US Image Abroad Will Take Years to Repair, Official Testifies

[kskiska]

Margaret D. Tutwiler, in her first public appearance as the State Department official in charge of public diplomacy, acknowledged Wednesday that America's standing abroad had deteriorated to such an extent that "it will take us many years of hard, focused work" to restore it.

Ms. Tutwiler, the former ambassador to Morocco, was recently tapped to try to address rising hostility toward the United States in much of the Muslim world.

In testimony before a House appropriations subcommittee, she agreed with the main findings of an independent panel that American outreach has suffered from budget cuts and neglect since the end of the cold war.

"Unfortunately, our country has a problem in far too many parts of the world," she said, "a problem we have regrettably gotten into over many years through both Democrat and Republican administrations, and a problem that does not lend itself to a quick fix or a single solution or a simple plan."

more…
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/05/politics/05DIPL.html

[pinniped]

1. And it will begin with getting that asshole out of office this year.

n/t

[kalian]

2. File this under.....

"DUH!"

[ixion]

3. hard to repair damage

when the damage is still being done. :-(

[Zero Gravitas]

4. both Democrat and Republican

maybe so, previous administrations have not been immune to causing "problems" that make the rest of the world dislike and distrust us, but COME ON 90% of the damage has been done Bush and the PNAC loonies.

[cprise]

5. We were already feeling the fallout from the economic wars we started

...under Clinton, before we even announced our intention to invade Iraq.

The situation in S. America says it all: we are not trusted at all now.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

6. Ms Tutweiler conveniently neglects to mention that Clinton

asked congress for funds for many of these areas during his tenure and the Republicans were too busy funding an 80 million dollar zipper chase.

[cprise]

9. Excuse me, but that is a cop-out

Clinton handed over the keys to the henhouse when he pushed media deregulation.

Then they became worse than even and skewered him. People got SO sick of hearing the constant coverage of Whitewater, sex, etc... but the media corporations simply would not stop.

What's sad is that he created a monster and still does not even realize it.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

10. No argument from me there

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. Is this from the official departmnet of DUH?

[gatlingforme]

8. I do not think it will take years....The Bush Admin. has not done the

best job with our reputation. However, I think once Bush is out of office things will look brighter. Alot of people like Americans just not Bush.

[oscarmitre]

11. Got that right

Well for some of us at least.

A lot of us can tell the difference between a Democrat administration and the current crop that are infesting the White House. But plenty of boofheads exist who are anti-American but can't tell you why when pressed for a reason.

Anyway when the US gets back its freedom in November with a Democrat in the White House and we get rid of our conservative yoke here all will be sweetness and light once more.

[Occulus]

14. "between a Democrat administration"

That's a RW talking device, did ya know?

"The Democrat Administration"

"The Democrat Race"

Turning an adjective into a noun. A bit like:

"The Jew Administration"

"The Jew Race" (speaking about elections)

Please, make certain you call it the "Democratic Party" next time. Unless you're even handed, and call Republicans "The Republic Party".
Thanks! :)

I also think so many of the boofheads (to use your so colorful term!) have too many reasons for it all to crystallize in their minds. Who can really blame them?

[newyawker99]

15. Hi oscarmitre!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[DemoTex]

12. " ..a close associate of former Secretary of State James A. Baker III .."

I hate to even mention it, because it borders on libel. It's a question, however, and not a statement: Was Margaret Tutwiler the senior Bu$h's putative paramour during his administration?

[bluedeminredstate]

13. Don't think so

Jennifer Fitzgerald is the name you're looking for. My brother-in-law worked in the Bush I White House and he gave me the scoop in a moment of weakness after too much wine during Thanksgiving dinner. It's something he now regrets b/c I bring it up everytime he starts in on Clinton's "moral failings."

Tutweiler was Baker's press secretary/State Dept spokeswoman and was his flunky for years.

[nixonwasbetterthanW]

17. Tutwiler & Baker

The Washington Post had reason to speculate that Tutwiler and Baker were more than just colleagues. Years ago it ran a story about her that said she had "served under Baker in a variety of positions."

On another topic: It's disgusting when a member of the executive branch talks about "Democrat and Republican" administrations. The adjective is "Democratic," but in campaign mode, the GOP makes a point of using "Democrat" as both adjective and noun. Fine when she's wearing her hat as GOP go-girl, not so, however, when representing the government.

I think Bush yesterday when speaking about Churchill referred to his "democrat" values. The president is so stupid he probably doesn't understand the difference between small "d" and big "D" -- but then, you already knew that.

[Aidoneus]

16. what reputation was there to damage?