The Layalina Review: Volume VI No. 7 | 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. 6: 3/12-3/25, 2010 Vol. VI No. 5: 2/26-3/11, 2010 Archives Subscribe to our Publications Layalina Review Staff Leon Shahabian Senior Editor Anne Hagood Managing Editor Lyzz Schwegler Contributor Mirna Oud Contributor Lorraine Jablonsky Contributor Adam Zelaazami 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. 7, March 26-April 8, 2010 The Talented Mr. Furlong Once again, the Pentagon’s efforts to influence foreign public opinion have come under close scrutiny after allegations that a civilian employee may have used DoD’s funds to hire private contractors. The Rise of Cultural Diplomacy Cultural diplomacy is increasingly referred to as the tool to exchange and foster dialogue in today's vast networks of information and communication, playing a critical role in engaging with individuals. Religiously Watched The rise of religious channels catering to all audiences across the Muslim world, from the conservatives to liberal segments of the population, indicates a high demand for the 'halal way of life,' in the Arab world and beyond. The Glossy Taliban In the war of words, the Taliban upscaled its propaganda strategy to win the hearts and minds of the Afghans and Pakistanis by publishing a new magazine. Losing Faith in IslamOnline Writers of the religious website IslamOnline, in the Cairo office, protest the management's decision to opt for a more conservative approach. The issue has generated a broader debate regarding the power of propaganda on the internet. Domestic Distractions detracting from Obama's Foreign Policy? President Obama spent much of his first year in office focusing on healthcare reforms, but some commentators say that the domestic issues may have sidelined international outreach and foreign policy. Advancing the Internet Industry in the MENA Region Hundreds gathered at the ArabNet 2010 Conference in Beirut to discuss the future of the internet in the Middle East and North Africa. Initiatives such as an Arabic language website for the NBA and Yahoo's acquisition of Maktoob mark the expansion of internet in the region, while more Arab countries receive approval for Arabic language domain names. Israeli Settlements Raise Concerns The Israeli government's announcement of constructing 1,600 new housing units in an existing East Jerusalem settlement caused the Obama administration to voice its concern as the settlements could further jeopardize the region's peace process. Terrorists Without a Cause Recent terrorist attacks in Moscow have fueled strong reactions from the Arab press, denouncing the use of religion in the killing of innocents.

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. 6: 3/12-3/25, 2010

Vol. VI No. 5: 2/26-3/11, 2010

Archives

Layalina Review Staff

Leon Shahabian
Senior Editor

Anne Hagood
Managing Editor

Lyzz Schwegler
Contributor

Mirna Oud
Contributor

Lorraine Jablonsky
Contributor

Adam Zelaazami
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. 7, March 26-April 8, 2010

The Talented Mr. Furlong
Once again, the Pentagon’s efforts to influence foreign public opinion have come under close scrutiny after allegations that a civilian employee may have used DoD’s funds to hire private contractors.

The Rise of Cultural Diplomacy
Cultural diplomacy is increasingly referred to as the tool to exchange and foster dialogue in today's vast networks of information and communication, playing a critical role in engaging with individuals.

Religiously Watched
The rise of religious channels catering to all audiences across the Muslim world, from the conservatives to liberal segments of the population, indicates a high demand for the 'halal way of life,' in the Arab world and beyond.

The Glossy Taliban
In the war of words, the Taliban upscaled its propaganda strategy to win the hearts and minds of the Afghans and Pakistanis by publishing a new magazine.

Losing Faith in IslamOnline
Writers of the religious website IslamOnline, in the Cairo office, protest the management's decision to opt for a more conservative approach. The issue has generated a broader debate regarding the power of propaganda on the internet.

Domestic Distractions detracting from Obama's Foreign Policy?
President Obama spent much of his first year in office focusing on healthcare reforms, but some commentators say that the domestic issues may have sidelined international outreach and foreign policy.

Advancing the Internet Industry in the MENA Region
Hundreds gathered at the ArabNet 2010 Conference in Beirut to discuss the future of the internet in the Middle East and North Africa. Initiatives such as an Arabic language website for the NBA and Yahoo's acquisition of Maktoob mark the expansion of internet in the region, while more Arab countries receive approval for Arabic language domain names.

Israeli Settlements Raise Concerns
The Israeli government's announcement of constructing 1,600 new housing units in an existing East Jerusalem settlement caused the Obama administration to voice its concern as the settlements could further jeopardize the region's peace process.

Terrorists Without a Cause
Recent terrorist attacks in Moscow have fueled strong reactions from the Arab press, denouncing the use of religion in the killing of innocents.