An American on al-Jazeera at last...

I've been rather critical of the American public diplomacy effort during the Lebanon crisis - with America being virtually invisible on the major Arab TV networks (a few have appeared on Lebanese stations, but I haven't seen them on al-Jazeera or even al-Arabiya - and certainly no senior officials).   I'm happy to say that as I write this (just after 3:00 my time), Alberto Fernandez of the State Department is appearing on al-Jazeera's From Washington program - engaging gamely in Arabic with Mohammed Alami (the host), along with Walid Phares (who seems to live on al-Jazeera these days, and who at least helps Fernandez look reasonable and sympathetic), a Lebanese journalist whose name I missed, and Qatar's UN ambassador.  He's getting plenty of chance to talk, though Alami (the guest host) likes to talk a lot more than the regular host Hafez al-Mirazi.

Fernandez's strategy is to stress America's sympathy with the innocent victims of the conflict, but describing them as victims of Hezbollah and Hassan Nasrullah's decisions.    Fernandez is trying really hard to keep the focus on Hezbollah (an entity within the state, he just called it), distinguishing between the Lebanese government and people on the one hand, and Hezbollah on the other - really laying all the responsibility on Hezbollah and demanding that the Arabs put the blame where it really lies.  Alami and the other guests are demanding that he explain how the attacks all over Lebanon can possibly be reconciled with that argument.  Alami is pushing him hard on what America's real policy is (quoting Bush, including that open microphone clip, and Rice),  posing tough questions about America's commitment to Arab democracy in light of recent events, and repeatedly probing the Israeli-American relationship.  Phares isn't helping Fernandez here, though perhaps he thinks he is.  And Fernandez is really getting hammered on the inadequate American response - where's the President, Alami demands to know.  Where's the Secretary of State?  Where is this so-called superpower?

Fernandez is a real professional, doing his best (unlike most other Americans who appear, he speaks very good Arabic and doesn't mind getting worked up in a heated debate), but he just doesn't have much to work with given America's policy right now (such as it is).  At least he's giving it a shot - better than the general tomblike silence coming out of Karen Hughes's public diplomacy office the last week.  Anyway, the show is still going on but I've got to get going - I'll post a link to the transcript when al-Jazeera puts it up. 

Comments

[Craig]

I still don't get this "public diplomacy" thing. When the Arab media plays shows depicting Christians and Jews as Apes and Pigs, and teaching little girls to become martyrs... what is there to talk about?

There's no common ground. And I don't want some state department asshat pretending that Americans are OK with that kind of hatemongering. We are not.

[Roquetaillade]

I am so sorry to only be finding this blog now. Your work is brilliant. Thank you.

[Dag Landewall]

Weakness invites aggression.

Leaving Iraq? Go ahead, but this is not about Iraq – it’s about the world as we know it.

And here is why: The soon nuclear Iran, Syria, Hizbollah and Hamas link could not be more visible these days – and if anyone has not noticed, they are on the move and they will soon radically be changing the power balance in the Middle East far away from western influence.

Why now? Because the US is bleeding in Iraq and US arrogance to UN, EU and other potential partners make international support for US missions in Iraq hard for W to get. And a bleeding US, won’t be able to stop Iran’s nuclear (nor North Korea’s) ambition, nor to support a peaceful solution for the Israel/Palestine issue. Just because of this – the Iran sponsored offensive is coming just now. The map of the Middle East will be drawn by Iran and followers/ supporters/associates and western influence in the Middle East will probably vanish together with the state of Israel. That’s my scenario and I don’t like the consequences of it.

What to do? Risking to take the “assume a can-opener” approach – a collective US, EU and NATO offensive (probably 500.000 to 800.000 troops on the ground) to seal the borders of Iraq to stop supply of new insurgents and supply. Establish security, law and order in the major cities. Engage in a massive nation building effort with a Marshall plan to give ordinary people their lives back. This is in my perspective a 20 -40 year effort and will be a burden all of us in the western world have to carry collectively. We took it – we own it. We broke it – we’ll fix it.

Sorry for the strange english - It's not my mother tounge...

[Sherif Hamdy]

hi,

Great blog!

I just wanted to mention that this was not the first time he was in Al-Jazeera. He has been the only american punlic official who I have seen at least 3 or 4 times in the last 6 months on hour long talk shows in full debate in Arabic (not easy shows, I mean debating with 2 arab nationlists on "the opposite Direction".)

If I were the admin, I would have him just do that fulltime.

But in the end his utility is limited because as a public dimplomat you are limited in your beautification process by ugly policy and actions always speak louder than words..

[AHR]

AA -
On an unrelated note, I would like to thank you for providing such an excellent selection of links from the Arab press these past few weeks. You're doing those of us who follow Arab politics a huge favor, and you've got a great eye for what's important and interesting. Keep up the good work!