iraq. Now there's optimism that the U.S. government's media campaign has also found its footing in the battle to win over hearts and minds around the world, especially in the Middle East.
"I quote a terrorist leader as saying that media is half the battle -- but it may be more than half the battle, and we have not been sufficiently serious about it in the past," says James K. Glassman, new chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, the independent agency responsible for spreading America's message internationally. "But today across the political spectrum there is an understanding that soft power -- public diplomacy -- is enormously important and we have neglected it."
Read more from Steve Huntley at the Chicago Sun-Times at:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/huntley/583287,CST-EDT-hunt02.article