The Layalina Review: Volume VI No. 9 | Layalina Productions, Inc.

The Layalina Review

	The Layalina Review on Public Diplomacy and Arab Media The Layalina Review is a peerless bi-weekly source for monitoring developments in the spheres of public diplomacy and Arab media. Its readers include academics, Foreign Service Officers, students, members of Congress and their staffs, foreign diplomats, and professionals in both the private and public sectors. Published 26 times per year, the review is free to subscribers and available in PDF, HTML, and RSS formats. The Layalina Review is brought to you thanks in part to a grant from The Dr. Scholl Foundation of Illinois.
Statistic of the Week The UAE is the 'most connected' Arab country, followed by Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, in a new study. PDF RSS Twitter Facebook Recent Issues Vol. VI No. 12: 6/4-6/17, 2010 Vol. VI No. 11: 5/21-6/3, 2010 Archives Subscribe to our Publications Layalina Review Staff Leon Shahabian Senior Editor Anne Hagood Managing Editor Amelia Bell Contributor Mirna Oud Contributor Lorraine Jablonsky Contributor Elodie Liobard Contributor The views expressed here are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Layalina Productions, Inc.	VOL. VI NO. 13, June 18-July 1, 2010 The General in his Afghan Labyrinth Commander of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan General Stanley McChrystal’s disparaging remarks in an interview with antiwar magazine Rolling Stone brought President Obama to relieve him of command and replace him with General David H Petraeus. While there is a consensus that Obama’s decision was the appropriate response, many have expressed doubts about the future success of US operations in Afghanistan. Al-Hurra under Criticism; BBG Nominees Get Confirmed The report by the staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee commissioned by Senator Lugar (R-IN) regarding the state of the BBG criticized Al-Hurra’s performance, citing various reasons, while supporters of the US-funded channel disagree, heralding its success, notably in Iraq. A Lithium Moment in Afghanistan News that the American military found $1 trillion worth of mineral deposits in Afghanistan may turn out to be the result of propaganda efforts to revive and bolster fading popular support for the war in Afghanistan. Science and Cultural Diplomacy in the News Despite increased funding being poured into engaging and connecting with other communities, some core programs of public diplomacy have been set aside, hampering US global engagement efforts. Muslims Disillusionment Growing A year after the Cairo speech, the Pew Center’s spring survey of global attitudes found that, with the exception of Indonesia, Muslims worldwide have expressed a growing disillusionment with Obama and his foreign policy. Obama’s Problems of Policy and Popularity While the gulf oil spill crisis persists, President Obama continues to face mounting criticism and diminishing popularity levels - in America and abroad. Meanwhile, various individuals and groups weigh in on how the president can change his cabinet, his foreign policy strategy and ultimately his lagging popularity. Technology as a Tool of Empowerment: Playing with Fire? The State Department has been experimenting with SMS and other new media programs as diplomatic tools to be used all over the world. However, Golnaz Esfandiari believes that the media and the government are giving Twitter too much credit for the opposition's successes in Iran. Arab Media Still Peddling Recent joint media attempts, such as the Arab Media Forum and the first Kuwaiti-Syrian Media Forum, call for strengthening inter-Arab dialogue and removing obstacles facing Arab media. However, media restrictions and censorship still threaten media freedom in some Middle Eastern countries. Israel Attempts to Save its Sinking Image Although the Israeli government announced an ease of restrictions on goods entering Gaza, Hamas and other Arab governments call for a complete lift of the blockade. Israeli officials and experts gather to pitch ideas about a hasbara (public diplomacy) campaign to restore Israel's image all over the world.

The Layalina Review on Public Diplomacy and Arab Media

The Layalina Review is a peerless bi-weekly source for monitoring developments in the spheres of public diplomacy and Arab media.

Its readers include academics, Foreign Service Officers, students, members of Congress and their staffs, foreign diplomats, and professionals in both the private and public sectors.

Published 26 times per year, the review is free to subscribers and available in PDF, HTML, and RSS formats.

The Layalina Review is brought to you thanks in part to a grant from The Dr. Scholl Foundation of Illinois.

Statistic of the Week
The UAE is the 'most connected' Arab country, followed by Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, in a new study.

Recent Issues

Vol. VI No. 12: 6/4-6/17, 2010

Vol. VI No. 11: 5/21-6/3, 2010

Archives

Layalina Review Staff

Leon Shahabian
Senior Editor

Anne Hagood
Managing Editor

Amelia Bell
Contributor

Mirna Oud
Contributor

Lorraine Jablonsky
Contributor

Elodie Liobard
Contributor

The views expressed here are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Layalina Productions, Inc.

VOL. VI NO. 13, June 18-July 1, 2010

The General in his Afghan Labyrinth
Commander of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan General Stanley McChrystal’s disparaging remarks in an interview with antiwar magazine Rolling Stone brought President Obama to relieve him of command and replace him with General David H Petraeus. While there is a consensus that Obama’s decision was the appropriate response, many have expressed doubts about the future success of US operations in Afghanistan.

Al-Hurra under Criticism; BBG Nominees Get Confirmed
The report by the staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee commissioned by Senator Lugar (R-IN) regarding the state of the BBG criticized Al-Hurra’s performance, citing various reasons, while supporters of the US-funded channel disagree, heralding its success, notably in Iraq.

A Lithium Moment in Afghanistan
News that the American military found $1 trillion worth of mineral deposits in Afghanistan may turn out to be the result of propaganda efforts to revive and bolster fading popular support for the war in Afghanistan.

Science and Cultural Diplomacy in the News
Despite increased funding being poured into engaging and connecting with other communities, some core programs of public diplomacy have been set aside, hampering US global engagement efforts.

Muslims Disillusionment Growing
A year after the Cairo speech, the Pew Center’s spring survey of global attitudes found that, with the exception of Indonesia, Muslims worldwide have expressed a growing disillusionment with Obama and his foreign policy.

Obama’s Problems of Policy and Popularity
While the gulf oil spill crisis persists, President Obama continues to face mounting criticism and diminishing popularity levels - in America and abroad. Meanwhile, various individuals and groups weigh in on how the president can change his cabinet, his foreign policy strategy and ultimately his lagging popularity.

Technology as a Tool of Empowerment: Playing with Fire?
The State Department has been experimenting with SMS and other new media programs as diplomatic tools to be used all over the world. However, Golnaz Esfandiari believes that the media and the government are giving Twitter too much credit for the opposition's successes in Iran.

Arab Media Still Peddling
Recent joint media attempts, such as the Arab Media Forum and the first Kuwaiti-Syrian Media Forum, call for strengthening inter-Arab dialogue and removing obstacles facing Arab media. However, media restrictions and censorship still threaten media freedom in some Middle Eastern countries.

Israel Attempts to Save its Sinking Image
Although the Israeli government announced an ease of restrictions on goods entering Gaza, Hamas and other Arab governments call for a complete lift of the blockade. Israeli officials and experts gather to pitch ideas about a hasbara (public diplomacy) campaign to restore Israel's image all over the world.