I would have added in bush's incredibly deep and total stupidity, arrogance & ignorance.
From DKos:
This is remarkable stuff. The report labels the Bush adminstration is patronizing, bereft of leadership at both the national and presidential level, it mocks the use of the insipid "they hate our freedoms", and notes that we have failed.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/12/6/223149/925And excerpts from the actual report, which the WORLD MEDIA has talked about, yet not a word on it from the US State Stenomedia. Strange...
http://www.acq.osd.mil/dsb/reports/2004-09-Strategic_Communication.pdfFrom the
Pentagon's Defense Science BoardOpinion surveys conducted by Zogby International, the Pew Research Center, Gallup (CNN/USA Today), and the Department of State (INR) reveal
widespread animosity toward the United States and its policies. A year and a half after going to war in Iraq, Arab/Muslim anger has intensified. Data from Zogby International in July 2004, for example, show that the U.S. is viewed unfavorably by overwhelming majorities in Egypt (98 percent), Saudi Arabia (94 percent), Morocco (88 percent), and Jordan (78 percent).
The war has increased mistrust of America in Europe, weakened support for the war on terrorism, and undermined U.S. credibility worldwide.There is consensus in these reports that U.S. public diplomacy is in crisis.
Missing are strong leadership, strategic direction, adequate coordination, sufficient resources, and a culture of measurement and evaluation. America's image problem, many suggest, is linked to perceptions of the United States as arrogant, hypocritical, and self-indulgent.
There is agreement too that public diplomacy could be a powerful asset with stronger Presidential leadership, Congressional support, inter-agency coordination, partnership with the private sector, and resources (people, tools, structures, programs, funding). Solutions lie not in short term, manipulative public relations. Results will depend on fundamental transformation of strategic communication instruments and a sustained long term, approach at the level of ideas, cultures, and values.